APIA Leichhardt First Grade Mens & Womens Match Preview – Weekend of 15-16 Mar 2025

“We’re In The Rhythm Now” – Parisi keen to kick on after Sydney win with St George triumph

MATCH PREVIEW: APIA Leichhardt FC Men’s First Grade v St George FC – NPL Men’s NSW Round 6 2025

APIA Leichhardt Men’s are ready to return home for the second consecutive week to face St George FC in an exciting Round 6 fixture of the NPL NSW Men’s competition at Lambert Park. The match kicks off at 6pm AEDT, with both teams eager to secure valuable points. APIA come into the match with a mixed run of form to start to the season. After the 3-3 draw against Wollongong Wolves in the opening round, the Marronazzuri secured a commanding 6-2 victory over Central Coast Mariners Academy next time out. However, subsequent matches saw defeats to NWS Spirit (0-3) and Blacktown City (3-4). Yet, the squad most rebounded strongly with a solid 2-0 win over Sydney FC in their most recent outing on Sunday last week.

St George FC has experienced a challenging start to their campaign as well. After an initial 1-1 draw, they suffered three consecutive losses before securing their first win of the season. Currently, they hold 11th position on the ladder.

Historically, encounters between APIA Leichhardt and St George FC have been closely contested. That was until the most recent match-up in June 2024 which saw APIA bag a 4-1 win at home thanks to two goals from recent departure Ben Gibson, one from Sean Symons and a final dagger canceling out a lone Kosta Petratos effort from Jordan Segreto.

The latter will be one to watch again come Saturday, along with fellow early-20s-aged starlets Presley Ortiz and Eddie Caspers – a trio which is combining well to play the ‘sexy football’ Franco Parisi wants of them.

He spoke to APIA Media midweek, previewing the upcoming next instalment of the old APIA-Budapest clash!

“We’re heading into Round 6 now, so it’s the time of the season where we want to get that momentum. We want to have the team shape organised, and [be] scoring sexy goals, and we’ve been doing that so it’s good.”

Franco praised the side keeping its first clean sheet of the campaign last week at home to Sydney, and pointed to the tightening of the backline after a leaky few opening weeks.

“We’ve had a few players come in and out, but as an organisation  you talk about the distances between lines or the width, depending on who you’re playing and what field you’re playing on.. but at our home ground of Lambert Park we strive to have clean sheets as often as possible because we’re familiar with the ground, we’re familiar with what we need to do, and the opposition is the only variable.”

St George FC will look to their key playmakers to break down APIA’s defense, aiming to improve their goal-scoring record this season.

As APIA prepares to host St George, the team aims to capitalise on home advantage and climb the NPL NSW Men’s ladder. With a blend of experienced campaigners and emerging talents, fans can anticipate a compelling showcase of talent at Lambert Park.

APIA Leichhardt v St George FC

National Premier League Men’s New South Wales Round 6

Saturday 15 March 2025

Lambert Park, Marion Street, Leichhardt NSW 2040

Kick off: 6:00pm AEDT

Broadcast Live: Football NSW YouTube Channel

Join the Conversation: #APLvSTG #NPLMNSW #ForzaAPIA

AVAILABLE SQUAD

APIA Leichhardt FC Men’s First Grade: 1. Anthony BOUZANIS (GK), 2. Seiya KAMBAYASHI, 4. Josh SYMONS, 5. Dredon KELLY, 6. Anthony SPARACINO, 7. Jack STEWART, 8. Joel BERTOLISSIO, 9. Presley ORTIZ, 11. Rory JORDAN, 12. Sebastian BOFFA, 15. Themba MUATA-MARLOW, 16. Sean SYMONS, 17. Jordan SEGRETO, 18. Adrian UCCHINO (C), 20. Alexander PARKES (GK), 21. Michael KOUTA, 22. Eddie CASPERS, 24. Cameron FONG, 29. Maksim KASALOVIC, 30. Alex DENMEAD, 41. Nick AZZONE, 80. Oliver KALAC (GK), 99. Franco FARINELLA.

OUT: 14. Max COURT (Away at Viareggio Cup), 26. Oscar GONZALEZ (Injury)

Tickets to the clash are available at the Lambert Park gates with adult tickets priced at $15, concession $10, and children under 16 able to attend for free. You can save up to $75 across APIA home matches this season by investing in 2025 Season Membership, which is available through http://tinyurl.com/APIAMember2025. For all further information, supporters are encouraged to visit and follow Club social media pages; Instagram, Facebook, and X/Twitter primarily with more video content available on YouTube and TikTok

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“It’s Not About What We Want. It’s Kind of ‘What We Need’” – Brad Attard happy to graft for early season success

MATCH PREVIEW: APIA Leichhardt FC Women’s First Grade v Gladesville Ravens – NPL Women’s NSW Round 2 2025

While an opening round Grand Final rematch victory at home against an enigmatically changed Rams squad was means for cheer and celebration, APIA Leichhardt FC Women’s Head Coach Brad Attard is still not entirely satisfied that he got all he could out of his girls in Round One, and turns immediately to Sunday’s Round Two home clash against Gladesville Ravens to continue a flying entrance into Season 2025.

Two goals from Ashlie Crofts gave APIA Women’s a 2-0 win to start the campaign in front of a healthy happy crowd at home last Sunday, but as the games will come thick and fast Brad and his coaching staff have urged the girls to play to the season ahead and not so much to individual occasions.

“I probably wanted a better 90 minute performance from our group, and I think that they expected that as well. But Round One, Round Two – it’s not about what we want, it’s about what we need and I suppose three points on the board in Round One is what we need. It’s what we didn’t get last year.” Brad said to APIA Media midweek.

“We were probably a little overwhelmed in the occasion and in the emotion in Round One, so I don’t know that we cherished the ball as well as I would’ve liked and as much as we did in the pre-season, so tonight [at training]’s message has pretty much just been that – how well can we manage the ball, how well can we look after it?”

“You look forward to coming out to Lambert Park, and we want to make this place a bit of a fortress from us and there’s no place like home.

So we want to enjoy Lambert Park, and we want to give our members something to enjoy when they come here.”

The Ravens picked up a point at home against Sydney Olympic in the opening round, so will be keen to get their first three points of the season at Lambert Park.

APIA Leichhardt v Gladesville Ravens

National Premier League Women’s New South Wales Round 2

Sunday 16 March 2025

Lambert Park, Marion Street, Leichhardt NSW 2040

Kick off: 5:00pm AEDT

Broadcast Live: Football NSW YouTube Channel

Join the Conversation: #APLvGLA #NPLMNSW #ForzaAPIA

AVAILABLE SQUAD

APIA Leichhardt FC Women’s Seniors: 1. Sophie MAGUS (GK), 3. Tanya BORAZIO, 5. Teal KILBRIDE, 6. Mona WALKER, 7. Charlotte LANCASTER, 8. Hannah McNULTY, 9. Brinley GENTLE, 10. Melissa CACERES, 11. Ashlie CROFTS (C), 12. Lara BOSNICH, 13. Jordan JASNOS, 14. Mia GOLDING, 15. Gisella PIPINO, 16. Estelle FRAGALE, 17. Alicia MEURONEN, 19. Imogen LANE, 20. Zoe PANAGOPOULOS, 21. Kaitlin KIPARIZOV, 22. Violet KEELAN, 23. Mikayla DUONG, 24. Christina KICEEC, 25. Aurelia COLLINS, 27. Alice BOWLES, 28. Beth CRAWFORD, 29. Anabelle GHABACH, 30. Paige CUTHILL (GK), 31. Olivia MITCHELL, 32. Daniela MANDILE, 33. Claudia PICKETT, 34. Emily BRCIC, 35. Maddison AKTILA, 36. Angelina FOLEY

OUT: 4. Jessica SEAMAN (A-League Women’s In-Season)

𝑴𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒉𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒚 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒖𝒔 by becoming an APIA Women’s Season Member for 2025 and save big on home game admission across the year! – tinyurl.com/APIAWomensMember2025 For all further information, supporters are encouraged to visit and follow Club social media pages; Instagram, Facebook, and X/Twitter primarily with more video content available on YouTube and TikTok

Article written by Jude “JayDee” Dolan

Images courtesy of Damian Briggs / Pitchside Media Solutions

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