Dandenong City Hajduk claimed an important win in their hunt for NPL Victoria‘s top six, triumphing 1-0 over Oakleigh Cannons at Frank Holohan Reserve.
Unbeaten in their last six outings, Dandy City take on all three of the league’s relegation-bound sides in the remaining three rounds of the season, just one point away from the illustrious top six.
Meanwhile, Melbourne Knights suffer a four-goal loss, Sydney United 58 and Gold Coast Knights come away with vital results in the pursuit of finals football, and a 20-year-old Cro wonderkid bags a hat-trick in the Capital’s Croatian Derby.
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 23
Green Gully 2 (Heaton 45+3′, Abdallah 68′)
St Albans Dinamo 2 (Monek 10′, Čolina 29′)
Successfully confirming their place in NPLM Victoria next season after a fourth-straight win, St Albans Dinamo had a good test on their hands against Green Gully.
Although the hosts came close to scoring in the opening minutes, it would be Joey Monek’s stunning left-footed curling strike to kick off the goalscoring in the 10th minute.
Pouncing on a poor clearance, Joey Čolina made it two just before the half-hour mark for Dinamo with his well-placed volley.
However, Gully would score a crucial goal in the third minute of additional time to regain momentum heading into the halftime break.
While Dinamo did well to keep out the hosts momentarily, a precise long ball over the top to Aamir Abdallah was finished off clinically in the 68th minute.
Although St Albans ultimately were forced to settle for a point after being two goals ahead, the final result was largely flattering for Cameron Watson’s side, who scored both shots they had on target.
Returning to Churchill Reserve in their next fixture, St Albans Dinamo will hope to extend their eight-game undefeated streak when they face Preston Lions on Sunday, August 3.
Dandenong City Hajduk 1 (Inaba 55′)
Oakleigh Cannons 0
Competing for a finals position, Dandenong City Hajduk needed a positive result back at Frank Holohan Reserve against fourth-placed Oakleigh Cannons.
Following a tightly contested first half, it would be Nick Tolios’ men to come out of the break strongest.
Stretching out to reach Jamie Latham’s inswinging free-kick delivery, Japanese centre-back Gaku Inaba scored his first goal in Hajduk colours.
While Inaba’s effort ended up being Dandy City’s only shot on target for the entire game, Hajduk ran away with all three points.
Despite remaining seventh in the league, just one point separates Dandy City from sixth-placed Hume City with three rounds remaining.
On a six-game unbeaten run, Dandy City Hajduk’s next clash will be crucial, taking on Port Melbourne Sharks on Friday, August 1.
Dandenong Thunder 4 (Uchida 8′, 58′, Taylor 28′, Jalloh 34′)
Melbourne Knights 0
Taking on third-placed Dandenong Thunder in the final fixture of the round, Melbourne Knights needed a miracle at George Andrews Reserve.
Unfortunately, it did not come for John Markovski’s men, who fell behind just eight minutes in.
Yuki Uchida rose highest to open the scoring for the hosts, while Kyle Taylor and Hassan Jalloh added two more in the first half.
Uchida scored his second early in the second half with another headed goal, well and truly sinking the Knights’ hopes of claiming any points.
Remaining seven points adrift of safety with just three rounds remaining, Melbourne Knights’ relegation from Victoria’s top flight is seemingly all but pending.
However, anything can happen in football, and the Knights can still survive, but they will need to get started at Tompsett Stadium when they host Hume City on Friday, August 1.
NPL New South Wales: Round 25
Rockdale Ilinden 0
Sydney United 58 0
Progressing through to the Australia Cup Round of 16 after a hard-fought 1-0 win over Northern Tigers midweek, Sydney United 58 were in for another big clash against Rockdale Ilinden on Sunday.
While Ante Jurić’s side managed to register an expected goals of 1.41 compared to Rockdale’s 0.47, United 58 could not find the winning touch on the day.
Although taking a point on the road against the league’s fourth-placed side in a good performance is certainly positive, Sydney Olympic’s win over St George City meant that United 58 have fallen out of the top six on goal difference.
Back at Edensor Park in Round 26, Sydney United 58 simply have to secure all three points against St George Saints in their hunt for NPL NSW finals football.
NPL Queensland: Round 7
Gold Coast Knights 1 (Brown 39′)
Olympic FC 0
Back on home soil to seek revenge after suffering defeat to Olympic FC earlier in the month, Gold Coast Knights were adamant in claiming all three points.
On his return to the side, number 10 Max Brown converted on a poor pass from the back by Olympic.
Taking the lead late in the first half, the Knights closed out the game well and kept a well-needed clean sheet.
Jumping back into NPL Queensland‘s top four, David Abela’s men will need to turn their attentions to ALM Premiers Auckland FC in the Australia Cup on Tuesday, before a massive Gold Coast Derby clash on Saturday, August 2.
NPL South Australia: Round 19
Adelaide Croatia Raiders 1 (Matikulas 80′)
Croydon Kings 3 (Trimboli 70′, Bartkowski 86′, Slattery 90+5′)
Eliminated by Cooks Hill United in the Australia Cup midweek, the fight for survival in NPL SA was back as the primary focus for Adelaide Croatia Raiders.
Hosting second-placed Croydon Kings, it would take 70 minutes for the deadlock to be broken.
Arriving at the near post, Luca Trimboli put the visitors ahead by directing Pasia John’s cross goalwards.
However, the heads of the Raiders group did not drop, responding with a goal of their own 10 minutes later.
Catching Croydon off guard with a short corner, Oliver Zafiridis’ whipped delivery was headed home beautifully by youngster Isaac Matikulas.
Bringing the score back level, it certainly felt that either of the two sides would come away as winners.
Threatening again from wide areas, Santana Bartkowski arrived to tap home a goal from a ball delivered across the box, putting Croydon ahead.
Committing bodies forward as they searched for the win, the Raiders conceded a late third goal after a slick finish from Oscar Slattery.
Fighting hard until the end against one of the league’s top sides, the Raiders were rather unfortunate to come away empty-handed.
Although they remain at the bottom of the ladder, just a single point separates the Raiders in 12th from Modbury in 10th, with survival still more than achievable.
Adelaide Croatia will seek to return to winning ways in a relegation six-pointer, taking on 11th-placed Para Hills Knights on Saturday, August 2.
NPL Capital Football: Round 16
O’Connor Knights 2 (John 50′, Rathouski 87′)
Canberra Croatia FC 3 (Pratežina 23′, 31′, 54′)
Hosting Canberra Croatia in a crucial Derby clash after suffering an embarrassing 9-1 loss earlier this season, O’Connor Knights were more than aware of how dangerous their opponents can be on their day.
Scoreless in his last two outings, young star Nicholas Pratežina returned to his electric goalscoring form in Round 16.
Driving through the middle of the park and releasing the ball wide, Pratežina’s smart run and touch past the goalkeeper took his side into the lead after 23 minutes.
Not done there, the 20-year-old arrived in the nick of time to meet Thomas James’ cut back in the box to make it 2-0.
A poor start from the Knights, an excellent finish from Michael John early in the second half gave his side some life.
As quickly as the belief of a comeback arrived, a penalty conceded minutes later was truly devastating for O’Connor.
Stepping up to the spot, Pratežina converted the penalty kick to secure a special Croatian Derby hat-trick.
The Knights would score another in the 87th minute thanks to a header from Marko Rathouski, but it would only prove to be a consolation goal as Croatia won 3-2 in the end.
While O’Connor’s finals hopes remain all but dead, Canberra Croatia extend their lead at the top of the NPL Capital ladder to nine points, approaching closer and closer to lifting the Premiership and securing Australian Championship qualification.
The league leaders will next take on bottom-placed Yoogali SC on home soil on Sunday, August 3, as O’Connor hosts second-placed Tigers FC on Saturday, August 2.
NPL Western Australia: Round 18
Western Knights 4 (Santich 2′, O’Brien 12′, Sparta 13′, Curtis 21′)
Perth SC 1 (Perkins 43′)
Fresh off an exceptional five-goal win over Perth Glory Youth, the Western Knights continued their flying form on the weekend.
Hosting Perth SC, the Knights came out swinging from the start.
Unleashing a driven strike from distance, Kristian Santich found the back of the net in the second minute.
The next would come after Kosta Sparta’s cross from wide was headed home by frontman Harry O’Brien.
Just one minute later, O’Brien would provide for Sparta to make it 3-0, scoring a fourth goal in his last two games.
Adding insult to injury, Henry Curtis was the first to react to a loose ball in the box to make it four to the hosts in the 21st minute.
Although Perth would volley home a reply in the 43rd minute, the Knights would hold strong to see out a fantastic 4-1 win.
While NPL WA finals football is almost certainly out of reach, Western Knights can officially secure their top-flight survival when they play Fremantle City on Saturday, August 2.
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