Welcome to Wonderkid Watch: A weekly piece that keeps you up to date with the players and stories emerging from A-Leagues clubs playing at NPL level in Australia.
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Ironic moment in statement win for hat-trick hero who’s already played abroad
There were so many layers to Sydney FC’s stunning 5-0 rout of NPLM NSW giants Blacktown City over the weekend.
Alen Harbas fuelled the boilover with a hat-trick at Landen Stadium, where the Sky Blues sensationally ran rampant against Blacktown. For the NPL powerhouse, it had been a number of years since they had conceded five goals on home soil.
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But with captain Harbas and co. in town, Sydney FC’s young guns showed no mercy in their statement victory which also saw Lachlan Middleton and Tiago Quintal on the scoresheet amid a five-match unbeaten streak to sit ninth in the table after 13 games.
“It really makes a difference in this league,” Sydney head coach Jimmy van Weeren said via NPL NSW.
“Blacktown are a top club and at full strength we can compete, it’s the nature of the beast that we don’t have everyone week on week but it was great to see them together and put in a top performance.
“We came in with a fair degree of confidence, and there’s a huge belief from the club in this group, so we’re not overly surprised (at the scoreline) but happy for the players.”
For Harbas, it was a devastating performance against a familiar club.
The 21-year-old’s three goals in just 16 minutes catapulted Sydney away from home on Sunday.
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“Ironically we actually recruited Alen from Blacktown a number of years ago,” Van Weeren told aleagues.com.au.
“His hat-trick on the weekend was something we know he’s capable of. He is a big, tall striker who can finish things in and around the box. He can shoot powerfully with both feet and also head. What we saw on the weekend was making nice timed runs in behind and finishing one-on-one.
“Not overly surprised for Alen but really pleased for him.”
Van Weeren added: “He is at an interesting stage because he is at the older end of being a youth player.
“We’re really excited to see what he is capable of and probably a player at his current point and development, scoring goals is important and doing that on a consistent basis.”
“Speaking with Alen, I’m sure it was a major learning moment for him,” said Van Weeren.
“Living away from home, being in another country, experiencing football week in, week out in a really competitive environment I’m sure has given him some real life lessons which will ultimately help build his psychological resilience off the field which will only help him on it.”
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Meanwhile, rivals Western Sydney Wanderers shocked St George FC 3-0 on Friday night.
Goals from Alaat Abdul-Rahman, Edmun Haddad and Meliwethu Nkomo inspired the Wanderers, who snapped a three-game losing streak.
The result helped Western Sydney climb off the foot of the table with their third win of the season at the expense of Central Coast Mariners, who lost 3-1 to NWS Spirit. Michael Paragalli scored for Central Coast.
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In the Under-20s, league-leading Western Sydney Wanderers defeated St George FC 3-1 thanks to goals from Ewan Gasowski, Oscar Morrison and Johnny Pavlovic.
The wanderers are two points clear atop the standings, while the Mariners and Sydney FC are seventh and 10th respectively.
Shumba Mutokoyi scored in a 1-1 draw with NWS Spirit, while Reef Farias and Jack Ryu were on target in Sydney FC’s 2-2 draw at Blacktown City.
In Football NSW League One, Bulls FC Academy and Newcastle Jets were both victorious.
The in-form Bulls edged Hakoah Sydney City East FC 2-1 via Zane Helweh and Flynn Madden in NSW’s second tier.
Nicolai Muller’s Bulls are fourth and six points off the pace thanks to their run of four games without defeat.
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As for Newcastle, they snapped their three-game drought thanks to a wild 4-3 victory away to Macarthur Rams.
Christian Bracco starred with a brace, while Xavier Bertoncello and Janni Rafty also scored for the eighth-placed Jets.
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At U20 level, the Bulls continue to roll on after their 4-1 rout of Hakoah inspired by Golden Boot leader Lachlan Sattout.
Sattout scored twice to make it 14 goals for the season and 10 in his last five games, having netted a hat-trick the week prior.
Kye Cassar and Kaya Akdeniz Akdeniz also scored for the table-topping Bulls.
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The second-placed Jets, meanwhile, played out a 0-0 draw against Macarthur Rams.
Three-goal star continues Melbourne City’s extraordinary season
Can anyone stop Melbourne City? That is the question.
Alessandro Diamanti’s City are unbeaten and top of the table in VPL1 following their 4-0 drubbing of Brunswick City on Sunday night.
Arion Sulemani was the star of the show with a devastating hat-trick as the league leaders moved five points clear through 13 rounds in Victoria’s second division.
Academy graduate Sulemani scored three goals in 30 minutes to ignite the home side, while young gun Akeem Gerald completed the rout in the closing stages.
For Sulemani, it continued his fine form in the NPL, where he has scored eight goals in his past six appearances.
The 20-year-old made his Isuzu UTE A-League debut this season, having signed his first professional deal ahead of the 2023-24 campaign before an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury delayed his bow.
Sulemani has made eight appearances for Aurelio Vidmar’s side, who are in the Semi-Finals.
“We have been very happy with Arion’s application and desire to improve when playing games in the VPL1 squad,” City’s senior academy manager Simon Zappia told aleagues.com.au.
“He has worked tirelessly to get back to his best following his ACL injury so it’s nice to see him getting some reward finding the back of the net regularly which we know he can do.”
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Elsewhere, rivals Western United suffered a 5-0 loss at home to Caroline Springs George Cross.
In the U23s, Western United remain undefeated after they trounced George Cross 7-0 in Tarneit over the weekend.
Two goals apiece from Christian Dermentzoglou and Anderson Back set the tone, while Alex Marmura, Marcus Tavolaro and Oscar Tanic also scored.
Western are six points clear of second-placed Melbourne City, who were 4-0 winners over Brunswick.
Aaron Cartwright led the way with two goals and he was joined by Theodore Limberis and Luke Becvinovski.
“Aaron has a unique ability to carry the ball and glide past defenders which makes him very exciting to watch,” Zappia told aleagues.com.au.
In NPLM VIC, Patrick Wall scored in Melbourne Victory’s 3-1 loss to Dandenong City.
In the U23s, high-flying Victory went down 3-2 to the same opposition. Alexander Houridis and Phin Harbinson scored.
In NPLM WA, Perth Glory drew 0-0 at Armadale SC to stay undefeated after seven rounds.
Glory’s U23 team were 4-0 winners over Armadale as Tadiswa Shaun Mutyavavir bagged a brace, with Cristiano Farfan and Oliver Evans also scoring.
Adelaide United lost 3-1 at home to Playford City in NPLM SA despite a Joey Garuccio goal.
Meanwhile, Adelaide’s reserve side dispatched Playford City 5-0. Sidiki Dukuly struck twice in two minutes to lead the way and he was aided by Mohammed Hassan, Liam Stam and Ali Mohtashami.
In New Zealand, Luke Supyk‘s late double helped Wellington Phoenix men’s reserves rescue a 2-2 draw in the Central League.
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The Wellington Phoenix teenager had a game to remember with an incredible five goals in the women’s U18s as they ran out 11-0 victors against Victoria University.
Ruby Hale scored twice, while Mackenzie Bryant, Kya Solomon, Freya Des Fountain, and Anahera Easton were also on target.
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For Pugh, it continues her rise in the football work after helping New Zealand qualify for last year’s FIFA U17 World Cup.
She leads the Golden Boot race in the Central League with 11 goals in six matches for the unbeaten U18 team.
Wellington’s women’s reserves maintained their perfect record with a 2-0 win over Wellington Olympic courtesy of a Isla Cleall-Harding brace.
In the U16s, Ruby Barber scored twice in two minutes as the Phoenix rallied from 3-1 down to draw 3-3. Lilian Mckenzie also scored.
Meanwhile in NPLW NSW, Newcastle Jets were big winners after upstaging league-leading Mt Druitt Town Rangers 5-2.
Layla Sharpe fuelled the Jets with two goals inside the opening 26 minutes, before Marni Duggan and Alexis Collins struck following an own goal.
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Bulls FC Academy ran rampant in a 5-1 demolition of Sydney Olympic.
The Bulls extended their unbeaten run to four games thanks to doubles from Isabella Coco Di Sipio and Tamires Souza, while 2024 Golden Boot winner Amber Luchtmeijer also struck.
Meanwhile, Western Sydney Wanderers lost 3-0 at NWS Spirit.
In the U23s, unbeaten league leaders Western Sydney eased past NWS Spirit 6-0 courtesy of a Catalina Wyrzynski hat-trick. Isabella Sultan, Alara Turkkan and Mia Nataly also scored.
Elsewhere, Bulls FC Academy drew 1-1 at Sydney Olympic while Newcastle Jets lost 2-0 to Mt Druitt Town.
