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.
Featured image: Mark Stavroulakis/Football NSW
Teen hat-trick hero triggers epic Central Coast comeback
If Central Coast Mariners avoid relegation from NPLM NSW, it will have a lot to do with the emergence and form of Arthur De Lima.
Central Coast continued their resurgence with a incredible 3-2 comeback win over Wollongong Wolves – a memorable fightback inspired by hat-trick hero De Lima.
INTERVIEW WITH AN ICON: Inside Italy great’s coaching ‘university’ where Aussie kids are treated ‘like Serie A players’
The 17-year-old scored three goals in 33 minutes as the Mariners overturned a 2-0 deficit at Pluim Park on Sunday.
De Lima sparked the comeback on the stroke of half-time – slotting the ball into the back of the net from close range.
The teenager equalised with a fine finish approaching the hour mark before completing the fightback 11 minutes from the end – taking his tally to eight goals in just nine starts for Central Coast’s senior academy side this season.
With the victory, Central Coast are 13th on 28 points and two points clear of the bottom two positions heading into the final two fixtures.
“We have a word in this club, and it’s opportunity. I tell the boys to go out and enjoy themselves and make the most of the opportunity and today they went out and did it,” said head coach Lucas Vilela via NPL NSW.
DEEP DIVE: 13-year vision behind A-Leagues side’s transfer explosion Europe is ‘taking seriously’
“Everyone is stepping up and leading with their voices which means we are reacting well. After conceding the second goal we started to control the game and play our style of football and created chances.
“We still have two away games left. Today we may have been too comfortable from previous results which showed in how we started today’s match. However, if we can continue on from the second half today, then I am confident we will bring more points.”
“Why make it easy when you can make it hard?”
“A technically gifted and creative player”, De Lima is flourishing in Gosford after making the move from Brisbane Roar for the 2024 season.
Last year, he featured in the starting XI of Brisbane’s NPL side for the first time and impressed for the Roar.
Up until Round 18 this year, De Lima had featured just twice for Central Coast’s senior academy team, instead playing mainly with the Under-20 outfit.
But since June, the youngster has established himself in the first-team setup and scored six goals in his last five appearances.
His eight goals are from an expected goals (xG) of 5.42, while the teen is also in the NPLM NSW’s top 10 for counter-pressing recoveries averaged per 90 minutes (10th – 4.04) and ranks 19th for average recoveries in final third per 90 minutes (1.85).
‘Rare’ talent fuels unlikely win for Sydney FC
Another A-Leagues prospect is helping his team in the fight to avoid the drop in NPLM NSW.
Sydney FC young gun Tiago Quintal bagged a brace and two assists as lowly Sydney FC boosted their survival hopes with a stunning 5-1 rout of APIA Leichhardt.
Quintal’s two-goal display, coupled with goals from Jaiden Kucharski, Mitchell Glasson and Jacob Brazete‘s stunner, saw the Sky Blues climb off the foot of the table in a crucial result.
“It was a result we needed at this time of the season,” Sydney FC head coach Jim Van Weeren said via NPL NSW.
“Especially in the first 45 minutes, the performance was first class.”
Quintal has scored nine goals this season and the 2024-25 campaign could be the season of playmaker Quintal after some big-name departures at Sydney FC, including Robert Mak, Luke Brattan and Fabio Gomes.
WHAT WE LEARNED: All-time record broken as 17yo bursts onto the scene in stunning debut
A 17-year-old academy graduate, the highly rated teenager enters the campaign having signed his first professional contract after earning a place on the bench for an Isuzu UTE A-League fixture for the first time last term.
The former Subway Joeys attacker, who previously trialled at French giants Lyon, has already been labelled a “rare” talent by the Sky Blues.
Sydney’s youth technical director Kelly Cross said in April: “We always knew Tiago had special qualities from the age of 11.
“He is one of those rare players who believes his prime function is to beat his immediate opponent with skill and deception.
“We kept our faith in him during those years where he was too small to have maximum effect, and while his growth spurt made him seem quite ordinary.
“Tiago has come through that period and has been progressing very well in our National Premier League team. He now looks like he is capable of making a difference and an impact at A-League level for us.”
LOCKED IN! Dates announced for 2024-25 A-Leagues season
UNITE ROUND LAUNCHED FOR 2024-25: Everything you need to know
UNITE ROUND 2024-25: What’s new this season?
FULL FIXTURE: Who your team is up against in Unite Round
Meanwhile, Western Sydney Wanderers lost 2-0 to Zeljko Kalac’s Sydney United.
“I think we did well and I am super proud of the boys throughout the game,” Wanderers assistant Richie Cardozo said via NPL NSW.
“We had a few spells of possession and half chances but it is hard to win games when you are down to ten players so early on.”
In NPLW NSW, Emerging Jets won a seven-goal thriller against NWS Spirit 4-3.
“One of the NPL Women’s standout sides in the back half of this campaign”, the Jets triumphed courtesy of goals from Josie Allan (two), Isahbella Threlfo and Milan Hammond, who bagged the 87th-minute winner.
Bulls FC Academy’s top-four hopes were dealt a blow following a 1-0 loss to Sydney University.
In Football NSW League One, Bulls FC Academy were held to a 1-1 draw by UNSW FC.
The Bulls snapped a three-game losing streak following a late penalty save after Oliver Jones had scored for the home side.
Unbeaten League Two champions Newcastle Jets were 5-2 victors against Gladesville Ryde Magic.
Wil Southcombe scored twice, while Kierry James, Taye Power-O’Toole and Angus Muddle.
Hat-trick inspires red-hot Roar
Son of a gun Rylan Bownlie scored three goals to lead Brisbane Roar to a 3-0 win over Gold Coast United in NPLM QLD.
Brownlie, the son of former Roar player Royce, netted a hat-trick in a commanding display as Brisbane celebrated just their fifth victory of 2024.
The 17-year-old is Roar’s youngest ever Isuzu UTE A-League’s goal scorer after finding the back of the net against Melbourne City in December last year.
He came close to scoring a fourth goal after seeing his shot fizz just over the crossbar.
Brownlie has now scored seven goals this season to be one shy of Brisbane’s leading scorer Ivan Ozzi.
In NPLM SA, Ryan White and Joey Garuccio scored in Adelaide United’s 2-1 success against Adelaide Raiders.
Daniel Makowem‘s 90th-minute goal lifted Wellington Phoenix past Stop Out Sports Club 2-1 in New Zealand’s Central League. Ryan Lee also scored.
In NPLM WA, Perth Glory went down 2-1 to defending champions Perth RedStar.
Victory’s promotion party as rivals stay hot
Melbourne Victory clinched back-to-back promotions to NPLM VIC with a crushing 4-0 win over Kingston City.
With Victory’s Isuzu UTE A-League stars in attendance, the senior academy side secured promotion and the title by dispatching Kingston at John Cain Memorial Park on Saturday afternoon.
CONFIRMED: Socceroos GK returns home to Melbourne Victory after 14 years abroad
Tommaso Minutoli made it five goals in three games with a double, while captain Adem Duratovic and Austin Ganino also struck.
Duratovic has 14 goals this season – the third most in the second tier of Victorian football.
Western United are third and a point behind second-placed Preston Lions in the fight for the remaining promotion spot heading into the final round.
DIOGO FERREIRA INTERVIEW: Aussie coach’s ‘scary’ prediction about A-Leagues club after ‘funny’ Postecoglou reunion
Jake Najdovski celebrated a hat-trick and Nicolas Koek contributed two goals in Western’s 5-0 demolition of Bulleen Lions.
A Western United academy graduate born and bred in the west who signed a contract extension through to the 2025-26 season, Najdovski took his tally to 12 goals in 2024.
Koek, meanwhile, has 13 to his name as Western prepare to face Victory in a decisive final-day matchup.
Elsewhere, Melbourne City extended their winning streak to five games by defeating Eastern Lions 4-0.
Marcus Humbert was at the double, while Roland Ballah scored as City also also benefited from an own goal.
In NPLW VIC, former Adelaide United star Alana Jancevski scored three goals in Heidelberg United’s 6-2 rout of Brunswick Juventus.
Western United’s TJ Vlajnic scored in Essendon Royals’ 3-1 win over Bentleigh Greens.
READ MORE
FULL FIXTURES: Every match of the Isuzu UTE A-League 24-25 season here
TALKING POINTS: New TV format, byes & everything you need to know from the draw
DERBY DATES: The matches to circle in your calendar now
TRANSFER CENTRE: Your club’s ins/outs ahead of the upcoming season
