Stoppage-Time Brilliance Seals It: We Surge Past UNSW FC 3-1

NPL NSW Men's | Round 21

Three points and a finish that'll be talked about for a while. We defeated UNSW FC 3-1 at the Village Green on Saturday, with two stunning late goals sealing a result that keeps us firmly in the top-six conversation.

UNSW vs Sharks - Photo by Hugo Jacoby

It was a tight, physical affair early on. Both sides went long early, looking to exploit space in behind, and UNSW tested us with some decent early moments. Richard Shoueiki was the one making life difficult at the other end, pressing hard on goalkeeper Tristan Prendergast and forcing him into a couple of scrambled saves inside the first 20 minutes.

The pressure told in the 25th minute. A brilliant ball over the top from Thijs van Amerongen found the driving run from Jordan Perez. Jordan slotted the ball along the ground and found Richard Shoueiki who finished clinically. It felt like a goal that had been coming.

Thijs van Amerongen standing tall - Photo by Hugo Jacoby

UNSW levelled just before the break though, Liam Wood getting on the end of a well-delivered corner to guide it past Nizic, and the sides went in at 1-1.

The second half was tight. Jamie Percevski went close with a header early in the piece, and UNSW had their moments too, but neither side could find a way through. It looked like we'd be sharing the points.

Then we found another gear. Diego Bonilla came on and made an instant impact on debut, assisting Jordan Perez's clinical finish in the 86th minute to restore our lead. Perez was excellent all game, combining a goal and an assist in a real standout performance. And then, in the first minute of stoppage time, Tariq Maia spotted Prendergast off his line and produced one of the goals of the season, a composed long-range lob from near halfway that dipped in to seal a 3-1 win in spectacular fashion.

Jordan Perez smiling after his goal - Photo by Hugo Jacoby

Maia took the player of the match honours, and it's hard to argue with that. A moment of genuine quality to finish the game off.

This win keeps us in the race for the top six. We sat fourth heading into the weekend until Rockdale's upset win over APIA on Sunday moved us back to fifth, but the mood is good and the belief is there. We're fighting to stay there, and we're ready for what comes next.

Result: UNSW FC 1 – 3 Sutherland Sharks FC
Scorers: Richard Shoueiki 25', Jordan Perez 86', Tariq Maia 90+1'
Venue: The Village Green, Kensington | Saturday 27 June 2026

APIA Leichhardt at home this weekend. It's a huge one. Come down to Seymour Shaw and get behind the boys 🦈