It was another entertaining weekend of football in the National Premier Leagues, and beyond, across Australia. KEEPUP brings you the best bits.
A debut to remember for this Sutherland young gun
Making your debut is an unforgettable occasion in itself, but when you cap the appearance with a goal it hits different. Just ask Oliver Randazzo.
The 16-year-old debutant scored a stunning goal to lift Sutherland Sharks past Sydney Olympic 1-0 in NPLM NSW on Saturday.
Former Western Sydney Wanderers youngster Randazzo netted a Goal of the Season contender on the hour-mark at Seymour Shaw Park.
It was a thunderbolt from the young gun, who previously trialled at Serie A outfit Atalanta. He lashed a powerful effort straight into the top corner of the net.
His goal even impressed opposing head coach and former A-Leagues forward Labinot Haliti.
“What a game and it was good football throughout,” Haliti said via NPLM NSW.
“We seem to be receiving goals at the moment that will be seen all around the world on the highlights reel. I can name you three or four, including against Mt Druitt and tonight.
“I can’t ask anything more from my team in terms of effort and performance. We are building and we are creating chances. We are attacking and getting in the right positions, but against bombs like that what can you do?”
Sutherland are eighth in the standings through 16 rounds, 13 points behind leaders APIA Leichhardt – who dismantled Wollongong Wolves 3-0, while Sydney Olympic are ninth and three points further back.
Elsewhere, in-form Central Coast Mariners defeated Western Sydney Wanderers 2-1, Sydney FC Youth edge Mt Druitt Town Rangers 2-1, Marconi trumped Sydney United 2-1 and Blacktown City were 2-0 winners over Manly United.
A golazo from a Wanderers sensation
Sienna Saveska… wow!
The 16-year-old produced a moment of brilliance to score this long-range stunner for Football NSW Institute in NPLW NSW, where they topped Sydney University 2-1.
Saveska scored her first Liberty A-League goal last season in a loss to Grand Finalists Western United.
She amassed just 50 minutes of action across the A-League Women in 2022-23, however, the highly rated teenager has made an impact in a short time on the field having made her Liberty A-League bow against Melbourne City in January.
The Wanderers midfielder, who developed into an NPLW1 first-grade player aged 15, was selected by Wellington Phoenix as a train-on player at the end of 2021 before joining Western Sydney.
Saveska was initially drafted into an elite match for Rae Dower’s Australia Under-17 side and she continues to represent the Junior Matildas.
In March, she played alongside Melbourne City sensation Daniela Galic, Adelaide United’s Emilia Murray, Sydney FC’s Indiana Dos Santos, Kahli Johnson of Western United and Melbourne Victory’s Jessika Nash as the Young Matildas kicked off their 2024 AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup qualifying journey.
Now, she is in Leah Blayney’s 23-player squad for the Asian Cup Round 2 qualifiers in Vietnam, where the Young Matildas will face hosts Vietnam, Iran and Lebanon in Group A between June 3-11.
In a statement win, meanwhile, Macarthur Rams dismantled Bulls FC Academy 4-1.
Adams at the double for Victory
Eli Adams was the star of the show as Melbourne Victory took down Boroondara-Carey Eagles 3-0 in NPL3 VIC.
It was a challenging season for Adams after his switch from Brisbane Roar to Victory, where he managed just 64 minutes of action in the Isuzu UTE A-League.
But the 21-year-old – who previously trialled at German outfit Greuther Furth – has been showing flashes of his quality in the third tier of Victoria’s National Premier Leagues.
At Epping Stadium, where Jordi Valadon opened the scoring in the fifth minute, Adams took his season tally to three goals with a brace thanks to strikes in the 29th and 55th minutes.
Victory are on course to be promoted to NPL2 VIC, which would see them reunite with Melbourne City and Western United, as they top the standings by four points after 10 rounds.
In NPLM VIC, all the title challengers were victorious.
League-leading Avondale FC downed Port Melbourne 1-0, South Melbourne were too good for Moreland City 2-0, defending champions Oakleigh Cannons overcame Green Gully 2-1 and Melbourne Knights routed St Albans 4-1 in a local derby.
Over in NPLM SA, a 95th-minute equaliser rescued a 1-1 draw for Adelaide United against Adelaide Comets.
In NPLM QLD, Gold Coast United returned to winning ways with a 1-0 win over Brisbane City, staying two points clear of Scott McDonald’s Gold Coast Knights.
Bayswater City are a point clear in NPLM WA as Stirling Lions, Armadale, Balcatta, Perth RedStar and Cockburn City loom large.
Robinne: The hat-trick hero
Saturday night was all about Margot Robinne, who scored three goals for NPLW VIC leaders Boroondara-Carey Eagles in a 3-2 win over FV Emerging.
Robinne spent the 2022-23 Liberty A-League season at Brisbane Roar, having played for Canberra United and Melbourne City previously.
The Frenchwoman put on a show at the Veneto Club as Boroondara-Carey stayed five points clear of South Melbourne.
In NPLW SA, league-leading Adelaide Comets were 2-0 winners against FFSA NTC while Lions FC’s 5-1 dismantling of Capalaba maintained their buffer atop NPLW QLD.
Perth RedStar are the team to beat in NPLW WA on the back of their 1-0 win over Murdoch University Melville.
