After an entertaining first round of the Australian Championship, Round 2 gets underway with two NPL NSW powerhouses in action at Leichhardt Oval.
Wests APIA FC v Sydney United 58
Watch live on SBS VICELAND, SBS On Demand and the Football Australia YouTube channel.
Kick-off: 7:30 pm AEST
Venue: Leichhardt Oval
Round 2 of the Australian Champions kicks off with an NPL NSW rivalry as former National Soccer League giants Wests APIA and Sydney United 58 face off.
APIA secured three points in their opening match, edging past MetroStars 1-0. Soon after coming on as substitutes an hour in, Seiya Kambayashi and Jordan Segreto combined for the winner.
The victory sent NPL NSW Champions APIA to the top of Group D, two points ahead of their opponents today, Sydney United 58.
Despite APIA’s NPL NSW Championship title, the side failed to beat United 58 on either occasion throughout the regular season.
In Round 9, United 58 got up 2-1 before coughing up a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 later in the year.
Back in 2023, the teams faced off at Leichhardt Oval in the Waratah Cup Final, where Sydney United 58 claimed the trophy with a 3-1.
It looked like United 58 were going to secure a similarly tight victory in the opening round, after Carlos De Oliveira scored from the spot in the second half against Bayswater City.
However, a freak strike from City squared the ledger with only a couple of minutes remaining to see the points shared.
The visitors will be eager to make good on their unbeaten record against APIA in 2025 to pick up their first win of the Championship.
However, a victory for the hosts would propel them to a commanding position in the group early on.