Rockdale Ilinden Triumph in Extra-Time to Reach NPL NSW Grand Final

Sep 7

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NPL NSW Grand Final: Rockdale Ilinden summoned all their strength to secure a 2-1 triumph over newly crowned Premiers NWS Spirit at Christie Park in a Sunday night thriller, emerging victorious after 120 minutes of football to book a blockbuster Grand Final showdown with APIA Leichhardt at Jubilee Stadium next Saturday.

Despite playing midweek in a grueling clash with Blacktown City, Rockdale showed no fatigue, navigating extra time to outlast the Premiers in a high-quality Preliminary Final contest.

Rockdale Ilinden FC Squad (Photo taken from Football NSW)

First Half – Rockdale on the Front Foot: NPL NSW Grand Final

Rockdale began brightly, carving out several chances. In the 9th minute, Isaac Danzo whipped in a dangerous ball for Moudi Najjar, whose header drifted just wide. Najjar went close again in the 30th minute, forcing Spirit keeper Christopher Marques into a fine diving save.

Brendan Cholakian and Lochlan Constable combined brilliantly in the 36th minute, only for Constable’s strike to flash wide. Rockdale dominated the half but couldn’t find the opener.

Second Half – Goals and Drama

The breakthrough came just two minutes after the restart. Hunter Elliott found Najjar in the box, who squared for captain Alec Urosevski to smash home from close range, sending the visitors in front.

Ali Auglah nearly doubled the lead soon after, but Marques smothered his effort. From the resulting transition, Spirit won a penalty after Takumi Ofuka was fouled. Andre Takami’s spot-kick was saved by Nicholas Sorras, but Harry Keys reacted quickest to fire in the rebound and level the match at 1-1 in the 56th minute.

Spirit almost took the lead in the 78th minute through captain Grant Cornwell’s powerful header, but Sorras was again the hero with a superb save.

Extra Time – Najjar Delivers

With no winner in regular time, extra time beckoned. Rockdale struck just a minute into the first period when Urosevski slipped a clever pass to Najjar, who calmly slotted into the bottom corner to restore the lead.

The Premiers pushed hard, coming close in the 118th minute when Kyah Williams’ strike was blocked on the line by Elliott in a heroic defensive moment. Rockdale held firm until the final whistle.

Coach’s Reaction

Head coach Paul Dee praised his side’s resilience:

“Spirit have had an unbelievable season. They are a terrific, well-drilled team so I knew it was going to be a tough task. I’m glad our boys put in a very good performance. I think we deserved the win and it’s a reward for our loyal fans.”

Dee added that the squad’s self-belief has carried them through the finals:

“It just shows the desire in the team to make another Grand Final and try to do one better than last year. We want to play good football and be brave in pressured situations.”

On facing APIA, he said:

“There’s a long history between us and APIA. It will be a great spectacle for the fans, and we’re going there to win.”