The Western Sydney Wanderers NPL 1 side travel to the Rockdale Ilinden Sports Centre to face the reigning Club Champions, Rockdale Ilinden, as they search for back-to-back wins for the first time this season.
The Wanderers will hope to topple another high-flying side when they take on third-placed Rockdale Ilinden on Saturday. The Red & Black are coming off a dominant 2-0 win over Manly United, where it felt like everything came together for a comprehensive victory.
Goals from Aiden Simmons and Julian Cop were enough to secure the win, although this week’s task presents a different challenge, as the reigning Club Champions have proven to be a tough side to contain this season.
Rockdale are coming off a massive 3-1 win over Sydney United 58 in a fierce match-up where emotions ran high and victory was twice as sweet. Three unanswered goals in the second half were enough to cancel out an early Sydney United strike and take home all three points.
The Wanderers’ biggest challenge will be containing Rockdale’s talisman up front, Alec Urosevski. He leads the goal-scoring charts with twelve goals this season—four more than any other player in the competition. Urosevski has carried his red-hot form from the 2024 season into this year, having netted an impressive 31 goals in a breakout campaign last year.
This attacking firepower has contributed to Rockdale’s ability to break down defenses, as no team has managed to keep a clean sheet against them. Comparatively, they’ve only conceded two fewer goals than the Wanderers (18).
This statistic tells the story of both teams this season: Rockdale are a side willing to sacrifice some defensive solidity for attacking flair, led by Urosevski, while the Wanderers—whose defense is close to the standard of the competition heavyweights—have struggled to find consistency in front of goal.
The Key Decider: Alec Urosevski
Whenever Rockdale play, it’s not a matter of if, but when their Ilinden striker will score. He’s the only player this season averaging more than a goal per game, in a campaign where the competition has never been closer.
The key to a Wanderers victory will lie in containing Urosevski. If the likes of Nathan Barrie and Ricky Fransen can hold off the talisman and limit his involvement, the Wanderers will be well on their way to a result.
If not, they’ll need to draw inspiration from last week’s performance and hope they can match that same efficiency in front of goal. It’s rare to see a striker so influential and central to a team’s success.
A win for either side could prove monumental in the league standings, as both teams will be pushing hard for all three points. Expect an open clash, with both sides looking to get on the front foot early. These are two teams that give their all and ultimately love to play with a positive outlook.
NPL NSW Round 11
Rockdale Ilinden v Western Sydney Wanderers FC
Saturday 19 March, 7:00pm
Rockdale Ilinden Sports Centre
