KICKOFF 2020 7TH AUGUST - ROUND 02 9TH AUGUST MEN’S FIXTURES - ROUND 02 7:30 PM • FRI 7 AUG • LAMBERT PARK Referee: H. Jomaa Assistant Referees: N. Wotton Fourth Official: M. Staples 7:30 PM• FRI 7 AUG • CROMER PARK Referee: A. Arndt Assistant Referees: J. Park Fourth Official: A. Morris 7:00 PM • SAT 8 AUG • POPONDETTA PARK Referee: M. Weiner Assistant Referees: R. Osborne Fourth Official: P. Teleki 3:00 PM• SUN 9 AUG SYDNEY UNITED SPORTS CENTRE Referee: C. Fisher Assistant Referees: B. Merchant Fourth Official: A. Hosnani 6:30 PM • SUN 9 AUG • ILINDEN SPORTS CENTRE ® Referee: T. Plasto Assistant Referees: R. Osborne Fourth Official: H. Al-Nakeeb 5:00 PM • SUN 9 AUG • LAMBERT PARK Referee: C. Wright Assistant Referees: J. Adabjou Fourth Official: J. Park 2 #NPLNSW PLAY IT SAFE AND REDUCE THE RISK PREPARE AND WASH OR SANITISE YOUR DRESS FOR GAMES HANDS BEFORE AND AT HOME AFTER YOUR GAME SOCIAL DISTANCING TO BE IMPLEMENTED AT ALL TIMES DO NOT SHAKE HANDS, FILL AND BRING YOUR OWN HIGH FIVE OR HUG OTHER CLEARLY LABELLED DRINK PLAYERS, OFFICIALS, TEAM BOTTLE FROM HOME. OFFICIALS OR SPECTATORS DO NOT SHARE DRINK BOTTLES. DO NOT ATTEND IF YOU EXHIBIT ANY OF THESE SYMPTOMS FEVER COUGH FATIGUE SORE THROAT SHORTNESS OF BREATH PREVIEWS It is round two of the National Premier Leagues Symons return to the starting eleven. NSW Men’s competition with another six Attack will be another major concern for Calleja blockbuster fixtures set to take to the fields after his side’s attack was largely nullified but the across Sydney. club hope to call back Corey Biczo to assist in that The weekend’s matches kick-off on Friday with department. APIA Leichhardt hosting Wollongong Wolves as Jeremy Cox scored their only goal with a stunning the reigning champions and reigning premiers volley deep into injury time and he will be needed face off. to maintain that touch in front of goal if APIA is to Manly United are also in action on Friday night as take home the three points. they look for their first win of the season against The Luke Wilkshire coached Wolves will be also Western Sydney Wanderers, while Saturday working on their finishing in front of goal ahead night will feature Mt Druitt hosting Blacktown of this weekend’s clash. City. Wollongong struggled to make the most of their Three games will take place on Sunday, Sydney litany of chances against an underdone Rangers United 58 against North Shore Mariners, Sydney outfit. Olympic facing off against Sydney FC and They won’t have the luxury of letting Rockdale hosting Marconi in the final match of opportunities go to waste this week. the weekend. Japanese import Takeru Okada will be one to APIA Leichhardt FC v Wollongong Wolves FC, watch as well as well as frontman Bul Juach and 7.30pm Friday at Lambert Park the attacking talents of Marcus Beattie. The reigning Premiers will take on the reigning After such a long break both teams are still league champions will do battle on Friday night finding their feet but with the shortened season as APIA Leichhardt FC host Wollongong Wolves APIA and Wollongong will be desperate to take at Lambert Park. home all three points. APIA will be desperate to return to the winner’s Manly United FC v Western Sydney circle after suffering defeat at the hands of rivals Wanderers, 7.30pm Friday at Cromer Park Marconi last week in the opening fixture of the Manly United and Western Sydney Wanderers rebooted NPL NSW Men’s season. will be fighting for their first win of the season If anyone thought teams were set to take this when the two sides go head to head at Cromer make shift competition lightly, they were wrong Park on Friday night. – the match against the Stallions saw how much The boys from the Northern Beaches will be playing the game again means to them. hoping to get the better of the Wanderers in what Wollongong, on the other hand, will be pushing is the first time the two sides have met in the NPL for their second win in as many games after they NSW Men’s competition. dispatched Mt Druitt 1-0 last round. Manly were held to a scoreless draw against APIA will be without defender Paul Galimi for the Rockdale City Suns in week one while the clash after he was sent off against the Stallions Wanderers suffered a 3-2 loss at the hands of which will force coach John Calleja into a reshuffle fierce rivals Sydney FC. of his backline. Both teams showed plenty of flair going forward This will more than likely see the introduction of in their opening round matches, but Manly were one of the club’s standout defenders during the unable to find the back of the net – something start of the NPL season before COVID-19 hit, Josh coach Paul Dee won’t want a repeat of this time. 4 #NPLNSW Defender Kieran Paull and striker Marley Peterson the ability to take over a match. were United’s best against Rockdale with both Mt Druitt Town Rangers v Blacktown City FC, testing Suns keeper Tomislav Arcaba. 7pm Saturday at Popondetta Park The Wanderers showed plenty of heart despite Western Sydney bragging rights will go on the defeat in round one with the way they fought line as Mt Druitt Town Rangers host Blacktown back from 3-0 down at half time. City at Popondetta Park on Saturday night. Coach Arthur Diles really knows how to bring Rangers coach Franco Cosentino will be the best out of his young upcoming stars as he desperate for his first win in charge and to get the has vowed not to change the team’s style for the scalp of local rival Blacktown would be a huge entire rebooted season. confidence booster for him and his team. Ali Auglah and Stefan Nikolic both found the In round one, Mt Druitt suffered a narrow 1-0 loss back of the net as the visitors dominated the to Wollongong Wolves with their scrambling second 45 minutes with a showing which is sure defence going a long way to keeping the reigning to fill the young side with plenty of confidence – league champions at bay for most of the match. look for the talents of Dean Pelekanos in midfield The Rangers were pushed all the way by to also play a telling role in the Wanderers attack. Wollongong with captain and shot-stopper Thomas Aquilina was also dangerous in the club’s Carlos Saliadarre making several key saves first game so expect him to be in and around the against a dangerous Wolves attack. action. They were able to hold their heads high in what Manly will need to call on all their experience to was a gritty performance as Solomon Monahan- get the win against a Western Sydney team with Vaiika and Jake Mamone battled for the full ninety NPLNSW.COM.AU 5 PREVIEWS minutes. but with such a short season it is imperative to A lot of pressure will be put in the hands of their their finals chances they fill the gap as quickly as ace marksman John Roberts who is set to take on possible. his former club he had so much success at as a It will be up to experienced campaigners Matt junior. Sim, Thomas Manos and Yianni Fragogiannis to Blacktown, on the other hand, were unlucky not help their younger teammates find their rhythm to have taken home three competition points as while we may see the introduction of new recruits they were held to a 0-0 draw against North Shore Jacob Poscoliero and Mirjan Pavlovic thrown into Mariners. the mix. Mark Crittenden’s side spurned a handful of North Shore showed against Blacktown that scoring chances and nearly paid the price when they are not to be underestimated and were a North Shore had a goal disallowed. disallowed goal away from snatching a shock win. New Blacktown recruit Mario Shabow was a handful for defenders but he will need to work Manny Peters is a handful for any defence and on his finishing to make the most of his skilful could be the key to a Mariners win while look dribbling and chance creation. out for Charles William who had a good opening match against Blacktown City. We will be also watching to see if skipper Matty Lewis can replicate his goalscoring form that hit United 58 will be favourites at home but if they’re home pre-COVID to lift his side while it was a not at their best it could easily be the Mariners for good debut for keeper Shaun Catlin who kept his the taking. first clean sheet for the club in round 1. Sydney Olympic FC v Sydney FC, 5 pm Sunday It is set to be an exciting match and with local at Lambert Park bragging rights on the line, it is sure to go down Sydney Olympic and Sydney FC will be both to the wire. fighting for back-to-back wins when they face off Sydney United 58 v North Shore Mariners, at Lambert Park on Sunday. 3pm Sunday at Sydney United Sports Centre Olympic and the Young Sky Blues were very A big bounce-back performance will be on the impressive in the first week of fixtures but will agenda for Sydney United 58 as they host North have plenty of work to do if they are to add Shore Mariners at Sydney United Sports Centre another three competition points to their tally.