NPL Review: Trio of winners set opening round pace in South Australia

The National Premier Leagues season is underway for 2020 in South Australia, with Adelaide Olympic, Adelaide City and Adelaide United Youth sharing top spot as one of six clubs posting Round 1 wins.

Perry Mitris struck a goal in each half for City - adding to a Nicholas Bucco penalty - as they strolled to a 3-0 home win over Cumberland United, while United Youth were equally untroubled as Binyam Kebede notched a double in their 3-0 home result over Raiders.

Olympic were the only club to claim three points on the road as they cast aside Metrostars 3-0 at TK Shutter Reserve, with Ioannis Simosis's first half opener complemented by second half goals from captain Christos Pounendis and Fausto Erba.

Also in the winner's circle were defending Premiers and Champions Campbelltown City, who struck twice late to secure a dramatic 3-2 win over Adelaide Blue Eagles - a late 89th minute strike from Antony Piscioneri adding to a brace from Marc Marino.

Elsewhere, Kur Kur's 40th minute goal proved decisive for Modbury Jets in their 1-0 win over Adelaide Comets, while Para Hills Knights saw off a late fightback to down Croydon Kings 2-1 on the back of goals from Stephan Travaglione and Logan Marley-Mcfall.

MATCH CENTRE: The latest results and fixtures from #NPLSA
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NPL Queensland

Defending Premiers Lions FC have surged to the top of the standings in the Sunshine State on the back of two big wins to prove they will again be amongst the front-runners in 2020.

The Lions prevailed 8-0 over Redlands United last Tuesday in a rescheduled Round 2 fixture at COMPASS Grounds, with Joseph Duckworth’s hat-trick complemented by a double from Jordan Farina.

They then backed it up with a uncompromising 3-0 win over Brisbane Roar Youth in Round 3 on Sunday – goals from Tommy Jarrard and Shaun Carlos adding to a late penalty from Duckworth, taking his early season tally to four goals.

Earlier in the week, the Roar had also opened their season’s account with a 3-0 win over newly promoted Capalaba FC, however the Bulldogs bounced back in Round 3 with a 3-0 triumph in their Bayside Derby clash with Redlands courtesy of goals to Connor Booth, Scot Coulson and Ethan Grimley.

Elsewhere, Brisbane City claimed the spoils in their Brisbane Derby clash with Brisbane Strikers 2-1, with Jean Carlos Solorzano wrapping up the win with his first goal of the season.

Magpies Crusaders United notched their first point of the campaign with a gritty 2-2 draw on the road to Moreton Bay United, while Gold Coast United also got off the mark with a 2-1 away win over Eastern Suburbs courtesy of Junya Yabe’s late goal.

On Sunday, Peninsula Power also produced a fight back from a goal down to make it two-from-two with a 3-1 win over Sunshine Coast Wanderers - Sam Cronin's fifth goal of the season taking him top of the Golden Boot race.

While in the Grand Final rematch, Gold Coast Knights also conceded first before prevailing over Olympic FC in a 3-1 win on the back of goals from Mitch Nicholls, Max Brown and Jheison Macuace.

MATCH CENTRE: The latest results and fixtures from #NPLQLD
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NPLW Queensland

The women's season got underway in Queensland with Logan Lightning storming to the top of the table with a 14-0 demolition of Moreton Bay United.

Tiarne Petterwood led the returns with a four goal haul for the Lightning, while Emily Dunn and Natalia Pinkney also posted hat-tricks in the blow-out result.

Elsewhere, perennial powerhouse The Gap FC made a strong start to their season with a 7-3 win in Toowoomba over SWQ Thunder, with Laini Freier posting four goals to top the scoring for the visitors.

Mitchelton FC also stated their early season intent with a 4-0 win over Western Pride, and Capalaba FC made a winning start with a 2-1 result over the QAS.

There was no splitting Eastern Suburbs FC and Gold Coast United in a 2-2 draw, while Lions FC didn't even take to the pitch as they were awarded a 3-0 win over Souths United through forfeit.

MATCH CENTRE: The latest results and fixtures from #NPLWQLD
LATEST NEWS: Visit the official #NPLWQLD website

NPL Victoria

Oakleigh Cannons and Hume City continued their perfect starts to the NPL Victoria season with solid wins in Round 2.

Hume City moved to the top of the table on the back of a 2-0 away result over Green Gully SC on Friday night.

Josh Bingham and James Brown delivered their first goals of the season, while at the back City posted a second consecutive clean sheet to maintain their impressive start to the campaign.

Also on Friday night, the Cannons fought back after conceding early to shoot down fellow opening round winners Heidelberg United 3-2 on Friday night at Jack Edwards Reserve.

Harry White cancelled out Sean Ellis’ opener for the Cannons immediately prior to half-time before Joe Guest and Joseph Knowles both netted their second goals in as many weeks to seal the points.

On Sunday, South Melbourne FC got off the mark with the biggest win of the round – a 5-2 demolition of Eastern Lions – on the back of a hat-trick from striker Harrison Sawyer.

Elsewhere, Melbourne Knights shared the points for a second straight week in a 3-3 draw with Dandenong Thunder, while Port Melbourne also posted consecutive draws in a 1-1 result against Bentleigh Greens.

The points were also shared between Dandenong City and St. Albans Saints as they cancelled each other out 1-1, while Avondale FC ran out 2-0 winners over Altona Magic.

MATCH CENTRE: The latest results and fixtures from #NPLVIC
LATEST NEWS: Visit the official #NPLVIC website

Feature image courtesy of Adelaide City FC.

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This article was originally published on the National Premier Leagues website.
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