The PlayStation®4 NPL NSW Men’s Premiership race is set to go down to the wire after APIA Leichhardt Tigers secured a huge win in Round 20.
The Danial Cummins coached side has cut the gap to only one point between them and competition leaders Blacktown City FC with the two sides set to face off in a potential decider next round.
Wollongong also made major in-roads to confirming a finals spot with a victory on the road against Bonnyrigg.
Sydney Olympic fought their way back into the top five with a win on Sunday which leaves four teams within two points of each other heading into the final two weeks of the competition.
This week’s Match of the Round featured a clash between Blacktown City and Rockdale City Suns at Lily's Football Stadium.
Blacktown City FC 1 - Rockdale City Suns FC 1 at Lily's Football Stadium
A desperation strike from Daniel Araujo has helped Blacktown City snatch a last gasp 1-1 draw with Rockdale City Suns at Lily’s Football Centre on Sunday.
Aruajo’s 77th minute goal ensured Blacktown retained their spot at the top of the PlayStation®4 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s competition ladder.
Rockdale will feel like it was two points lost after taking the lead when Jonathan Grozdanovski fired home with twenty minutes to play.
However the competition leaders delivered in the final stages despite a slow and conservative approach for most of the match.
The result means Blacktown will have a chance at securing the Premiership next week when they take on second placed APIA Leichhardt Tigers.
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Sutherland Sharks FC 4 - Sydney FC 3 at Seymour Shaw
Sutherland Sharks has edged out visitors Sydney FC 4-3 in a thrilling PlayStation®4 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s clash at Seymour Shaw on Saturday.
It was a confidence building return to the winners circle for Sutherland as a Jeremy Cox, Josh Da Silva, Nathan Elasi and Tomohiro Kajiyama all struck to guide the boys from the shire to victory.
Inexperience got the better of Sydney FC with defensive lapses costing them despite them putting three on the scoreboard through Juan Zapata’s double and a John Iredale goal.
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Bonnyrigg White Eagles FC 1 - Wollongong Wolves FC 2 at Bonnyrigg Sports Club
Wollongong Wolves have moved one step closer to PlayStation®4 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s finals qualification with a 2-1 victory against Bonnyrigg White Eagles at Bonnyrigg Sports Club on Saturday.
The result moved Jacob Timpano’s side into the top five for the first time since the opening weeks of the season.
Goals to Peter Simonovski and Yuzo Tashiro were enough for the Wolves to claim the much needed three competition points.
Asmir Kadric found the back of the net for the home side in the 88th minute but it was a mere consolation goal for Bonnyrigg who failed to give their fans the send off they desired in their final home match of the campaign.
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Hakoah Sydney City East 1 - Parramatta FC 0 at Hensley Athletic Field
Hakoah Sydney City East edged out a spirited Parramatta FC side 1-0 at Hensley Athletic Field on Saturday, with a controversial free kick midway through the second half settling the match.
After dominating the opening period of the PlayStation®4 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s clash without a breakthrough, Dean Bereveskos put the hosts into a deserved lead in the 74th minute with a free kick which was initially flagged for offside by the linesman, handing Parramatta FC their 14th straight defeat.
It was a disappointing result for Parramatta who felt they had done enough to end their run of losses but Hakoah’s incredible fighting spirit did enough to wrap up the points.
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APIA Leichhardt Tigers FC 5 - Manly United FC 0 at Lambert Park
APIA Leichhardt has fought their way back into PlayStation®4 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s Premiership contention after a comprehensive 5-0 win against Manly United FC at Lambert Park on Saturday.
A red card to Manly captain Brendan Cholakian after only ten minutes set the tone for the match and APIA didn't hold back in turning the screws on their opposition.
The Tigers went on a rampage in the first half with three unanswered goals in 12 minutes courtesy of Sean Symons, Nathan Millgate and Tasuku Sekiya to set up a 3-0 half time lead.
Sekiya struck again in the second half to claim a brace while Dominic Cox also found the back of the net to round out the 5-0 thrashing.
APIA’s victory sets up an exciting final race for the Premiership with Blacktown holding only a one point lead with two rounds to play.
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Sydney United 58 FC 1 - Sydney Olympic FC 2 at Sydney United Sports Centre
Yu Kuboki’s late winner has blown the race for the top five wide open after Sydney Olympic edged Sydney United 58 2-1 in an intense PlayStation®4 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s affair at Sydney United Sports Centre on Sunday afternoon.
The Japanese attacker notched his 11th strike of the campaign with ten minutes remaining to seal a landmark victory for Gorka Etxeberria’s side and propel Olympic into fifth position on the ladder.
Olympic had earlier broke the deadlock through a neat Christopher Gligor header but were pegged back two minutes later when Chris Payne tucked away a Matt Sim cross at the far post.
Kuboki stepped off the bench at half time to spearhead an excellent second half performance from the visitors and eventually swept home the winner in style after a brilliant assist from Olympic defender Mitchell Stamatellis.
The victory gifts Spanish custodian Etxeberria his first win as Olympic boss and snaps a run of three consecutive defeats for the unfancied visitors, who needed all three points on the day to keep their season alive.
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