We End The 8 Year Win Drought Against Wolves And Tighten Our Grip On Top Four
NPL NSW Men's | Round 26
We made the most of our chances to grind out a hard-fought 2-1 win over the Wollongong Wolves at Seymour Shaw on Saturday, despite the visitors creating plenty of problems for us throughout the contest. The result keeps our grip on a top-four spot firm, while it's now four straight losses for the Wolves, whose finals hopes are hanging by a thread.
The Wolves started the brighter of the two sides, with Flynn Madden and Yuto Fujita both firing over in the opening exchanges, and Fujita gave Danijel Nizic some early work, forcing a strong save in the 16th minute. With Brendan Gan missing through suspension, Wollongong's midfield began to get a foothold in the game. We settled as the half wore on though, and after Diego Bonilla blazed one wide in the 23rd minute, we made the breakthrough. Danny Choi found space well outside the box and curled a low, left-foot finish past the keeper after a well-placed lay-off from Bonilla, giving us a 1-0 lead in the 30th minute, his third goal of the season. The Wolves went close to levelling just before the break, but a mistimed bounce saw Fujita miss an open goal, and we went in ahead at the break despite being outshot 7-3.
The second half was end to end early on, with Yianni Nicolaou testing the keeper in the 58th minute before the Wolves forced a smart save out of Nizic in the 69th. We doubled our lead soon after when substitute Tye McGowan rifled home from close range after Bonilla's blocked effort fell kindly, and we looked to be cruising. The Wolves weren't finished though, pulling one back in the 81st minute through Banri Kanaizumi after some clever hold-up play from their captain Lachlan Scott. They pushed hard for an equaliser in the closing stages, and it took a big block from Matthew Jurman to deny Dylan King and see out the win.
It's a result that moves us five points clear of Rockdale as we push to lock down fourth spot and a place in the Australian Championship. With four games left to play, and only six points separating fifth from fourteenth, nothing is decided yet and there's still work to do.
Danny Choi's return to the scoresheet was a welcome sight after a quiet stretch since his last goal, and Bonilla continues to look a smart signing, involved in both goals. Jurman's late intervention at the back was as important as anything that happened up the other end, and Nizic did his job when called upon between the sticks.
Result: Sutherland Sharks FC 2 – 1 Wollongong Wolves FCScorers: Danny Choi 30', Tye McGowan 71'Venue: Seymour Shaw Park, Saturday 1 August 2026
We're back at home this Saturday as we take on Sydney FC. They sit 6th and are looking to fight for a spot in the finals. It’s another game we need great support! Click below to get your tickets.
NPL Men's NSW Round 26 Highlights – Sutherland Sharks v Wollongong WolvesWatch on YouTube