It has been nothing less than a horror start to the PlayStation®4 NPL NSW 2017 Season after three rounds for Sydney United 58.
The reigning PlayStation®4 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s Premiers suffered another upset loss during Round 3, this time to Hakoah Sydney CIty East to make it three losses in as many games.
At the other end of the spectrum, APIA Leichhardt have gone from zero to hero after a disappointing finish to 2016. Danial Cummins' side made it three from three with a win against Sutherland.
Wet weather once again played a big part in this weekend’s action with Rockdale’s clash with Parramatta and the blockbuster match between Bonnyrigg White Eagles and Blacktown City washed out.
In this week’s Match of the Round Wollongong was determined to return to WIN Stadium with a win against Manly United FC.
Wollongong Wolves 1 - Manly United FC 1 at Win Stadium
Brendan Cholakian snatched a point for Manly United in a hard fought 1-1 draw with Wollongong Wolves during their PlayStation4 National Premier Leagues NSW Men's clash at WIN Stadium on Sunday.
Cholakian's well-placed header at the 60-minute marked capped an industrious fightback from Manly after former Japanese international Yuzo Tashiro gave the hosts the lead only ten minutes earlier.
The result maintained Manly United's unbeaten start to the season with two wins and a draw from their opening three matches.
It wasn't the homecoming Wolves fans were looking for in their side's first game at WIN Stadium for the season but Tashiro's goal at least gave them something to smile about.
Hakoah Sydney City East 3 - Sydney United 58 2 at Hensley Athletic Field
Hakoah Sydney City East has inflicted more misery on reigning PlayStation®4 National Premier Leagues Premiers Sydney United 58 defeating the 10-man Reds 3-2 in a feisty encounter at Hensley Athletic Field.
Robert Ezekiel’s free-kick proved to be the winner for Gavin Rae’s side, who had twice seen their lead pegged back by goals from Yutaro Shin and Panny Nikas.
Hakoah had earlier opened the scoring through Andre De Jong and cancelled out Shin’s equaliser late in the first half when Alexander Lekoski pounced expertly and finished with aplomb.
Sydney United 58 skipper Nick Stavroulakis, who was making his first appearance of the campaign after struggling with a calf injury, received his marching orders midway through the second half for his second bookable offence and the hosts took immediate advantage.
The defeat is United 58’s third consecutive and second in four days having been defeated 2-1 by Rockdale City Suns on Wednesday evening.
Sutherland Sharks 3 - APIA Leichhardt Tigers 4 at Seymour Shaw
APIA Leichhardt Tigers has clung on to a narrow 4-3 win against a fast finishing Sutherland Sharks during their PlayStation®4 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s clash at Seymour Shaw.
A Sean Symons free-kick, Tasuku Sekiya strike and Corey Biczo double gave the Tigers a 4-0 lead with a little over 20 minutes to play. However, it proved to be a nervy finish for the visitors with a Jeremy Cox goal and a brace to Tomohiro Kajiyama giving Sutherland a sniff of victory late on.
It proved to not be the perfect ending to Sutherland Sharks ‘keeper Nathan Denham’s match as APIA held on to win in the shot stoppers’ 200th match.
The Tigers now have three wins on the trot and are looking like the team to beat in this season’s competition.
Sydney FC 0 - Sydney Olympic 1 at Lambert Park
A late Max Burgess goal helped Sydney Olympic to a 1-0 win all three points against Sydney FC and his old club at Lambert Park on Saturday.
Burgess’ 85th minute strike provided the visitors with a hard-earned breakthrough and their third win from as many matches.
For Sydney FC it was another case of close but not close enough as Robbie Stanton’s side fell narrowly short of a maiden PlayStation®4 National Premier Leagues NSW Men’s win.