It was another entertaining weekend of football in the National Premier Leagues across Australia. KEEPUP brings you the best bits.
A day to remember for a Melbourne City sensation
Raphael Borges Rodrigues had a day out with a four-goal haul for Melbourne City in NPL2 VIC over the weekend.
The 19-year-old attacker, who is the son of former Adelaide United star Cristiano, scored four goals in City’s 5-1 rout of Langwarrin on Saturday.
Borges Rodrigues made his senior City debut under ex-boss Erick Mombaerts as a 17-year-old during the 2019-20 Isuzu UTE A-League season and he has since added a further 11 appearances to his name – including two this term for the three-time reigning premiers.
The youngster has been following in the footsteps of his Brazilian father Cristiano, who spent two years with Adelaide between 2008 and 2010.
He was part of the Reds team that reached the 2008 AFC Champions League semi-finals and 2009 A-League Men Grand Final. Cristiano also scored for Adelaide in the fifth-place play-off match at the 2008 FIFA Club World Cup.
Now, his son is making an impact at City, for both the senior side and the youth team in the second tier of Victoria’s National Premier Leagues.
Borges Rodrigues scored his maiden goal for City – the match-winning strike – in a 2-1 win away to Brisbane Roar last season after he started up front alongside Andrew Nabbout and Stefan Colakovski at Kayo Stadium.
Two months later, in May last year, he was on target in City’s 3-0 AFC Champions League group-stage success against United City.
Again, Borges Rodrigues was named in Patrick Kisnorbo’s line-up, which also included Marco Tilio and Connor Metcalfe.
He is also a youth international for Australia. In 2022, he was part of the Young Socceroos team – featuring Archie Goodwin, Nectarios Triantis, Adrian Segecic and Yaya Dukuly – that lost 3-0 away to an England team headlined by now-Chelsea forward Carney Chukwuemeka.
This year, Borges Rodrigues also scored in the sensational 9-1 rout of Qatar as the Young Socceroos reached the quarter-finals of the AFC Under-20 Asian Cup.
City’s youth side are second from bottom in NPL2 VIC, 11 points adrift of Preston Lions and Western United who are both level on 21 points.
In NPLM VIC – the top tier – Avondale FC stayed hot and undefeated with a 4-2 win over defending champions Oakleigh Cannons.
Through 11 rounds, Avondale have won 10 games and drawn once, scoring a league-high 44 goals. In their past four NPL fixtures, they have found the back of the net 19 times.
South Melbourne crushed Altona Magic 5-1, while former Melbourne Victory youngster Josh Hope scored twice in Green Gully’s 4-2 win against 10-man Dandenong Thunder.
In NPLW VIC, titleholders Calder United were 4-2 winners against Heidelberg United but they are nine points behind leaders Boroondara-Carey Eagles, who accounted for Southern United 3-0.
Larissa Walsh starred for Calder. Last season’s NPLW WA Gold Medallist and Golden Boot winner with Perth RedStar – where she scored 21 goals and became the only player in the league’s short history to score in the Night Series Final, State Cup Final and Grand Final in the same campaign – scored twice against Heidelberg.
Sky Blues batter the unbeaten leaders in an NPL NSW boilover
If you’re after for one of the upsets of the weekend, look no further than Sydney FC’s 4-0 demolition of APIA Leichhardt.
APIA entered Friday night’s fixture unbeaten and top of NPLM NSW before Sydney crushed the Premiership hopefuls in dominant fashion at Valentine Sports Park.
The Sky Blues were rampant as a Ben Gibson double, to go with goals from Alen Harbas and Clayton Taylor, lifted the club up to fourth in the standings and within six points of APIA.
Sydney’s rout has blown the title race wide open, with Rockdale Ilinden now only a point behind thanks to their 1-0 win away to NWS Spirit.
It was a strong weekend for the A-Leagues and their academies, aside from Sydney FC.
Central Coast Mariners recorded their first home win of the season after coming from behind to dramatically upstage Australia Cup runners-up Sydney United 2-1.
The Mariners left it late at Pluim Park, where Lachlan Bayliss equalised via an 88th-minute penalty before George Daniel completed the comeback a minute later.
Western Sydney Wanderers – who had a player sent off – were also victorious courtesy of a Zachary Sapsford brace that sealed a 2-1 triumph of Manly United.
Frangie at it again!
Remember Anthony Frangie? The Mt Druitt Town Rangers star who went viral after scoring a Cristiano Ronaldo-inspired bicycle kick last month?
Well, he was at it again in NPLM NSW over the weekend.
It was another bicycle kick that saw Mt Druitt trump Marconi Stallions 1-0 in a huge upset that saw them climb off the foot of the table.
In NPLW NSW, Macarthur Rams hit Emerging Jets for six in a 6-0 demolition on Sunday evening.
The Rams are fourth and six points behind unbeaten leaders APIA Leichhardt, who edged Blacktown Spartans 2-1.
A former A-Leagues star helping to keep his team top in QLD
Gold Coast United are flying high in NPLM QLD, unbeaten and top of the table after eight rounds.
They were victorious again – this time edging Brisbane Olympic 2-0. Among the goalscorers? Mitch Nichols.
The former Socceroo, who played for Brisbane Roar, Melbourne Victory, Perth Glory, Western Sydney Wanderers and Wellington Phoenix in the Isuzu UTE A-League, found the back of the net to open his account for the 2023 campaign.
Ex-Roar youth player Marquez Walters was at the double in Moreton Bay United’s 2-2 draw away to Brisbane City, while Scott McDonald’s Gold Coast Knights eased past Peninsula Power 4-1 as Brad Inman was on the scoresheet.
In NPLW QLD, league-leading Lions FC were too good for Sunshine Coast Wanderers 3-0 and Peninsula Power overcame Mitchelton 5-3.
There was drama in NPLM WA as bottom side Olympic Kingsway toppled Perth SC 5-0, with Perth RedStar now top of the standings thanks to a 3-0 success over Balcatta Etna while Perth Glory prevailed 5-4 against Cockburn City.
In NPLW WA, Hyundai NTC seized top spot thanks to a 3-1 victory over previous leaders Perth SC in a top-of-the-table showdown.
Over in South Australia and FFSA NTC took down Adelaide City 1-0 to remain top of NPLW SA.
In the men’s competition, MetroStars are top of the table – ahead of Adelaide United – on goal difference.
