Green Gully – South Melbourne
South Melbourne Hellas triumphed over Greens Gully at their turf, leaving their opponents green with envy. Taking advantage of the stalemate between Avondale and Oakleigh Cannons, they now reign supreme at the top and are just biding their time for the playoffs. During the match against the “Greens”, Esteban Quintas’ squad showcased their defining qualities on the field. But it was their strategic patience in constructing their plays that proved to be the game changer and secured a victorious win for the Greek Australian team.
South Melbourne’s players strutted onto the field with the grace and technical prowess, ready to create some hazardous situations for Green Gully.
With flawless teamwork, they passed the ball beautifully to Mikkola in the center, but unfortunately his aim was a bit off when trying to find Sawyer.
No worries though, Painter-Andrews swooped in like a superhero and gracefully delivered the ball to Peios on the left.
And what a goal it was, sending the ball flying straight into the net.
Kudos to their coach for orchestrating the perfect plan, and let’s be real, they’re more eager to take the championship than a kid in a candy store. Bring on the battle.
Avondale – Oakleigh Cannons
Saturday’s early afternoon was a battlefield as Avondale, the champions, took on their fierce rivals, the Cannons from Oakleigh. It was a brawl to remember.
The match kicked off with rival defenses protecting their territories like hawk-eyed sentinels. Cue a plethora of one-on-one showdowns, mostly at the centre of the pitch.
The game took a dramatic turn in the 29th minute as the visitors scored a penalty after a corner kick and a mark in the box on Kasumovic.
The home team’s bench erupted in a turmoil of reactions, but they were far from justified. Cool as a cucumber, Joe Guest stepped up and effortlessly scored, securing a 1-0 lead for his team.
And the score stayed unchanged until halftime, adding a touch of suspense to the already spicy match.
As the clock ticked down, tensions rose on the field. And in the 52nd minute, fate (in the form of a questionable free throw) changed the game in the home team’s favor with a goal by Trajceski.
Looks like the ref needs to update his prescription from the optometrist.
In the 74th minute, Avondale’s Greek-Australian wall of a goalkeeper, Manos, gracefully denied Oakleigh Cannons’ hopes after a stunning free-kick from Kasumovic.
The Avondale players then masterfully weaved the ball around their opponents before serving it to the feet of Courtney-Perkins who effortlessly slotted it into the net. A great debut goal for the former Port Melbourne striker, now dazzling for the Italian Australian squad.
To add salt to the wound, Cian Cuba gracefully snatched a goal in the 87th minute, solidifying a 3-1 lead.
The defeat seemed certain for the visitors, much to the agreement of the match’s commentators on the esteemed Football Victoria YouTube channel.
But wait, it turns out the boys had a few tricks up their sleeves.
In the 89th minute, Kasumovic capitalized on a slip-up by the home team’s defense, bringing the score to a nail-biting 3-2. And just when you thought it couldn’t get more dramatic, in the final minute, Stefano Valentini silenced and stunned the Avondale fans, snatching a crucial point to secure the tie.
A thrilling display of grit and determination from the Greek Australian squad, proving their worth until the very end of the regular season.
Heidelberg United – Melbourne Knights
Heidelberg United owned their home game on Friday evening (12/7). They practically locked in their spot in the championship finals by wielding three points against the Melbourne Knights, showing off their skills and scoring two beautiful goals.
Anastasiadis’ squad displayed bravery and perseverance, acing a pivotal match with their practiced moves on the pitch. It just goes to show, United’s spectacular showing this season is no fluke.
Friday night’s game was a struggle for the yellow and black squad as they faced off against a fierce defensive front from the visitors. But Coach Anastasiades’ bold move of subbing in James-Ngor proved to be the ultimate game changer.
In the 64th minute, James-Ngor wow-ed the crowd by effortlessly weaving through four players and setting up Yokokawa for an assist to Mohamed Aidara, who sealed the deal with a killer shot.
And just like that, the team was in the lead with a 1-0 score.
Talk about dynamic duo plays, Ngor and Yokokawa were like Batman and Robin, leading United to their second goal.
Ngor pulled out some magical moves just outside of the box and then passed the torch (or should I say ball) to Yokokawa at the perfect moment.
With all the technical skills of a wizard, Yokokawa unleashed a mind-blowing shot that left the Knights’ keeper speechless, scoring a game-changing 2-0 win.
Heidelberg United put on a spectacular show, solidifying their spot in the top six of the standings. These guys are primed and pumped for the championship finals.
Dandenong Thunder – Port Melbourne Sharks
The Port Melbourne Sharks have been swimming against the current lately, unable to sink their teeth into a win against the Dandenong Thunder.
Losing key players has left New Hellas with a sinking reputation, forcing coach Nick Marinos to deep dive for fresh talent. But even his best efforts may not be enough to keep the team afloat.
The Thunder took control of the game like a lightning strike, scoring three goals and leaving the Albanian Australian fans dancing on cloud nine.
Meanwhile, the visitors were stuck in a never-ending game of hot potato in the center of the field, unable to make any flashy plays.
Port Melbourne finally managed to find a glimmer of hope with Fraser Dunlop’s goal in the 84th minute. However, it’s like winning a participation trophy for a team that can’t seem to escape the shadow of their departed star players.
VPL1
Northcote City gave it their all, but Melbourne City proved to be a formidable opponent. Sadly, the Greek Australian team went home defeated with a 3-1 score. However, they still maintained their second place position in the standings, second only to Melbourne Victory.
Bentleigh Greens brought the heat (despite the weather) in their face-off against the Warriors, ultimately claiming victory with a cheeky 2-3 score. It was a nail-biter of a match that left fans from both teams grasping their seats with white-knuckled excitement on Saturday (13/7).
Last weekend, Kington City slayed the competition with a 1-0 victory against the Eastern Lions on their own turf. Looks like the “red and whites” are bringing some serious fire to the final part of the season.
The underdogs, Brunswick City, rose to the occasion and kicked Melbourne Victory to the curb in a nail-biting 3-2 victory on Friday night. With a sigh of relief, the Greek-Australian team has secured a seven-point cushion over Werribee City, effectively dodging the humiliating fate of relegation. Their devoted fans can finally breathe easy.
VPL2
Box Hill United learned a harsh lesson from Melbourne Srbija as they were mercilessly defeated. The home team put on a smashing performance, scoring four goals and barely breaking a sweat for their well-deserved win. The result of 4-0 was just a friendly reminder of Fitzroy’s superiority on the field.
NPL – RESULTS
Heidelberg United – Melbourne Knights 2 – 0 (64′ M. Aidara, 80′ A. Yokokawa)
Dandenong City – Hume City 2 – 4 (90′ B. Plant, 90+2′ B. Plant – 41′ J. Okane, 45+1′ A. Ishak, 66′ L. Isgrove, 90+6′ U. Bozdugan )
Green Gully – South Melbourne 0 – 1 (65′ E. Peios)
Avondale – Oakleigh Cannons 3 – 3 (52′ K. Trajceski, 74′ J. Courtney – Pekins, 87′ C. Cuba – 29′ J. Guest [P], 89′ A. Kasumovic, 90+7′ S. Valentini )
Manningham United – Moreland City 3 – 3 (21′ J. Ramirez, 34′ B. Everson, 74′ J. Kada – 18′ X. Theodorakopoulos, 67′ X. Theodorakopoulos, 89′ C. Tharjiath)
Dandenong Thunder – Port Melbourne Sharks 3 – 1 (10′ A. Sulemani, 25′ J. Smylie, 52′ J. Smylie – 84′ F. Dunlop)
St Albans Saints – Altona Magic 3 – 2 (45+1′ L. Cabraja, 50′ B. Summerskill [P], 64′ J. Monek – 12′ D. Fabrizio, 23′ D. Anastovski)
NPL – TABLE
1. South Melbourne 22 53
2. Avondale 22 44
3. Oakleigh Cannons 22 44
4. Hume City 22 43
5. Heidelberg Utd 22 41
6. Dand City 22 31
7. Port Melb Sharks 22 30
8. Melb Knights 22 29
9. Altona Magic 22 27
10. Dand Thunder 22 25
11. Green Gully 22 24
12. St. Albans 22 16
13. Manningham 22 15
14. Moreland 22 11
VPL1 – RESULTS
Langwarrin – Bulleen Lions 4 – 2
Werribee City – Western United 0 – 2
Brunswick City – Melbourne Victory 3 – 2
Melbourne City – Northcote City 3 – 1
North Geelong Warriors – Bentleigh Greens 2 – 3
Eastern Lions – Kingston City 0 – 2
Caroline Springs – Preston Lions 1 – 0
VPL1 – TABLE
1. Melb Victory 22 45
2. Northcote 22 41
3. Preston Lions 22 41
4. Western Utd 22 40
5. Langwarrin 22 34
6. Bulleen Lions 22 32
7. Melb City 22 31
8. Bentl Greens 22 31
9. Carol Springs 22 26
10. Eastern Lions 22 25
11. Kingston 22 25
12. Brunswick City 22 23
13. Werribee City 22 16
14. North Geelong 22 14
VPL2 – RESULTS
Brunswick Juventus – North Sunshine Eagles 0 – 0
Altona City – Pascoe Vale 2 – 1
Doveton – Goulburn Valley Suns
Boroondara Carey Eagles – Beaumaris 6 – 2
Nunawading City – Essendon Royals 3 – 4
Melbourne Serbia – Box Hill United 4 – 0
VPL2 – TABLE
1. FC Melb. Serbia 18 39
2. Nth Sunsh. Eagles 18 36
3. Altona City 18 34
4. Brun Juventus 18 31
5. Pascoe Vale 17 27
6. Boroondara Eagles 18 27
7. Essendon Royals 18 26
8. Nunawading City 18 21
9. Box Hill 18 20
10. Doveton 16 13
11. Goulburn Valley 17 10
12. Beaumaris 18 9
