WOLVES SHARE SPOILS WITH ROCKDALE

2026 NSW NPL MENS 1 ROUND 13

WOLLONGONG WOLVES v ROCKDALE ILINDEN  FC

WOLVES SHARE SPOILS WITH ROCKDALE

 

The Wolves went out to a two-goal lead in the Round 13 first half against Rockdale Ilinden through Flynn Madden and an own goal, with Rockdale  pegging back the lead by one with fifteen minutes to go. A mountain of possession was held by Rockdale in the latter part of the first half and beyond, and exerted considerable pressure on the Wolves’ defence,  holding strong for a long period. It looked as though the Wolves might hold on,  but Rockdale had other ideas. The team achieved an equaliser in time added on through  Moudi Najjar, with Ollie Wiggin achieving the first goal.

 

The Wolves came into this Round 13 encounter unbeaten from Round 5, with Rockdale having two victories from their last five games. This was the thirty-fifth game between to two sides since the initial meeting in 1987.

 

The Wolves faced the southern end at the commencement of the game with Rockdale kicking off.  The ball was despatched forward and before long, Rockdale’s Najjar and the Wolves’ Tate Russell tangled near the sideline,  with a free kick to the Wolves, the upshot.  Madden took the ensuing set piece  which was subsequently headed away by Mohamed Adam.

 

As the minutes ticked on, each team was vying for supremacy and neither team was giving an ‘inch’.   Russell beat Giorgio Speranza  to the ball before Najjar and Adam combined again to exert pressure on the Wolves’ custodian, Daniel Solsky.

 

At the opposite end, Sebastian Hernandez burst down the right before crossing. Unfortunately for him, Rockdale’s central defender, Reo Kinimoto was there to defuse this dangerous situation. Harry Van Der Saag, the former Sydney FC and Manly player, gained possession and passed to Najjar but his effort flew high.

 

Each team probed for an opening, but nothing was forthcoming until a quarter of an hour in  A Lachlan Scott precise  cross  from the right and close to the by line after he eluded  Reo Kunimoto   was met by Madden in the goal area.  The consummate midfielder rose high  to nod his header home for his initial goal of this 2026 campaign, eluding a diving Kaye.  The Wolves were now in the lead.

 

Rockdale looked to carve out their own response  when Van Der Saag shot from outside the box. Unfortunately,  the ball took a deflection which Solsky grasped determinedly.

 

Hernandez, on the right veered inward, eluding a defender on the way. With the outside of his right, he attempted to curl the ball beyond the Rockdale goalkeeper, Levi Kaye. However, the shot stopper was able to take with relative ease. Trajcevski made a groundbreaking run close to the left sideline, but was ultimately dispossessed, with this  enterprise being unrewarded.  Isaac Danzo, who had played six games for the Wolves in the 2026 Championships, attempted to get one back for his team when he strode forward, only for his effort to traverse skywards. An Adam header was smothered by Solsky, but his team would not have to wait too long before another goal was achieved.

 

The Wolves Increased their advantage in the thirtieth minute. Lucas Tajcevski hit the ball into the goal area where Hernandez was lurking. A deflection off Giorgio Speranza’s leg saw the ball entering his own goal, deceiving Kaye.

 

Rockdale was now  two goals in arrears and needed a much-needed comeback. Solsky denied an Adam attempt. Danzo threaded the ball to Najjar and thence to Lachlan Constable, but no luck was there also.

 

In the forty-third minute, the Wolves had the ball into the Rockdale net through Dylan Ryan from a Madden free kick, but the offside flag was raised to scuttle this achievement.

 

At half time, the Wolves were up by two.

 

As the second half got underway, Danzo shot over the bar as Rockdale looked to begin the half with a bang. Trajcevski swung the ball over, but Kaye was equal to the task. Kazuya Yamamura’s left footed effort failed to bring up success. In the sixty second minute, coach Paul Dee  brought on the cavalry of fresh legs with Ollie Wiggin, Brendan Cholakian and Harry McCarthy entering the field as substitutes for Rockdale and they would have a subsequent bearing on the match.

 

The Wolves went ever so close  for a third goal when in the hour and six minutes,  Madden was set forth down the right by Hernandez who had made a telling tackle to win the ball. Madden stopped in the Rockdale half and a few moves later, Sebastian Duarte who was playing impressively,  placed the ball across the penalty area. from the left side.  The ball ultimately found Scott and he shot. Kaye was beaten but Danzo was positioned to clear off the line. It was indeed, a let off for Rockdale. However, the tables would soon turn.

 

in the seventy-fifth minute with Wiggin centrally, latched on to a  Cholakian  cross from the left  turned and produce a shot to beat Solsky to score.

 

A minute or two later, Wolves’ substitute Alex Masciovecchio made inroads down the left and a good attacking foray. Alas, his cut back pass went straight to a defender.  With ten minutes to go, a Najjar free kick wide on the right  saw Solsky way off his line to defuse.

 

With Rockdale putting  on much pressure, Rockdale kept pressing and the belief was there.  The equaliser occurred in the ninety plus two minutes   as the clock wound down the match.  Najjar was in the centre  and received the ball with his back to goal.  He turned and pushed the ball into the net past Solsky. In Round 20, 2025, Najjar had scored a brace against the Wolves.

 

Earlier, a Scott shot after he fashioned some space, sailed over. There were a few minutes left in the match and enough time for a winner  though substitute Alex Masciovecchio managed to lift his effort wide, much  to the Wolves’ chagrin.

 

The Wolves had achieved the lead with good play,   being two goals up in a very competitive match.  Rockdale had made a steely comeback with the teams ultimately sharing the spoils. The Wolves remain unbeaten in nine matches though a victory in this match would have been the preferred option, though  it was not to be.  The team did play up to expectations. Rockdale remain on two victories in their last six outings.

 

MATCH STATISTICS

 

WOLLONGONG WOLVES………….2

 

Flynn Madden 15’, Own goal Giorgio Speranza 30’.

 

 

ROCKDALE ILINDEN…………….…2

 

Ollie Wiggin 75’, Moudi Najjar 90+2

 

 

@Macedonia Park, Berkeley

 

SUNDAY  3rd MAY  2026

 

3.00 p.m. kick off

 

WOLLONGONG WOLVES

 

Coach: Luke Wilkshire

 

1. Daniel Solsky, 4. Dylan Ryan, 5. Banri Kanaizumi, 8.Sebastian Duarte, 10. Flynn Madden (21. Liam Ball 80’), 11. Sebastian Hernandez, 13. Tate Russell, 16. Lucas Trajcevski (25.Alex Masciovecchio 68’), 17. Marcus Beattie, 18. Kazuya Yamamura 24. Lachlan Scott ©

 

Substitutes not used: 3. Jude Christie, 19. Max Cunial, 77. Dylan King  7. Felipe D’Agostino, 14. Noah Mathie.

 

Yellow Cards : nil

 

Red Card : nil

 

 

ROCKDALE ILINDEN

 

Coach : Paul Dee

1. Levi Kaye, 2. Hunter Elliott (7. Ollie Wiggin 62’), 3. Lachlan Griffiths (27. Lukas Ribarevski 78’), 4. Reo Kunimoto, 5. Giorgio Speranza, 6. Isaac Danzo, 8. Jerry Skotadis (22. Harry McCarthy 62’), 9. Moudi Najjar, 11. Lochlan Constable 17. Mohamed Adam (10. Brendan Cholakian 62’) 26. Harry Van Der Saag ©

Subs Not Used:  16. Michael Marcevski, 21. Inbar Hefer, 24. Evangelos Kalamvokis.

 

Yellow Cards: Reo Kunimoto 87’

 

Red Cards: nil

 

 

Referee: Brodie Merchant

 

Assistant Referees : Joshua Matthews and Matthew McOrist

 

Fourth Official: Charlotte Flynn

 

 

By Malcolm Rowney