Report: Tight wins and close groups following Sunday's match-ups
The Australian Championship did not disappoint as Round 3 concluded on Sunday with a suite of dramatic clashes from high-scoring thrashings to tight upsets.
Check out a recap from each game below.
Heidelberg United 6 - 1 South Hobart
A blistering first half from Heidelberg guided the side to another victory as they comprehensively downed South Hobart.
The hosts started quickly and burst into a two-goal lead within 11 minutes.
Angus Taylor scored within three minutes courtesy of a superb strike from the left of the box that he whipped into the far corner.
Bul Juach doubled the advantage eight minutes later, reacting fastest to a loose ball in the box to smash an effort home.
Heidelberg carried on their ruthless first half and went on to score a further four first-half goals.
Juach finished off a right-wing cross in the 27th minute, and Bramwell nodded in a few minutes later, before rolling an accurate shot into the right of the goal 38 minutes in.
Fletcher Fulton fired home a neat goal from the right side of the box in first-half stoppage time to conclude a perfect first half for the home side.
It looked like Heidelberg would maintain their run without conceding in the competition, until Eli Wright fired a well-hit effort to get South Hobart on the scoreboard late on.
Broadmeadow Magic 0 - 1 South Melbourne
South Melbourne continued their perfect start in the competition as they edged past Broadmeadow Magic and solidified their place at the top of Group A.
Despite Magic making a strong start to the match, they fell behind with five regular first-half minutes to play as Yuki Uchida steered home from close in.
The visitors worked hard to try to double their advantage, but could not beat Magic goalkeeper Lewis Alvarez, who made a couple of top saves.
Thomas Beecham almost snatched a point for Broadmeadow in stoppage time, but his header flew over the bar.
Moreton City Excelsior 1 - 2 Sydney Olympic
Sydney Olympic secured their first set of three points in the competition with a narrow win over Moreton City Excelsior.
Olympic flew out of the blocks and opened the scoring eight minutes in. Ali Auglah added to his now three-strong goal catalogue with a stunning curler into the top left corner.
The match burst back into life in the final 10 minutes as Michael Vakis put Olympic two goals up in the 84th minute. The attacker set off on a sensational run through the middle of the pitch and slotted confidently into the right of the goal.
Marc Janko halved the deficit four minutes later with a well-placed header into the bottom corner, however, it wasn’t enough as Olympic claimed their first win in the competition.
NWS Spirit 2-1 Canberra Croatia
NWS Spirit came from behind again as they beat Canberra Croatia with a slender win in their first three points of the Australian Championship.
The visitors took the lead within three minutes courtesy of a lightning counter attack. The side sprang forward following a Spirit corner with the ball making its way to Shandon Whitehead, who deftly clipped the ball over Christopher Marques.
It took Spirit only nine minutes to equalise. Michael Konestabo received a right-wing cross at the far post and sent a looping, deflected effort bouncing into the goal. It was the attacker’s second successive goal since returning to the NPL NSW Premiers’ team.
Some sensational work from goalkeeper Marques, including an eye-catching double save, ensured Spirit went into halftime level with their opponents.
Soon after the hour mark, the home side hit the front. Aedon Kyra steered home a well-timed volley following a left-wing cross to keep his scoring run in the competition going.
Kyra’s goal proved enough to move Spirit into the top two places of Group C.
Bayswater City 1-0 Wests APIA
Bayswater continued their run of upsets, handing NPL NSW Champions APIA their first defeat of the campaign.
In a tense first half, neither side could break the deadlock.
Bayswater capitalised on a bright start to the second half and grabbed the opening goal 10 minutes into the second half. The side worked the ball down the left, where a persistent Paddy Loughrey bundled the ball over the line.
City continued to threaten as the woodwork and outstanding goalkeeping from Oliver Kalac prevented the hosts from extending their lead.
APIA produced a late barrage in an attempt to salvage something from the match, but City held firm to go top of Group D.