In this week’s Cro NPL round up, Canberra Croatia continued their dominant start in the Capital by demolishing O’Connor Knights 9-1 in the Croatian Derby.
Scoring 37 goals in just eight games led by attacking stars Nicholas Pratežina, Thomas James and Maxx Green, the league-leading Croatia have their eyes set on Australian Championship qualification, which is granted to the Premiers of NPL ACT.
Elsewhere, relegation-threatened Melbourne Knights were dealt another tough blow, Sydney United 58’s form builds in the hunt for Finals football, and Premiership hopes wane for the Knights in Gold Coast and Glenorchy.
Vjesnik’s Jake Holub wraps up the weekend’s NPL action for Croatian clubs across the country, reviewing the notable results and previewing what’s next to come.
NPL Victoria: Round 16
Heidelberg United 2 (Ngor 32′, 82′)
St Albans Dinamo 2 (Monek 10′, Colina 16′)
Fighting for survival in Victoria’s top flight, St Albans Dinamo were up for a big challenge against Heidelberg United, who entered the game on a club record-breaking 13-game winning streak across all competitions.
However, things started perfectly for Dinamo to say the least.
Joseph Monek opened the scoring in the 10th minute, while Joseph Colina doubled Dinamo’s lead just six minutes later.
Taking an early two-goal advantage, pressure on St Albans grew as the hosts began to work their way into the game.
Star winger Sabit Ngor brought one back for the Bergers just past the half-hour mark and scored a beautiful equaliser late in the second half to snatch a point for his side.
Although the feeling of disappointment will be present for Dinamo, coming so close to a massive win, the draw could prove to be valuable.
The Saints have jumped out of the relegation zone thanks to goal difference, with South Melbourne next up on home soil on Friday, June 6.
Dandenong City Hajduk 1 (Clark (O.G) 90+2′)
Dandenong Thunder 2 (Sulemani 75′, Ushida 90+8′)
Aiming to continue their strong start to the campaign, Dandenong City Hajduk needed to turn around their struggles in the derby against Dandenong Thunder.
A tight contest for the first hour, a sending-off for Hajduk defender Corey Sewell in the 64th minute proved to be a real game-changing moment.
Ali Sulemani fired Thunder into the lead with a quarter of an hour remaining, but Hajduk managed to pull it back level after forcing an own goal off a set-piece in the 92nd minute.
With just moments left, Thunder bundled the ball into the box and the in-form Yuki Ushia scored his sixth goal of the season to break the hearts of Hajduk.
Before the final whistle, Dandy City was reduced to nine men after Gaku Inaba was sent off, a big blow to go alongside a tough loss.
Hajduk now sits four points out from the top six with a tough away fixture against Hume City next up on Friday, June 6.
Avondale FC 5 (Ahmed 38′, 70′, Aguek 45+4′, Edwards 64′, Cuba 90+2′)
Melbourne Knights 1 (Lawless 29′)
As the threats of relegation continue to loom for Melbourne Knights, an away day at Avengers Park is certainly not what John Markovski’s side was looking for to turn around their season.
Despite Stephen Lawless producing a smart finish to take Knights ahead just prior to the half-hour mark, goals from Yusuf Ahmed and Many Aguek late in the first half had Avondale ahead at the break.
Three more were to come for the hosts, running away with the game and jumping to the top of the league, while Knights currently languish at the bottom of the ladder.
On an eight-game losing streak in NPLM Victoria, Knights next play third-placed Oakleigh at Tompsett Stadium on Sunday, June 8.
NPL New South Wales: Round 17
Sydney United 58 3 (Wells 42′, Rule 45+2′, 90+6′)
Sydney FC Youth 2 (Macallister 37′, Conde 85′)
Starting to put together a consistent run of results, a win over the Sky Blues was important for Sydney United 58.
While Sydney FC pounced on a defensive error to go ahead, Mason Wells continued his goal-scoring form after cutting in from the wing to convert with a smart finish.
Meanwhile, Bailey Rule ventured forward from right-back to put United 58 ahead at the break.
After the Sky Blues went down to 10 men after 52 minutes, it was expected United 58 could cruise to victory.
However, an errant clearance from goalkeeper Tristan Prendergast deflected off Junior Conde and miraculously travelled past the goal line in the 85th minute.
Throwing the kitchen sink for the three points, Bailey Rule came up clutch once again after a producing powerful finish right into the roof of the net from a tight angle in the sixth minute of injury time.
Narrowly claiming the win at Edensor Park, Sydney United 58 will aim to make their home ground a fortress with a potential NPL NSW Finals six-pointer against Manly United next on Sunday, June 8.
NPL Queensland: Round 12
Queensland Lions 3 (Skinner 45′, Hore 75′, 89′)
Gold Coast Knights 1 (Kaneko 60′)
Gold Coast Knights’ poor run of form continued with a disappointing loss at the hands of Queensland Lions FC.
Falling behind late in the first 45′, Taisei Kaneko opened his scoring account for the season on the hour mark for the Knights.
However, a brace from super-sub Mitchell Hore proved to be the final blow for Scott McDonald’s men, winless in their last three NPL QLD outings.
At the risk of falling outside of the top four, the reigning Premiers will host the Wynnum Wolves next on Sunday, June 8.
NPL South Australia: Round 12
Adelaide United Youth 0
Adelaide Croatia Raiders 0
Taking on the high-flying Adelaide United Youth to round out NPL SA‘s Round 12 of action, the struggling Adelaide Croatia Raiders were desperate to come away with something.
Allowing the Young Reds to control possession, a resolute defensive performance led by an impressive showing from young shot-stopper Vincent Barbaro saw the Raiders claim an important point away from home.
Keeping a second clean sheet of the season, the Raiders will hope to claw their way out of the drop zone as they prepare for a big clash against FK Beograd next week on Monday, June 9.
NPL Capital Football: Round 8
Canberra Croatia 9 (James 28′, 45+3′, Keir 38′, Pratežina 44′, 50′, Green 53′, 60′, 63′, Subasić 90′)
O’Connor Knights 1 (Ceruti 9′)
Hosting the O’Connor Knights at Deakin Stadium in NPL ACT’s game of the round, Canberra Croatia had their eyes set on extending their lead atop of the league.
Although Knights struck first through Jenno Ceruti in the ninth minute, the goals quickly came for Dean Ugrinić’s side.
Thomas James converted his spot-kick in the 28th minute to bring his side level and went on to score another late in the first half.
Alongside his brace, James provided a whopping four assists for his teammates in a mammoth performance.
21-year-old Maxx Green bagged a hat-trick of goals and recorded two assists for Croatia, while Nicholas Pratežina found the back of the net twice, trailing only behind former teammate Daniel Barac in the top-scorers chart.
Completely stunned in the Croatia Derby, O’Connor has the league’s worst defensive record and must produce a bigresponse against Gungahlin United next Wednesday.
On the opposing end, the high-scoring Croatia take on Monaro Panthers next Wednesday too in a game that could prove to be an early Premiership decider with the Australian Championship on the horizon.
NPL Western Australia: Round 10
Western Knights 0
Sorrento FC 0
Turning around their form with some excellent performances, Western Knights had Sorrento next on their radar.
After a mid-week defeat in the cup to Stirling Lions, the Knights were forced into two early substitutes as Sorrento looked to snatch a point on the road.
Both sides recorded similar statistics in a tight clash, ultimately unable to separate from each other in a nil-all draw.
While not an overly desirable result, the Knights now remain undefeated in their last four outings in NPL WA, creating separation from the drop zone week by week.
The chance to put three points on the board will certainly be on the cards against the winless Floreat Athena in Round 11, taking on the league’s bottom side on Saturday, June 7.
NPL Tasmania: Round 9
South Hobart 3 (Walter 8′, 51′, Kemp 90′)
Glenorchy Knights 0
Encountering the undefeated South Hobart after two wins on the bounce for the Glenorchy Knights, revenge for their 4-2 defeat earlier this season at the hands of the league leaders was vital.
However, the Knights fell behind after eight minutes and went a man down early in the second half.
Capitalising on the advantage, South Hobart went on to score two more in a dominant display over the Knights, who recorded five shots to their opponents’ 18.
Glenorchy remains third in NPL Tasmania, but the gap widens from the top spot as the hopes of retaining the Premiership thin.
Taking on fourth-placed Devonport Strikers next on the 14th of June, a return to winning ways will be the assignment for the Knights.
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