League-leading Canberra Croatia were topped in a mind-boggling 5-4 clash with Gungahlin United, including a four-goal haul from a former Real Sociedad starlet.
Despite Croatia remaining in the driver’s seat to secure the Capital NPL Premiership and Australian Championship qualification, the balancing of league and Australia Cup commitments will challenge the ability of Dean Ugrinić’s side to maintain their high levels.
Meanwhile, Dandy City Hajduk and St Albans Dinamo claim positive results in Victoria, Sydney United 58 suffer a second-straight league loss, and Western Knights’ starman scores a Goal of the Season contender.
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 20
Heidelberg United 2 (Juach 33′, 60′)
Dandenong City Hajduk 2 (Athiu 52′, Mustafa 78′)
Taking out all three points against Altona Magic last week, Dandenong City Hajduk were in for a big task away from home against the league-leading Heidelberg United.
It was the Bergers who struck first, thanks to NPLM Victoria‘s top scorer, Bul Juach, who was slipped through by Mohamed Aidara and finished clinically in the 33rd minute.
While the hosts marched into the halftime break a goal ahead, it would be Dandy City to strike quickly in the second 45′.
Rising at the near post to head home Diego Cuba’s corner delivery, Hajduk’s top-scorer Kenny Athiu levelled the game emphatically.
However, the league’s top side wouldn’t take long to respond, restoring their lead on the hour mark.
Pressing goalkeeper Pierce Clark into an error, Bol Juach pounced for his brace, despite avoiding a potential handball in the process that could’ve ruled out the goal.
Just as it seemed the Bergers would now be able to run away with the game, a quick counter-attacking move from Dandy City stunned the hosts.
A one-two between substitutes Yagoub Mustafa and Jamie Latham could not be stopped by Heidelberg, with Mustafa calmly finishing past Yaren Sözer to provide his side the equaliser.
Both sides ultimately felt they could snatch a winner, but the game would finish a draw at Olympic Village.
Claiming a point on the road, Dandy City will certainly come away with plenty of positives, remaining just one point outside of the top six.
A trip back to Frank Holohan Reserve is next up for Nick Tolios’ men, facing South Melbourne on Friday, July 4.
Port Melbourne Sharks 0
St Albans Dinamo 2 (Colina 28′, Divin 30′)
Returning to the win column for the first time since March after topping Oakleigh 3-2 in Round 19, a relegation six-pointer against Port Melbourne Sharks was next up for St Albans Dinamo.
While the Sharks had it all to play for on home soil at J L Murphy Reserve, it was Dinamo who well and truly stood up to the occasion.
A quickfire double around the half-hour mark had Dinamo flying, with Joseph Colina and Joshua Divin blowing away the hosts.
The superior team at the break, Dinamo ultimately opted to focus their efforts on the defensive side for the second half, aiming to keep out the Sharks.
This approach was successful, with a young shot-stopper Marko Bulić helping his side keep their first clean sheet since their last meeting with Port Melbourne in March.
While 12th-placed Melbourne Victory have a game to play on Monday night to close out Round 20, Dinamo have now jumped five points clear of the relegation zone.
Undefeated in their last five outings, St Albans will now prepare to host rock-bottom Melbourne Knights at Churchill Reserve on Sunday, July 6.
Melbourne Victory 1 (Wall 5′)
Melbourne Knights 2 (Lawless 70′, Bramwell 90+2′)
Winless in the league since March, Melbourne Knights needed a win over Melbourne Victory to keep their NPLM Victoria survival hopes alive.
While the Young Vucks hit the lead early and could’ve been up by multiple goals by the halftime break, goalkeeper Gabriel Matti helped keep Knights in the game.
John Markovski’s side began to grow into the game in Bundoora, finding an equaliser in the 70th minute thanks to Stephen Lawless’ goal.
Pushing for a winner with momentum on their side, top scorer Ciaran Bramwell converted from the spot in the second minute of additional time, securing a crucial three points.
While Knights remain bottom of the ladder on 13 points, a clash with 11th-placed St Albans could be a real decider in the race for top-flight survival, taking on Dinamo at Churchill Reserve on Sunday, July 6.
NPL New South Wales: Round 21
Sydney United 58 0
North West Sydney Spirit 2 (Okubo 13′, Wiggin 81′)
After their winning streak was put to an end last week against the Central Coast Mariners, Sydney United 58’s strong momentum has seemingly been cut to pieces after another tough loss.
Despite returning to Edensor Park to take on NWS Spirit, Ante Jurić’s side were simply beaten by clinical attacking play from the visitors.
Registering just three total shots and two on target, NWS Spirit completed a successful 2-0 smash-and-grab win over United 58.
However, United’s attention must quickly be turned to Wednesday, July 2, for the Waratah Cup Final against the Northern Tigers, before then taking on NPL NSW league leaders Marconi Stallions on Sunday, July 6.
NPL Queensland: Round 6
Peninsula Power 2 (Macuace 22′, Joseph 60′)
Gold Coast Knights 0
A weekend full of catch-up fixtures in NPL Queensland, Gold Coast Knights’ brief improvement in results was put to an end by Peninsula Power.
The opportunity for the Knights to leapfrog fourth-placed Peninsula was up for grabs, but an awful first half quickly killed their hopes.
After the hosts opened the scoring in the 22nd minute, a red card was brandished in the 35th minute to Zander Guy, sentoff in his first game back since rejoining the club.
A second was added to Peninsula’s tally on the hour mark, sinking Scott McDonald’s side.
Unable to score in a game once again, the Knights will be required to bounce back against the league’s best defensive side in Olympic FC on Sunday, July 6.
NPL South Australia: Round 16
Playford City 3 (Pratt 20′, Mullen 71′, 90′)
Adelaide Croatia Raiders 2 (King-Byrne 45+3′, Torriani 52′)
Turning around their torrid form with massive wins over FK Beograd and West Torrens Birkalla consecutively, an away fixture against Playford City was the next test for Adelaide Croatia Raiders.
It certainly did not start to plan for the Raiders, falling a goal behind after 20 minutes after a fortunate corner goal for the hosts.
However, the Raiders scored a corner goal of their own thanks to Jai King-Byrne’s leaping header late in the first half.
The 23-year-old almost headed home his second shortly after the restart, but was denied by a stunning save from Luke Ostbye in Playford’s goals.
Earning another corner kick, the Raiders took the lead after defender Marco Torriani volleyed home a loose ball in the box in the 52nd minute.
Despite the Raiders’ efforts, the hosts successfully managed to fight back with plenty of time remaining.
Isaac Mullen’s powerful hit at the near post could not be stopped by Vincent Barbaro, bringing the game back level in the 71st minute.
Playford controlled the ball and had the momentum, earning a spot kick in the dying minutes after the referee spotted a handball in the box.
It was Mullen who took the penalty, converting to win his side the game and to take his tally to 10 goals in NPL SA.
Falling to a devastating 90th-minute winner, Adelaide Croatia Raiders remain bottom of the ladder, but will need to pick up their heads quickly.
A potential relegation six-pointer will be on the cards next back on home soil, taking on 11th-placed Modbury Jets on Saturday, July 5.
NPL Capital Football: Round 11
Queanbeyan City 3 (Vanderpol 3′, Dellahi 19′, Roberts 36′)
O’Connor Knights 2 (John 65′, Ihegie 90+6′)
Beat convincingly last week by Monaro, the O’Connor Knights needed a turnaround in Round 11 against Queanbeyan City.
While Canberra Croatia managed to beat Queanbeyan last week at High Street Oval, the Knights found themselves three goals down in the opening 36 minutes.
It was more of the same issues for the league’s worst defensive side, required to overcome a big deficit away from home.
Winger Michael John restored some hopes for O’Connor after scoring in the 65th minute, but it took visitors too long to score a second.
Aisosa Ihegie scored in his second consecutive game with a great header in the sixth minute of additional time, but it was too little too late for the Knights.
The 3-2 loss sees O’Connor remain in sixth, meaning their next fixture against fourth-placed Tuggeranong United on Saturday, July 5 will be a must-win in the pursuit of Capital Finals football.
Canberra Croatia 4 (James 21′, 90′, Green 45′, Brown (O.G) 82′)
Gungahlin United 5 (Lespinasse 49′, 58′, 70′, 90+3′, Yoshida 56′)
Steamrolling through competition in the Capital NPLM, Canberra Croatia were in for a big shock against the struggling Gungahlin United at Deakin Stadium.
While Thomas James displayed his immense class to open the scoring in the 21st minute with a beautiful free-kick, Croatia were reduced to 10 men in the 33rd minute after Nikola Jadrić was shown red after sharing words with the referee.
However, it didn’t immediately impact Dean Ugrinić’s side, who added a second right before the half-time break after an excellent finish from Maxx Green.
Cruising ahead into the second half, not many anticipated what was to come next.
Scoring one back for Gungahlin in the 49th minute, former Real Sociedad youth prospect Loïck Lespinasse simply took over the game.
A mid-season recruit for the visitors, the Frenchman went on to provide an assist for Shoki Yoshida in the 56th minute and score a free-kick of his own in the 58th minute.
Smashing his side into the lead, Lespinasse secured a hattrick in the 70th minute with a smart run in behind Croatia’s defence.
Falling 4-2 behind, Croatia managed to fight their way back into the game very well.
A free-kick delivery into the box by Thomas James caused all sorts of issues for Gungahlin, who accidentally turned the ball home for an own goal in the 82nd minute.
With the game back in reach, it was Thomas James once again to stand up for the hosts.
Stepping up to another free-kick, James’ effort flew over the wall and bounced into the back of the net for a stunning 90th-minute equaliser, sending the crowd into raptures.
Just as the individual brilliance of James was seemingly enough to see Croatia claim a point, Loïck Lespinasse said, “Hold my beer.”
First to a threaded ball in behind Croatia’s defence again, the French attacker slotted the ball into an open net to help Gungahlin to just their second win on the season in the 93rd minute.
Conceding just 13 goals in their opening 12 league games this season and recording the most clean sheets with five, Croatia were simply outdone by a masterclass from Lespinasse.
Following a frankly crazy game of football, Canberra Croatia will hope to build back their lead on top of the ladder when they face second-placed Tigers FC next on Sunday, July 6.
NPL Western Australia: Round 14
Western Knights 1 (Santich 55′)
Armadale 1 (Collins 81′)
Taking on Armadale in an NPL WA mid-table clash, it was a great opportunity for Western Knights to distance themselves from survival and push towards Finals contention.
While both sides remained scoreless in the first 45′, Knights’ Kristian Santich broke the deadlock in remarkable fashion.
Winning a ball in the middle of the park, Santich noticed the goalkeeper off his line and unleashed a marvellous effort, lobbing the ‘keeper for a clear Goal of the Season contender.
In the ascendency, the Knights fought hard to keep Armadale out with time ticking away.
However, defender Luke Collins pounced on a set-piece for the visitors, claiming a draw for his side.
Finishing one-all, the Knights ultimately come away with another point that just about guarantees that they will remain in Western Australia’s top-flight.
An away fixture against Bayswater will be the next test for the Knights, taking on the undefeated league leaders on Saturday, July 5.
NPL Tasmania: Round 12
Riverside Olympic 2 (Krusa 12′, Rai 26′)
Glenorchy Knights 1 (Walpole 45′)
Remaining on the road for a clash with Riverside Olympic at Windsor Park, the Glenorchy Knights had their winless streak in NPL Tasmania extended to four games after a disappointing loss.
Riverside fired themselves two to the good after 26 minutes, exposing the Knights’ defence early on.
While a goal from Thomas Walpole on the brink of half-time gave Glenorchy hope they needed to push for more, it simply did not come.
A fifth loss of the season for the Knights, an upcoming home fixture could be the catalyst to spark a resurgence, next facing Launceston City on Saturday, July 12.
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