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.

Sydney FC teen’s ‘first class’ NPL performance

Mathias Macallister, wow. The young gun produced a performance for the ages as Sydney FC dismantled Manly United 6-0 in a statement rout in NPLM NSW.

The 18-year-old son of former A-Leagues star Dylan scored five goals in an incredible display to fuel the Sky Blues over the weekend.

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Macallister opened his account in the ninth minute after teammate Taye Hedley broke the deadlock in wet conditions on Sunday.

Then, Macallister lit up Cromer Park with four goals in the space of 21 second-half minutes.

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“Mathias’ performance was obviously first class,” Sydney FC head coach Jimmy van Weeren told aleagues.com.au with his side sitting seventh in the standings after 19 matches.

“I think if you look at the range of different service that he received and the kind of composure and the different range of finishes that he displayed really shows what a well rounded striker Mathias can be, and that when he’s at the top of his game, and in this competition, he’s ruthless.

“I think he scored with his head. He scored with his weaker left foot. He scored with his right foot. He finished with a chip finish when he was one on one with a keeper.

“That’s as close as it kind of gets to showing the full repertoire of what you can do to convert chances.”

Macallister – the club’s 2025 Men’s Rising Star – has already had a taste of professional football, having made his senior debut for Sydney FC during their historic run to the AFC Champions League Two semi-finals.

Now, the teenager is knocking on the door of an Isuzu UTE A-League bow when the 2025-26 campaign begins in October.

“Making his Asian Champions League debut for the club was a huge achievement for him, and one that we were proud of and happy for him about,” Van Weeren said.

“You would like to think that it’s highly likely towards certain, that he would make his A-League debut this coming season, if all things continue on this trajectory, which we believe and we hope that they will for him.”

Van Weeren added: “Once he’d graduated into the senior academy, he has been really impressive, learning the kind of tough work that’s required to play men’s football. So it’s not always about when we’ve got the ball which has been impressive.

“It hasn’t always been easy. Obviously, as a central striker, when you need to be able to keep the ball with your back to goal, and immense pressure from some experience, central defenders in this league is never easy. So he’s come a long way with that.

“Also, Mathias is one of his own harshest critics, and it’s what makes him a great learner. His attention to detail around his movement to get him behind, and his movement in and around the box to convert chances is first class.

“He’s a great learner. He’s a great reflector, and he’s always looking for areas of improvements in his game. I think he’s starting to really reap the benefits of some of the work that he does and some of the self-reflection and desire to learn and grow.”

“What’s impressed us most is probably been his defensive attitude and his ability to contribute for the team, outside of putting the ball in the goal,” Van Weeren said. “Obviously off the back of scoring five goals, that not to take away from that at all, because that’s a huge achievement, and one that he should be very proud of.

“But for us it’s now when Mathias first came into the team last year, it’s the ability to mentally and physically compete for 90 minutes and make sure you’re doing your job in all moments of the game where we have possession or when we don’t.

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“If you look at Mathias now, that part of his game has really come a long way. He’s showing what he can do, obviously as a striker, and converting chances for the team, but also, more holistically, as a striker, he’s willing to defend. He’s willing to compete. He competes for balls that come forward.

“He’s really starting to become a really well rounded number nine.”

Elsewhere, Western Sydney Wanderers (3-0 to Sydney United) and Central Coast Mariners (2-0 to Wollongong Wolves) both lost over the weekend.

At Under-20 level, Western Sydney Wanderers moved clear atop the table following a 2-0 success at home to Sydney United thanks to goals from Kade Baccus and Johnny Pavlovic.

The Wanderers are one point clear of Manly United, who were beaten 4-1 by Sydney FC. Zac Fowler was at the double, while Oscar Gultekin was also on target following an own goal.

Central Coast drew 2-2 with Wollongong in a wild finish that saw Xavier Dalpra convert an 89th-minute penalty, only for the Mariners to concede a minute later. Quinlan Barr was the other Central Coast goalscorer.

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In Football NSW League One, the red-hot Bulls FC Academy surged to the top of the second division with a 2-1 success at home to Macarthur Rams.

Zane Helweh, who has signed a scholarship deal with Macarthur Bulls, and Samuel Bosnjak guided the team past the Rams.

Helweh’s 14th goal of the season helped the Bulls extend their unbeaten run to nine games as they climbed to the top of the summit.

As for Newcastle Jets, they lost 2-0 to Hills United.

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In the U20s, the Bulls crushed the Rams 5-0 via Lachlan Sattout‘s brace and goals from Ali El-Sabeh, Atiya Waraga and Henrique Oliveira.

The Bulls are atop and five points clear of second-placed Newcastle.

Dash Baker’s double inspired the Jets’ 2-1 win at 10-man Hills United.

Victory’s statement win over Victorian powerhouse

It was a night to remember for Melbourne Victory, who took down NPLM VIC giants Oakleigh Cannons 5-2.

Under the Friday night lights, Victory stunned the reigning champions away from home with a breathtaking four-goal opening half.

Victory scored two goals inside the first eight minutes to leave the home side shell-shocked at Jack Edwards Reserve, where the visitors led 4-1 at half-time.

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Alexander Houridis, Linus Bourke and Charlie Gorevski scored their first senior goals for Victory, who also had Daniel Lazarevski and Jordan Hoey on the scoresheet.

“The improvement in our performance was a reflection of the players hard work and commitment to developing themselves throughout the season,” Victory’s senior academy technical manager Boris Seroshtan told aleagues.com.au.

“I was pleased to see many who are new to senior football play with confidence and a fearlessness throughout the game.”

In the U23s, Victory also enjoyed a good night after dismantling Oakleigh 6-2.

Phin Harbinson led the way with a hat-trick, while Malik Olukhale, Edon Ajrovski and Mushahed Sawiz also struck.

Victory are second a point off top spot.

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In the state’s second division – VPL1 – Melbourne City and Western United were both victorious.

City returned to winning ways and top of the table courtesy of a 1-0 triumph at North Sunshine Eagles.

After their unbeaten start to the season was halted last time out, City were on the road and got the better of the Eagles thanks to a stunning team move that was finished by young gun Luke Becvinovski, who capped his senior debut with a goal.

Becvinovski is the U23 VPL1 Golden Boot leader with 15 goals in 2025.

City, who have a game in hand, are ahead of Bentleigh Greens on goal difference after the latter were upstaged 3-0 by Western United.

A devastating 17-minute blitz powered Western past Bentleigh at Ironbark Fields in Tarneit on Sunday.

Alex Marmura scored twice in 10 minutes as Oscar Tanic also found the back of the net to power Western, who are fourth and nine points off the pace.

For Marmura, it was his fourth senior goal of the season having also scored 14 at U23 level to be within striking distance of Becvinovski.

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In the U23s, Western United are yet to taste defeat in 2025 after edging Bentleigh Greens 3-2. Ethan Robinson finished with two goals, while Marcus Tavolaro bagged one.

The Green and Black are four points better off than second-placed City, who humbled North Sunshine Eagles 9-1.

Theodore Limberis bagged a hat-trick for City as Oliver O’Carroll, Daniel Matina, Isiah Boston, Ahmed Faraz Gulzari, Mikael Evagorou-Alao and Joel Arena also scored.

Glory shine in WA, Bulls stay rampant

Perth Glory remain in contention in NPLM WA after overcoming Fremantle City 2-1.

Giovanni De Abreu and scholarship signing Sebastian Despotovski fuelled the Glory to victory away from home.

Despotovski’s ninth goal of the season – enough for him to sit second in the Golden Boot race – has Perth’s senior academy outfit third in the standings and seven points off the pace.

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Glory’s U23 team top the table but lost 3-2 to Fremantle City. Tadiswa Shaun Mutyavaviri was among the scorers.

Over in NPLM QLD, Brisbane Roar took down Sunshine Coast Wanderers 2-0 via James Durrington and Caleb Butler.

In NPLM SA, Adelaide United lost 3-1 at league-leading FK Beograd, despite Bailey O’Neil‘s fifth-minute opener.

Adelaide’s reserves also lost 2-0 to FK Beograd.

Meanwhile in NPLW NSW, in-form Bulls FC Academy defeated UNSW 4-0.

Arna Hogarth-Scott, Jynaya Dos Santos, Elizabeth Grey and Daniella Naeimi scored for the rampant Bulls, who are nine games unbeaten.

Dos Santos paid tribute to sister and Sydney FC sensation Indiana, who ruptured her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) this week.

Newcastle Jets lost 5-0 to NWS Spirit, while Sydney Olympic trumped Western Sydney Wanderers 3-0.

As for Wellington Phoenix women’s reserves, they reached the Kate Sheppard Cup quarter-finals after edging Wellington United thanks to Sienna Candy‘s second-half strike.