NPL NSW: APIA Leichhardt defends home turf against Sydney Olympic, huge 40+ photo gallery
The APIA Leichhardt men’s and women’s sides dominated rivals Sydney Olympic in an NPL NSW double-header. Check out our massive 40+ photo gallery from a huge day of football.
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A goal within 25 seconds and a nine-minute frenzy secured APIA Leichhardt all six points from their men’s and women’s NPL NSW double header.
APIA goalkeepers Sophie Margus and Anthony Bouzanis each secured clean sheets as the Sydney Olympic teams struggled to produce a real attacking effort.
Jordan Segreto wasted no time at kick off, taking just 25 seconds to score against a stunned Olympic defense.
Charlotte Lancaster was a standout for APIA, scoring a sensational goal from a corner kick to open the scoring before assisting in the next two.
Check out all the best pictures and talking points from the double-header, as well as key results from around the leagues.
Just six minutes decided the APIA women’s match against Sydney Olympic, with a flurry of three goals securing the 3-0 win.
The result gets the reigning premiers APIA finally in the mix, after picking up narrow losses in their opening two matches.
It took APIA until the second half to open the scoring but they did so in spectacular fashion, with Charlotte Lancaster scoring a stunning goal straight from a corner kick.
Lancaster was easily the star of the game as she set up the following goals, both headers expertly sent past the keeper by Ashlie Crofts and Mona Walker.
The latter two goals exposed Olympic’s defensive issues that were unearthed in round two, where two goalkeeper errors resulted in two goals conceded.
Both Crofts and Walker were left unmarked in the box and headed the ball with no defensive pressure around them.
Olympic were also lacking in attacking power, only managing five shots all game to APIA’s 19.
Fans and spectators were still filing into Leichhardt Oval when, just 25 seconds after kick off, Jordan Segreto lets the ball fly into the back of the net to give APIA the lead.
It was a dominant performance from the reigning premiers, who easily absorbed any attacking pressure Olympic put on them for a comfortable victory.
Although both the Segreto and subsequent Jack Stewart goals were mostly moments of individual brilliance, APIA seemed very solid and cohesive as a team, whereas Olympic seemed to be relying on individual players.
It was another convincing loss for Olympic, who are languishing at the bottom of the table alongside the winless NWS Spirit, with their dominant 6-0 round three win over Sydney United now a distant memory.
Striker Roy O’Donovan barely saw the ball against APIA, though the side did record 21 shots to APIA’s 14, six of which were on target.
Conceding in the first 25 seconds did not set Olympic up for a good afternoon, with both of APIA’s goals coming out of nowhere, but Olympic failed to produce a reply and just fell behind.
Olympic need to find some form and find it fast as they prepare to face Manly United and ladder leaders Wollongong in the coming weeks.
Meanwhile the previously only undefeated men’s team in the league, Rockdale Ilinden, were finally bested as they fell 3-2 to Blacktown City.
Although the score was close, Blacktown controlled the whole match with both of Ilinden’s goals somewhat conciliatory.
NWS Spirit are now the only team without a win following a 2-1 defeat to St George City FA, who were forced down to 10 men late in the match due to a studs-up challenge from substitute Tarik Ercan resulting in a red card.
Manly United and the Central Coast Mariners shared the spoils at Pluim Park with a 2-2 draw, with Luka Smith scoring a brace for the Mariners and Ben Koop and Miguel Bauza ensuring Manly were rewarded with a point.
The Wolves remain on top of the men’s ladder following a dominant 4-0 win over Hills United, their round one loss to Marconi all but forgotten.
Sydney University SFC picked up a shock win over NWS Spirit, scoring three goals against a noticeably struggling Spirit side.
It came after Sydney Uni failed to even score a goal in the opening two rounds, picking up crushing losses to start the season.
Manly United mounted a stunning comeback against Northern Tigers to take all three points in a 3-2 win.
Emily Minett, Daisy Arrowsmith and Gemma Woolley led the charge to neutralize a brace from the Tigers’ Amy Hislop.
Reigning champions Macarthur Rams remain undefeated with a 2-1 win over Football NSW Institute while the Blacktown Spartans had a big confidence boost following a 6-0 win over Emerging Jets.
Newcomers UNSW almost produced a major upset, leading Bulls FC Academy 1-0 before a Daniela Naemi goal.
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