Round 10 was heavily impacted by wet weather, with two matches washed out and only two able to go ahead due to widespread field closures. This week’s preview will focus solely on the clash between Greenacre Eagles and Yagoona Lions at Padstow Park, as all other grass fields are closed this weekend.
Match of the Round: Greenacre Eagles vs Yagoona Lions, Friday 23rd May 7:30pm @ Padstow Park
Previous Meeting: Yagoona Lions 5-1 Greenacre Eagles
After enjoying a weekend off, the Greenacre Eagles will return to action with fresh legs as they host the Yagoona Lions, who were on the pitch last weekend and will be eager to bounce back to winning form.
The last time these two sides met in Round 4, Yagoona’s Jamie Bazevski was unstoppable, netting four second-half goals in a dominant performance that saw the Lions cruise to a 5-1 victory over the Eagles.
Currently sitting in 8th place, Greenacre Eagles are enduring a difficult run, having lost their last six matches in a row. However, they’ll be hoping the break has done them good and are aiming to produce a major upset this Friday in a bid to lift themselves off the bottom of the ladder.
A strong defensive display will be crucial for Greenacre if they are to have any hope of securing a result. With 31 goals conceded across just nine games, they currently hold the unenviable record of having the league’s weakest defence. That vulnerability will be tested once again against a high-powered Yagoona attack that leads the competition with the most goals scored.
Greenacre’s top scorer this season is Abdul Shinnaq, who has found the net just twice. The team has struggled to identify a reliable goal threat capable of consistently scoring. As the season progresses, Greenacre will be hoping that someone can step up and provide the firepower they desperately need in front of goal.
Meanwhile, the 2nd placed Yagoona Lions come into this match off the back of a hard-fought 2-2 draw against Padstow Hornets in Round 10. After falling behind early in the second half, star forwards Jamie Bazevski and Tommy Markovski produced a rapid turnaround with goals in the 81st and 83rd minutes to take a 2-1 lead. However, a lapse in concentration saw them concede a late equaliser in the 90th minute, forcing them to share the points.
Once again, Yagoona’s attacking firepower will be key to their success. With 34 goals already this season, their frontline has been in exceptional form. Bazevski and Markovski have contributed a staggering 27 goals between them, and with both players chasing Golden Boot honours, they’ll be hungry to add to their tallies this weekend.
A victory for Yagoona Lions would be a significant one, narrowing the gap to league leaders Padstow United to just five points, while also giving them a three-point buffer over 3rd placed Panania Diggers. With so much at stake, three points on Friday night could prove crucial in Yagoona’s title challenge.
With both teams entering the fixture with very different ambitions—Greenacre Eagles fighting for points and Yagoona Lions pushing for the top—Friday night promises to deliver a compelling clash.
