Football West News

Sharp shooter Gustavo Giron Marulanda believes Bayswater City can alter misguided eastern states perceptions of the standard of WA soccer by winning the PS4 NPL National Finals.

Bayswater came from behind to defeat West Adelaide in the city of churches last week to set up a home semi-final against Hobart Olympia Warriors at Frank Drago Reserve on Sunday.

Marulanda, who won the Golden Boot with 22 goals in WA’s elite NPL competition this season, has urged soccer fans to support Bayswater in their quest to reach a first National Grand Final.

“People in other states think WA is an easy league to play in, but it’s not,” said the Colombian, who has lit up WA soccer over the past six years. “They think the standard in WA football is not as high as over east. So, it’s not only important for Bayswater but also for WA football.

“We are putting our name on the map. We showed in Adelaide what we’re capable of and now we host the semi-final.”

The NPL National Finals Series brings together the champion clubs from eight top-tier competitions across the country in a knockout format.

The winner of Sunday’s clash will take on the victor from Saturday’s other semi-final between Blacktown City, from NSW, and Queensland’s Moreton Bay United.

Marulanda, who has been linked to an A-League move in the past, said Bayswater was capable of going all the way.

“This is massive for us,” he said. “As a player and as a club, you always want to reach as high as you can. We have to fight for it. I’m confident we’ll do a very good job and we’ll be in the final.”

Bayswater lost their first-round match last year when they were beaten in a penalty shoot-out by South Australia’s MetroStars, who went on to win the National title.

Last weekend’s 2-1 win over West Adelaide, which was secured by goals from David Heagney and Danny Dixon, was the first by a WA club in the National Finals Series.

PS4 NPLWA NATIONAL SEMI-FINAL
Sunday, September 27
Frank Drago Reserve, Bayswater (2.30pm kick-off)

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Bayswater City v Hobart Olympia (Tasmania)

Bayswater: 1 Devon SPENCE; 2 Declan HARGREAVES; 3 Aaron DELANEY; 4 Kostantinos SPARTA; 5 Ayden DRAGUN; 6 Todd HOWARTH; 7 Jamie MURPHY; 9 Gustavo GIRON MARULANDA; 10 Damien CATALANO; 11 Corey BARCLAY; 12 Adam TONG; 13 Trent KAY; 14 Danny DIXON; 15 Brian FARRELL; 16 Jamie COYNE; 17 BorBor SAM; 19 Alex WILD; 20 Sam MITCHINSON; 21 David HEAGNEY; 22 Pasquale GIOFFRE (GK); 23 Chris SALDARIS; 24    Patients ILAHAMBAYE;25 Jason SALDARIS (GK).
Coach: Chris Coyne

Olympia: 1 Sean LEWIS (GK); 2 Jacob HERBERT; 3 Harry WOOLLEY; 4    Shae HICKEY; 5 Luke EYLES; 6 Nicholas MEARNS; 7    Warren WADAWU; 8 William ROBERTS; 9 Emmanuel TSAKIRIS; 10 Gavin HOY; 11    Nicholas MEREDITH; 13 Christian DI MARTINO; 14 Jonathan GRIFFITHS; 15 Lachlan NICHOLS; 16 Jake VANDERMAY; 17 Alessandro BELLINI; 18 Jack CALLAN; 19 Stuart PAGE; 20 James ACKERLEY; 21    Spiros PARADISIS (GK).
Coach: Glen McNeill

Admission
$10 adults
$5 concession
Under-16 free
$5 parking