Coming from behind to defeat Melbourne Victory, thanks to a trio of substitute goals, the in-form Dandenong City Hajduk extended their winning streak to five consecutive games in all competitions.
Knocking on the door of the top six, Dandy City have hit their stride under head coach Nick Tolios as the NPL Victoria season reached its halfway point in Round 13.
Tough defeats to Melbourne Knights, St Albans Dinamo and Sydney United 58 raise concerns, while dropped points by Premiership favourites in Queensland and the Capital rounded out a week of shock results across the nation.
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 13
Dandenong City Hajduk 3 (Plant 60′, 76′, Cesnik 84′)
Melbourne Victory 1 (Wall 35′)
Putting the sword to Melbourne Knights in the ‘Croatian Derby’ last week, Dandenong City Hajduk secured a fifth-straight win with a strong comeback over Melbourne Victory.
Conceding in the 35th minute, a red card to Victory’s Jack Mihailidis saw Dandy begin to gain full control over the game at Frank Holohan.
Substitute Brad Plant scored a brace to give Hajduk the lead, while Valli Cesnik sealed all three points in the 84th minute for Nick Tolios’ men.
Dandy City now sit just two points behind sixth-placed Preston Lions at the midway point of the NPL Victoria season.
Looking to extend their red-hot form, St Albans Dinamo at Churchill Reserve is next up for Hajduk on Sunday, May 18.
Altona Magic 4 (Fabrizio 6′, Frangie 41′, Theodorakopoulos 63′, Habib 65′)
Melbourne Knights 0
Announcing the departure of head coach Ivan Franjić following the 2-0 defeat to Dandenong City, Melbourne Knights’ shock start to the 2025 season continued on the weekend.
Taking on Altona Magic at Paisley Park, Knights were thumped 4-0 by a side that last recorded a win in mid-February.
As such, Altona have subsequently traded positions with Knights, who have fallen into the drop zone after Round 13.
Knights are now amid a five-game losing streak in NPL VIC, while next tasked with a difficult away fixture against league-leading Heidelberg United on Friday, May 16.
Hume City 3 (Debele 8′, Kirdar 60′, Isgrove 82′)
St Albans Dinamo 2 (Gulevski 21′, Byrns 55′)
Putting a halt to a five-game losing streak of their own following a 2-2 draw against Dandenong Thunder, St Albans Dinamo weren’t far from repeating their fortunes against Hume City.
Conceding early on, former Hume player Josh Gulevski equalised for Dinamo in the first half.
Youngster Lucas Byrns fired Dinamo into the lead 10 minutes into the second half, but a goal not long after by midfielder Birkan Kirdar, followed by former Southampton winger Lloyd Isgrove in the 82nd minute, killed off the visitors.
Coming painfully close to accruing some crucial points as they sit just a few points above the relegation zone, Dinamo will host Dandy City Hajduk next in a big fixture for both clubs on Sunday, May 18.
NPL New South Wales: Round 14
Sydney Olympic 4 (Clark 25′, 77′, Callaghan 26′, Dehmie 70′)
Sydney United 58 0
Defeating Sydney Olympic in Australia Cup qualifying during mid-week in a 3-3 thriller decided by penalties, Sydney United felt the full wrath of Olympic in the league fixture on Saturday.
A quickfire first-half double from Seth Clark and Bailey Callaghan was complemented by two in the second 45′ by former Brisbane Roar striker Cyrus Dehmie and Clark once more.
Sat 7th after a strong 2-0 win over Mt Druitt Town Rangers, United now fall to 11th in an ultra-competitive NPL NSW race for the top six.
Returning to Edensor Park on Sunday, May 18, Sydney United have the opportunity to jump back up the ladder when they face St George City.
NPL Queensland: Round 3
Gold Coast Knights 0
St. George Willawong 0
Defeating league leaders Moreton City Excelsior last weekend, Gold Coast Knights somehow did not come away with all three points against St. George Willawong.
Dominating possession and recording 3.2 expected goals, Knights were held to a 0-0 draw on home soil.
While tied alongside first and second-placed Moreton City and Lions FC on 13 points, Scott McDonald’s side sit amongst the league’s lowest scoring sides with just seven goals scored in six games.
Redemption will be a must for the Knights as they prepare for a mid-week clash against Peninsula Power on Wednesday, May 14, quickly followed by Eastern Suburbs on Saturday, May 17.
NPL South Australia: Round 9
Adelaide Croatia Raiders 2 (Blažeka 78′, 85′)
Para Hills Knights 2 (Santos 40′, Muradi 88′)
Losing three games on the bounce in NPL SA, a home fixture against Para Hills Knights was a big opportunity for Adelaide Croatia Raiders to rejuvenate their season.
While falling behind in the first half, a late brace from young midfielder Noah Blažeka fired the Raiders into the lead with not long to spare.
However, Ali Muradi’s 88th-minute equaliser spoiled the hosts’ party and meant both teams came away with a point each.
It’s certainly not all doom and gloom for the Raiders, who have now jumped out of the relegation zone.
Round 10 will pose a challenge in the form of Campbelltown City away from home on Friday, May 16.
NPL Capital Football: Round 5
Tigers FC 2 (McGregor 48′, 81′)
Canberra Croatia 1 (Green 59′)
Looking almost invincible after a perfect opening four rounds in NPL ACT, Tigers FC got the better of Canberra Croatia in a Grand Final rematch.
Remaining scoreless at the break, a brace from youngster Archie McGregor led his side to victory, despite Maxx Green netting his third goal of the season for Croatia.
While the reigning Capital Champions remain on top of the league table, just one point separates the top three sides in what could prove to be a thrilling Premiership race with Australian Championship qualification to play for.
Taking on second-placed Monaro Panthers on Sunday, May 18, the fight for the top of the league continues for Canberra Croatia.
Tuggeranong United 1 (Nealon 24′)
O’Connor Knights 1 (Adams 16′)
Recording their first win of the season with a 6-0 triumph over Queanbeyan City, O’Connor Knights couldn’t continue their firing form into Round 5.
While midfielder Michael Adams opened the scoring from the spot in the 16th minute, 17-year-old Steve Nealon also converted a penalty kick for the home side just eight minutes later.
Neither side managed to continue the scoring for the remainder of the clash, finishing one-all.
While Knights fell one position down in the NPL ACT ladder, claiming all three points against the winless Gungahlin United will be the priority in their next game on Sunday, May 18.
NPL Western Australia: Round 7
Perth SC 3 (Banks 23′, Perkins 83′, Cala 90+3′)
Western Knights 3 (Santich 38′, 55′, Lazzaro 67′)
Returning to action for a tough game against fourth-placed Perth SC, Western Knights were desperate to end a four-game losing streak.
Perth opened the scoring, but Kristian Santich equalised late in the first half by converting his one-on-one opportunity.
Just 10 minutes into the second half, Santich fired his brace with a stunning free-kick to pull the Knights ahead.
Jesse Lazzaro seemingly confirmed the win in the 67th minute by putting away his spot kick, with the Knights 3-1 up in stunning fashion.
However, a late double from Perth ensured both sides shared a point in a cracking Friday night clash.
While Knights were just moments away from securing a vital win, the point against one of the league’s top sides away from home is certainly helpful in their fight for survival in NPL WA.
Now putting a close to their losing streak, the Knights return to Mosman Park to take on Fremantle City on Saturday, May 17.
NPL Tasmania: Round 7
Glenorchy Knights 3 (Karia 10′, Morris 28′, Sammut 83′)
Launceston United 2 (Glover (O.G) 57′, Owusu 90+4′)
Copping a tough 5-1 beating at the hands of Launceston City last weekend, a response was a must in Round 7 for the Glenorchy Knights.
First-half goals from Bary Karia and Cammron Morris had the Knights leading 2-0 at the break over Launceston United, but an own goal in the 57th minute had the visitors back in action.
However, Joel Sammut’s 83rd-minute goal proved to be the winner, despite a late scare in the fourth minute of additional time.
Controlling the possession battle and firing 13 more shots on goal than their opponents, the Knights most importantly returned to the win column on Saturday.
Climbing back up to third in the NPL Tasmania ladder, Glenorchy next take on bottom-placed Clarence Zebras on Friday, May 23.