Adelaide Croatia Raiders’ survival hopes in NPL SA were put to an end following a 3-1 loss at home to Campbelltown City.
Blown away by a second-half quickfire triple by Campbelltown, Adelaide Croatia could not come back in the Friday night clash, set to be relegated back to South Australia’s second division for 2026.
Meanwhile, Sydney United 58’s Australia Cup run was put to an end, Gold Coast Knights claimed a crucial victory in their fight for finals football, and Canberra Croatia returned to winning ways.
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.
Australia Cup: Round of 16
Sydney United 58 0
Sydney FC 2 (Toure 10′, Youlley 88′)
Putting together a five-game undefeated streak, the hopes of a famous cup-set at Edensor Park were well and truly alive for Sydney United 58.
Hosting the 2023 Australia Cup Champions, the Sky Blues’ quality shone through almost immediately after Al Hassan Toure tapped home a lovely whipped cross by English winger Joe Lolley in the 10th minute.
Although United 58 recorded 13 shots on goal to their opponents’ five in the first 45 minutes, Ufuk Talay’s side would hold onto the lead heading into the second half.
Playing without head coach Ante Jurić, United 58 continued to push and recorded over double the number of shots compared to the visitors, but creating clear-cut opportunities was challenging for the hosts.
As time ticked down, a beautiful finish from Young Socceroos midfielder Rhys Youlley in the 88th minute sealed the victory for the Sky Blues.
Despite United 58’s efforts and matching up against the A-League Men’s opposition exceptionally well, the moments of brilliance proved to be the difference between the two sides on the day.
As disappointing as being eliminated from the Australia Cup is, the defeat will at least ensure United 58 can entirely focus back on the league.
In a tense race for NPL NSW‘s top six, Sydney United 58 face Blacktown City at Edensor Park on Wednesday, August 13, before facing Mt Druitt Town Rangers on Saturday, August 16.
NPL Queensland: Round 20
Gold Coast Knights 2 (Cobb 33′, Kaneko 88′)
Eastern Suburbs 1 (Ridenton 25′)
In a hot run of league form, Gold Coast Knights had it all to play for in a top-four six-pointer against Eastern Suburbs on Saturday.
However, it would not start in ideal circumstances for David Abela’s side on home soil, conceding first after an excellent opening strike from former New Zealand international Matthew Ridenton in the 25th minute.
Despite falling behind disappointingly, the heads would not drop for the boys in Red, White and Blue, pushing to respond and finding their equaliser not too long after.
Found near the penalty spot by a smart cutback by Rahmat Akbari, young attacker Ty Cobb brought the score back level in the 33rd minute.
It was a big goal for the Knights, scoring a very deserved goal and entering the half-time break at 1-1.
Although it would require patience to find the winning goal, the relentless attitude and persistence of the Knights was put on display in the final minutes.
Pouncing on a fumble by the opposing goalkeeper in the 88th minute, Japanese winger Taisei Kaneko was in the right place at the right time to send the hosts into the lead.
Defending valiantly to maintain their lead, the Knights would hold on successfully and be rewarded with all three points on the night.
Remaining fourth on the NPL Queensland ladder, the Knights have now created a five-point gap between themselves and Eastern Suburbs in fifth, a great scenario with just two more games remaining.
Gold Coast Knights will need to work for their finals position though, next facing league leaders Moreton City Excelsior away from home on Friday, August 15.
NPL South Australia: Round 21
Adelaide Croatia Raiders 1 (Niyonkuru 76′)
Campbelltown City 3 (Marino 55′, 61′, Graves 67′)
Requiring a win to keep their survival hopes alive, Adelaide Croatia Raiders needed a big performance on home soil against finals-contending Campbelltown City.
The game remained level in a scoreless first half, with a sense of nerves clear to see in a must-win clash for both sides.
However, it would only take 10 minutes for the deadlock to be broken in the second half.
Controversially earning a corner kick, Campbelltown striker Marc Marino would be quickest to react in the box to take his side into the lead.
Finding the opener, the floodgates would begin to open for the visitors.
Ghosting at the back post for a simple header, Marino would grab his second of the night in the 61st minute, despite protests for a potential offside.
In control of the game, Campbelltown would score a third just six minutes later after a quick attack was finished by substitute Nicholas Graves.
While the Raiders would score a consolation goal in the 76th minute after 19-year-old top-scorer Donatien Niyonkuru would convert a spot kick he earned, it simply was not enough for the hosts.
Following wins for 11th-placed Modbury Jets and 10th-placed Para Hills Knights respectively, Adelaide Croatia Raiders’ relegation from NPL SA was confirmed, returning to South Australia’s State League 1 after earning promotion in 2023.
The Raiders will play their final game of the season away from home against second-placed Adelaide City on Friday, August 15.
NPL Capital Football: Round 18
Monaro Panthers 5 (Barac 6′, 16′, Mynott-Smith 30′, Domenici 41′, Kreskas 78′)
O’Connor Knights 3 (John 22′, Ceruti 54′, Bill 86′)
Facing title-contending Monaro Panthers away from home, the struggling O’Connor Knights had a big task on their hands to turn around their form.
Assisted by former Knights winger Phakedi Manda, Capital NPL‘s top scorer, Daniel Barac, would open the scoring in the sixth minute with an outrageous chipped effort out of nowhere.
It would get worse soon after for O’Connor after Manda earned a penalty in the 15th minute, with Barac clinically converting from the spot.
Two goals down already against the high-scoring Panthers, the Knights needed to find a way to hold off their opponents and find their way back into the action.
They successfully did this, slowly regaining control and nicking back a goal in the 22nd minute thanks to an opportunistic finish by Michael John.
However, Monaro would quickly regain momentum and score another on the half-hour mark through a sweet finish by young midfielder Connor Mynott-Smith.
Continuously causing problems down the left wing, Manda would register another assist against his former side in the 41st minute after playing the ball back to Stephen Domenici on the edge of the box for a composed finish into the bottom corner.
Despite trailing 4-1 at the break, O’Connor did come out improved in the second half.
Bursting through on goal after a favourable deflection off the defender, the Knights’ top scorer, Jenno Ceruti, got one back for the visitors in the 54th minute.
However, the Knights again failed to capitalise on the goal, with the hosts replying with the final blow in the 77th minute.
Flying up the field for a counterattack, Christian Krekas was played through on goal after some great footwork by Mynott-Smith and finished through the legs of Cameron Brown to make it 5-2.
While defender Connor Bill would celebrate his first goal of the season after volleying home Michael John’s corner delivery in the 86th minute, it would only prove to be a consolation for the Knights.
Despite putting up an excellent fight against one of the league’s top sides, O’Connor unfortunately recorded their eighth consecutive defeat.
Seeking to avoid finishing at the bottom of the league, O’Connor Knights will hope to end their losing streak when they host Queanbeyan City on Saturday, August 16.
Queanbeyan City 1 (Dellahi 24′)
Canberra Croatia FC 3 (James 20′, Green 55′, 76′)
Returning to action following suffering two straight losses for the first time in well over a year, Canberra Croatia desperately needed to get back to winning at High Street Oval against Queanbeyan City.
With head coach Dean Ugrinić back on the touchline after leading out the Docceroos at the World Medical Football Championships in Ireland, the return to familiarity proved very important for Croatia.
Thomas James produced a rather common but special piece of magic in the 20th minute after curling a free-kick into the side netting from distance, scoring his 13th goal of the season.
However, the hosts would score from a free-kick of their own in the 24th minute after Abderrahim Dellahi found himself unmarked in the box for a simple header.
Dellahi would cause Canberra issues not long after, drawing a foul from defender Jack Periać-Cullen to earn a penalty just 10 minutes after his goal.
Facing off against Queanbeyan’s Misko Naumoski, Croatia’s goalkeeper Sam Brown read the spot-kick to a tee and kept the score at 1-1 with a crucial save.
The equal scoreline would remain until early in the second half, when Croatia began to pull away.
Rising high to meet Riley Zsuzsa’s cross into the box, Maxx Green’s header into the top right corner saw Croatia regain their lead in the 55th minute.
The 21-year-old attacker would score a second in the 76th minute after pouncing on a poor backpass by a Queanbeyan defender, sealing the win for Croatia.
As Tigers FC only managed to come away with a point the day prior, Croatia’s margin at the top of the ladder grew to eight points, while Tigers have just a single game in hand over the league leaders.
Canberra Croatia have the potential to already secure the ACT’s Premiership and subsequent Australian Championship qualification in Round 19, facing sixth-placed Gungahlin United on Sunday, August 17.
NPL Western Australia: Round 20
Western Knights 4 (Tang 21′, Lawson 50′, 90+6′, Atta 90+1′)
Floreat Athena 3 (Saldaris 34′, Mathet 37′, Tong 58′)
Taking on the winless Floreat Athena in NPL WA‘s Round 20, Western Knights were keen to take all three points as they push for a top-half league finish.
It would all go to plan early on for the Knights after winger Justin Tang rose highest to convert a short-corner routine and score his first goal of the season in the 21st minute.
However, Floreat Athena would score a corner goal of their own in the 34th minute thanks to a powerful header by defender Christopher Saldaris.
The visitors would surprisingly take the lead heading into the break after attacker Abraham Mathet would send multiple defenders to the floor before finishing coolly into the bottom corner.
While Knights would respond not long after the restart through a whipped corner by Ellis Lawson that was turned behind by a Floreat defender, the visitors regained the lead in the 58th minute after a slick finish from Bol Tong.
As time ticked down at Nash Field, hard pressing from Kosta Sparta saw him poke a ball through to substitute Tarek Atta, who slotted home the equaliser in the 91st minute.
The Knights were not done here, earning another corner in the sixth minute of additional time.
Whipping the ball into a dangerous area once again, Ellis Lawson’s delivery was once again turned into the goals by a Floreat defender, allowing the Knights to prevail on home soil with the final kick of the game.
Although it realistically should’ve come earlier and easier for the Knights, it was a game that will undoubtedly be remembered for a long time by the players and supporters, demonstrating an unwavering belief to push for results until the final whistle.
Winning three out of their last four outings, Western Knights next face Sorrento FC on Saturday, August 16.
NPL Tasmania: Round 17
Devonport Strikers 1 (Innes 90+7′)
Glenorchy Knights 1 (Undy 68′)
Taking on fourth-placed Devonport Strikers at Valley Road Ground in Round 17 of NPL Tasmania, Glenorchy Knights were hoping to turn around their form with a top-half finish on the line.
Recording five defeats in their last seven outings, the Knights started well on the day, defending resolutely and creating occasional chances.
Hanging in the game, it would be Glenorchy to break the deadlock in the 68th minute after Hugh Undy arrived in the box to produce an excellent finish.
Stunning the hosts, the Knights gained the lead and held strong against the desperate hosts.
Just minutes away from the full-time whistle, a lunging tackle from a Knights defender in the penalty area gave the referee no choice but to point to the spot in the sixth minute of additional time.
Placing his penalty kick into the top corner, Colin Innes ensured that the points would be shared between Devonport and Glenorchy in a tight Saturday clash.
Returning to their home ground, Glenorchy Knights will be tested next against Kingborough Lions on Friday, August 15.
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