Sutherland scored a brave 2-1 win over Sydney Olympic on Sunday to help them move away from the foot of the table – and remain an outside chance of scraping into the finals.
The Sharks climbed to ninth on the NSW NPL 1 table after the round 15 win which leaves them eight points behind fifth-placed Bonnyrigg.
Sutherland would need to win all their remaining fixtures and hope other results go their way – but while there is life, there’s hope.
Sutherland defender Nick Littler gave the Sharks the lead just before half-time when he headed home a Joshua Da Silva corner.
Olympic hit back 10 minutes after the break when Harris Gaitatzis scored from a scramble in the six-yard box.
But Sutherland refused to go away without a fight.
Japanese import Tomohiro Kajiyama put the Sharks in front moments later with Sutherland holding onto the valuable three points in the dying stages.
Sutherland coach Carlos Villazon told Football NSW he was delighted with the win.
I’m very excited with the result because many, many games we play exactly like this. A lot of intensity, a lot of football but at the end of the day we lost a lot of games.
- Carlos Villazon
“I’m very excited with the result because many, many games we play exactly like this. A lot of intensity, a lot of football. But at the end of the day we lost a lot of games,” he said.
“I think most of the players played really, really good but in defence Nick Littler was outstanding.
“He scored the first goal plus was very, very good in defence.
“[Kajiyama] played well but he has been the most consistent player during the year, he always plays well.”
At the Sydney United Sports Centre on Sunday, high-flying Rockdale lost 3-2 to league leaders Sydney United 58.
The Suns trailed 3-1 at half-time, with a Dylan Macallister penalty all they had to show for their first half.
Alex Canak scored in the second half but Rockdale were unable to find an equaliser. The Suns, who remain third, will look to bounce back when they host Blacktown Spartans at the Ilinden Sports Centre on Sunday. Kick-off is at 5pm.
Sutherland face a trip to Melita Stadium to face Parramatta.
