So we are finally here. The finals have finally come knocking. After a season of ups and downs and no shortage of uncertainty, this is what we have all been waiting for! After an action-packed round last weekend to finish the regular season where we saw Rockdale snatch the premiership from defending premiers Wollongong Wolves, we now cast our eyes to the semi finals to find out who will be going to the big dance!
Rockdale City Suns vs Sydney Olympic
Saturday 17th October 7pm @ Ilinden Sports Centre
First up we have newly-crowned Premiers Rockdale City Suns who will be taking on local rivals Sydney Olympic and I couldn’t think of a spicier game to start the weekend.
All eyes will be on Rockdale who snatched the premiership last weekend after coming back from 1-0 down against Mariners and then going on to clinch the title on goal difference.
Sydney Olympic will not go down without a fight though. The former NSL giants will head to Ilinden Sports Centre as the underdogs but that won’t faze them. Olympic scraped through on the last day of the season where they finished ahead of Sydney FC by two points and clinched a finals berth.
Tempers will flare and flares will flare as these two rivals compete for a spot in the Grand Final.
Rockdale’s favourite son Alec Urosevki scored the winner to gift his side the silverware last weekend and he’ll be looking to do the same this weekend against Olympic.
Prediction: Rockdale 3 Sydney Olympic 2
Wollongong Wolves vs Sydney United 58
Sunday 18th October 3pm @ Albert Butler Memorial Park
The other Grand Final spot will be contested between Wollongong Wolves and Sydney United and both of these teams will have points to prove.
Wollongong are going into this game with boats of confidence after thrashing Manly United 5-2 and they will play host to last year’s Grand Finalists Sydney United who will be looking to go one better than last year and win the whole thing.
Sydney United are also coming off a big win where they defeated APIA Leichhardt 4-1 in a rematch of last year’s Grand Final. Patrick Antelmi and Devante Clut have been the main men firing Sydney United towards success this season and they will need to be on top form if they want to stay in the competition.
All eyes will be on the golden child of the South Coast this weekend — Thomas James. The British superstar has netted twice for Wolves since his return to the NPL and despite the plethora of attacking prowess in this Wollongong side, it will be James that everyone will look towards in their plight to make this year’s Grand Final.
Prediction: Wollongong Wolves 1 Sydney United 0
You can stream both games on NPL.TV with the supplied links below.
