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.
‘Scary’ Sky Blues sensation lighting up NPL: ‘We’re really excited’
Marin France, take a bow.
The Sydney FC teenager scored an incredible solo goal as the Sky Blues defeated St George City FA 3-1 in NPLM NSW action at Rockdale Ilinden Sports Centre on Friday night.
Mathias Macallister put Sydney ahead on the stroke of half-time before an own goal doubled the lead in stoppage time and St George City reduced the deficit in the second half.
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Then, France stepped up to seal the points with four minutes of regulation remaining.
The highly-rated 18-year-old – who had his first taste of senior football in the 2024 Australia Cup – took the ball down the wing, cut into the box, bypassed two defenders and curled the ball into the back of the net.
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“Marin is a very exciting player,” head coach Jimmy van Weeren told aleagues.com.au of France, who has been at Sydney FC since October 2019.
“(He’s a) super competitive character and you only have to see him train in any place in the club, whether it be in the academy or first team, to see the competition absolutely brings out the best in him.
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“(He has a) real innate and strong desire to want to win. If you compile that with his dribbling ability and his explosiveness, and ability to beat people both ways and shoot with both feet, you can see why he’s a really exciting match-winning player.
“He has ability to score goals like he did against St George FA. He is able to come inside, beat one, two and nearly a third player and place the ball in the far post.
“He is a really exciting player and he has a really bright future. Last year when he graduated into the senior academy at the back end of 2023 leading into the 2024 season as a 16-year-old-turned 17, you could already see what he is capable of.
“He forced his way as a 16-year-old to play a number of NPL 1 matches last year. He featured heavily in our goals and assists. A player of his age to be already competing against men is a really good sign.
“In 2024 when we went to Germany with that cohort of players, Marin was one of a few standouts in that tournament. He was sometimes playing two years up. Already as a 16-year-old playing against men and then going to an U19 international tournament, scoring some nice goals and having a hand in a lot of good things.
“We think the last 12 months, he’s been and we’ve been trying to navigate a loading issue in his back – a stress-related injury.
“To be doing what he’s doing on a limited training load and limited match load is really exciting. We think his ceiling is really high. We’re excited to see what he can do in the next few years for us as a club, especially when he gets back to full fitness.
“I think at this level, he’d be very scary in this league with the view he should be really aiming above that and we’re really excited as a collective after what will be about six years with us a club. Six years of development – to see what he’s capable of, we’re excited for him and for us.”
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With two wins in four matches, Van Weeren’s Sydney are eighth in NPLM NSW, six points outside of the top six.
Rivals Western Sydney Wanderers and Central Coast Mariners are further down the standings after 18 rounds.
Western Sydney’s 3-1 loss to Sutherland Sharks left the Wanderers 14th in the 16-team competition. Awan Lual scored.
They are seven points better off than bottom side Central Coast, who lost 1-0 to Blacktown City.
At Under-20 level, the Wanderers are second in the standings.
Western Sydney played out a wild 3-3 draw at Sutherland Sharks. The Wanderers scored three first-half goals via Luka Knezevic, Marko Radovancevic and Kaan Nizam before sharing the points.
Sydney FC were victorious against St George City FA 3-2.
Nicholas Zdrillic broke the deadlock for the Sky Blues, who then benefited from a second-half Oscar Gultekin brace. Gultekin scored the match-winning goal in the 89th minute.
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As for the Mariners, they took down Blacktown City 4-2 thanks to Ahmad Elhelou‘s double and goals from Jye Wark and Quinlan Barr.
In Football NSW League One, Bulls FC Academy moved level atop the standings after edging Bankstown City 2-1.
Ante Vojvodic and an own goal guided the in-form Bulls to victory away from home as they joined SD Raiders level on 35 points through 18 rounds – only adrift on goal difference.
Newcastle Jets are fifth and seven points off the pace following their 4-1 rout of UNSW FC.
Highly-rated Oliver Cockle – described as the “best I’ve seen” – continued his fine form with a double, while Ethan Debono and Janni Rafty were also on target.
In the U20s, Bulls FC Academy are first and five points clear of the Jets.
Atiya Waraga and Julian Rodriguez fuelled the Bulls’ 2-0 win over Bankstown City, while Newcastle humbled UNSW FC 7-0. Tommy Edmonds, Lucas Johnson and Archie Brideson scored two goals apiece, while Noah Miller also found the back of the net.
Auckland young gun’s stunning free-kick
Step forward Ralph Rutherford.
The young Kiwi scored a stunning free-kick for Auckland FC’s reserves in New Zealand’s Northern League over the weekend.
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While Auckland lost 3-2 to Fencibles United AFC, Rutherford produced a moment of brilliance from a set-piece in the 86th minute for his third goal of the season.
Shivam Nair was also on target for the Black Knights, who are competing in their inaugural season.
Auckland FC’s youth program was launched this year, on the back of the club’s historic maiden Isuzu UTE A-League campaign, with their reserves team competing in the Northern League.
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Led by head coach Luke Casserly, Auckland FC are 10th in the 12-team competition with three wins from 13 rounds.
As for New Zealand rivals Wellington Phoenix, they had a mixed bag of results.
In the Central League, Wellington men’s reserves were 6-0 winners over Upper Hutt City courtesy of a Ryan Lee double and goals via Daniel Makowem, Lachlan Candy, Mac Munro and Ryan Watson.
They are four points behind leaders Wellington Phoenix with eight rounds remaining.
Jack Perniskie’s quick-fire brace guided the U18s past Victoria University 5-1. Samuel Law, Alessandro Marchesse, and Grayson Lunman also scored.
The Phoenix’s U18 women lost 2-1 to league-leading Wellington United.
In NPLM WA, Perth Glory drew 0-0 against Perth SC.
Meanwhile in the U23s, league-leading Glory defeated Perth SC 5-0 thanks to Cristiano Farfan, Tadiswa Shaun Mutyavaviri, Henri Knight and Oliver Evans.
In NPLM QLD, Brisbane Roar lost 2-1 at home to Lions FC despite a David Bolongi goal.
Adelaide prodigy dazzles
Amlani Tatu flexed his muscles once more for Adelaide United in their 3-0 win over Adelaide Comets in NPLM SA.
The 16-year-old prodigy scored once and assisted another as the Reds overpowered the Comets in Round 13.
After an own goal broke the deadlock in the 76th minute, Tatu found the back of the net with a well-taken finish 10 minutes later.
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Tatu then turned provider for Brody Burkitt in the 92nd minute as second-placed Adelaide extended their unbeaten run to four games to sit eight points behind MetroStars.
Adelaide’s reserves, meanwhile, were 4-2 winners against the Comets.
Ali Mohtashami, Mohammed Hassan, Mutsa Mupandawana and Chris Irakoze scored for the Reds.
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Over in VPL1, Western United played out a jaw-dropping 4-4 draw against Manningham United in Victoria’s second tier.
Western led 3-1 at half-time via Golden Boot leader Alex Marmura, Besian Kutleshi and Tobias Servin, who scored within three first-half minutes.
Marmura made it 4-1 early in the second half before Manningham rallied and scored twice in the 90th minute to somehow salvage a point.
The Green and Black are fifth in the standings – 12 points off the pace.
Rivals Melbourne City lost top spot and their unbeaten record after a shock 2-0 defeat away to Moreland City.
Alessandro Diamanti’s City are now third in the standings and three points behind league-leading Bentleigh Greens.
In the U23s, undefeated Western United continue to lead the way following their 3-2 win over Manningham.
Ali Seifeddin, Nahom Yohannes and Marcus Tavolaro scored for Western, who are four points clear of City.
City edged Moreland City 2-1 after Julian Recchia and Dion Toro scored.
In NPLM VIC, Damien Bozinovski scored twice for Melbourne Victory in their dramatic 3-2 loss to leaders Avondale SC.
Bozinovski thought he had secured at least a point for Victory before Avondale struck in stoppage time.
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In NPLW NSW, in-form Bulls FC Academy beat league-leading Mt Druitt Town Rangers 2-0.
Elizabeth Grey‘s double inspired the Bulls at Northbridge Oval.
Western Sydney Wanderers drew 1-1 at Manly United thanks to a Talia Younis goal, while Newcastle Jets lost 6-2 to Northern Tigers despite Annika Driscoll‘s strike and an own goal.
