The 2025 NPLM Match of the Round Preview
Round 19: Preston Lions v Avondale FC
Venue: Genis Steel Stadium, Reservoir
Date/Time: Sunday 22 June 2025, 3:00pm
All eyes turn to Genis Steel Stadium on Sunday afternoon, where the weather is forecast to be fine and sunny, setting the scene for a pivotal match in both the race for the NPLM Premiership and a spot in the Top-Six.
Avondale relinquished pole position last week after conceding a last-minute equaliser at Churchill Reserve, in remarkably their first draw of the 2025 campaign. The Lions return home on the back of successive losses and will be smarting after suffering a similar fate, relinquishing a crucial point after falling victim to some Max Mikkola magic at Lakeside Stadium.
The Avengers are sitting pretty in second spot on the NPLM table, though will have a keen eye on the events at Nasiol Stadium on Friday night, where the Bergers could extend that lead to 4 points, heaping more pressure on the boys in blue. They will be buoyed by their win against a resolute Dandenong Thunder on Tuesday in the Dockerty Cup, but having gone the distance mid-week may have an impact on player fatigue, even with Zoran Markovski’s rotation policy.
The Lions have picked up zero points against their two biggest rivals this month, and while they will be thankful for the additional 48 hours rest, will be concerned that their fortress has only yielded a point against Dandenong City and Heidelberg United. Preston will be keen to arrest that slide sooner rather than later if they are to maintain their advantage over City and Green Gully in the race to Finals, while hopefully closing the gap on Hume City who sit three points clear of them in 5th place.
Head-to-Head Record
Played: 4
Preston Lions: 1
Avondale: 3
Draws: 0
Last Time They Met
Round 5, Saturday 15 March 2025, 3:00pm @ Avenger Park.
Avondale 3 (Valentini 22, Aguek 55, 90);
Preston Lions 1 (Bell 49).
Referee: Jonathan Barreiro.
Avondale: Thomas Manos, Daniel Edwards, Ayden Brice, George Ott (Manyluak Aguek 16), Kur Kur (Stefan Zinni 60), Yitayew Towns, Stefan Valentini (Yusuf Ahmed 60), Kristian Trajceski, Jackson Courtney-Perkins (Joseph Katebian 70), Luca Tevere (Emlyn Wellsmore 70), Kalilou Kamara; Coach: Zoran Markovski; Cautions: Courtney-Perkins 35, Valentini 58, Katebian 78.
Preston Lions: Bon Scott, Domenic Folino, Aaron Anderson, Emile Peios (Brandon Lauton 76), Lleyton Brooks (Giorgio Serdenes 10), Luc Jeggo (Marcus Schroen 76), Matthew Bozinovski, Jason Romero, Oliver Kubilay (Noah Spaseski 76), Stefan Nigro, Gian Albano (Connor Bell 32)
Coach: Lou Acevski; Cautions: Bell 45, Nigro 77, Schroen 83. Sent off: Lauton 81.
Watch the last time they me
Key Matchup: Can the Lions thwart a star attack?
With 51 goals at 3 per game, the Avengers comfortably sit ahead of all-comers with a potent attack laden with stars. Many Aguek has taken his game to another level in 2025, the 25-year-old having made 21 appearances across all competitions and scoring 15 goals. As the competition’s leading marksmen, he appears set to deliver on the promise which won him contracts with both Western United and Central Coast Mariners in the A-League. Aguek’s form against Preston in Round 6 will be front of mind for Lou Acevski, the forward’s two goals off the bench sealing a 3-1 victory at Avenger Park consigning the Lions to their first defeat of the season. While Aguek’s ruthlessness in front of goal has been a distinct feature in the Avengers title chase, he has been ably supported by Yusuf Ahmed (6) and Stefan Zinni (4), the latter also scoring four goals in the Dockerty Cup in yet another stellar campaign.
The key to victory for Preston will sit with their defence. Goalkeeper Lucas Trenkovski has managed four clean sheets in eleven appearances since replacing Bon Scott in the starting eleven in Round 8 and has been ably supported by former Victory starlets Matthew Bozinovski, Aaron Anderson and Stefan Nigro. Bozinovski and Nigro have been particularly brilliant throughout the campaign, playing every minute in stellar debut seasons with the club. Along with NPL NSW product Jake Trajkovski, they will need to be at the top of their game to counter the Avengers attack.
Can Avondale sweep aside the Lions’ defensive stocks and grab a win on the road, or will Preston strengthen their fortress once again and take all three points as they look to edge closer to a Finals place in their first season in the top flight in sixteen years?
The 2025 NPLM Round 19 Match of the Round will be broadcast live and free on the NPL Victoria YouTube Channel.
Commentators:
Josh Parish and Riccardo Marchioli.
NPLM Round 19 Matches
- Friday 20 June, 7:30pm: Melbourne Knights vs Green Gully @ Tompsett Stadium
- Friday 20 June, 7:45pm: Dandenong City vs Altona Magic @ Frank Holohan Soccer Complex
- Friday 20 June, 8:30pm: St Albans Saints vs Oakleigh Cannons @ Churchill Reserve
- Friday 20 June, 8:30pm: Hume City vs Heidelberg United @ Nasiol Stadium
- Sunday 22 June, 3:00pm: Preston Lions vs Avondale @ Genis Steel Stadium
- Sunday 22 June, 5:00pm: South Melbourne vs Dandenong Thunder @ Lakeside Stadium
- Monday 23 June, 8:15pm: Melbourne Victory vs Port Melbourne Sharks @ Home of the Matildas