Greek Australian teams delivered a thrilling night of football on Friday, showcasing their attacking prowess and securing important wins. The standout moment of the evening came at Port Melbourne, where the Sharks pulled off a stunning victory against the heavily favored Preston Lions. Meanwhile, Heidelberg United climbed to third place on the ladder, and Oakleigh Cannons secured a vital away win. However, it was a disappointing night for Pythagoras, who suffered a setback on home soil.

Oakleigh Cannons 3 – 1 Dandenong Thunder

Oakleigh Cannons proved to be ruthless hosts, overpowering Dandenong Thunder with a dominant first-half performance. The visitors initially believed they could challenge the reigning champions, but their lack of a clear game plan cost them dearly. By halftime, they found themselves trailing 3-0, effectively sealing their fate.

Ajak Deu opened the scoring in the 20th minute, followed by an Andrew Salmon strike eight minutes later. The captain, Joe Guest, put the game beyond reach in the 41st minute with a clinical finish.

The second half was a more subdued affair. Oakleigh eased off, opting for a defensive stance, while Dandenong Thunder created chances but only managed a consolation goal through Yuya Uchida in the 77th minute.

Heidelberg United 3 – 1 Altona Magic

Heidelberg United continued their impressive run with a convincing 3-1 win over Altona Magic. The Warriors have hit their stride and now appear to be a formidable force in the league.

Jamal Ali set the tone early, giving Heidelberg the lead with an opener that laid the foundation for another strong performance. Altona responded in the 23rd minute with an equalizer from Hiroki Kawaguchi, but their hopes of securing points were short-lived.

Ali struck again in the 32nd minute with a brilliant solo effort, restoring Heidelberg’s advantage before halftime. The hosts remained in control throughout the second half and sealed the victory in the 83rd minute through an in-form Bul Juach. Coach John Anastasiadis looked delighted as his squad continues to execute his vision on the pitch week after week.

Port Melbourne 3 – 2 Preston Lions

In what could be a season-defining moment, Port Melbourne stunned Preston Lions with a dramatic last-minute winner. The first half was largely uneventful, characterised by slow possession play and few genuine chances. However, the second half exploded into life.

Preston capitalised on a defensive error to take the lead in the 52nd minute through Javier Romero. But Port Melbourne responded instantly, with Nathan Dib leveling the score four minutes later with a spectacular strike. The turnaround was complete in the 66th minute when Delarno Pharoe gave the Sharks the lead.

Preston pushed forward in search of an equalizer and were rewarded in the 74th minute when Adam Lazaar made it 2-2. With momentum on their side, the Lions committed players forward, desperately seeking all three points.

However, their attacking ambition left them exposed at the back. In the dying moments of stoppage time, Thomas Alisandratos found himself one-on-one with the goalkeeper and slotted home the decisive goal, sending the Port Melbourne faithful into raptures. It was a stunning victory for the Sharks, one that could reignite their season.

VPL1: Comebacks and high drama

Greek Australian clubs in VPL1 also had an eventful weekend. Leonidas hosted North Sunshine Eagles with a clear mission: securing all three points. Despite trailing 1-0 in the 40th minute, they mounted a spirited comeback to snatch a crucial win.

The match of the round, however, was between George Cross and Hercules. The hosts dominated early, scoring three times in the opening 35 minutes and appearing on course for a resounding victory. But Hercules had other plans. They fought back to level the score at 3-3 by the 60th minute and completed a remarkable turnaround with a stunning winner in the 81st minute.

VPL2: Pythagoras stumbles

It was a night to forget for Pythagoras, who suffered a frustrating 1-0 home defeat to Werribee. The match lacked excitement, with most of the action concentrated in midfield. The visitors snatched the win with a late goal, dropping Pythagoras down to eighth place in the standings.

NPL Victoria results

Heidelberg United 3 – 1 Altona Magic (10′ J. Ali, 32′ J. Ali, 83′ B. Juach – 23′ H. Kawaguchi)

Port Melbourne 3 – 2 Preston Lions (61′ N. Dib, 66′ D. Pharoe, 90+8′ T. Alisandratos – 52′ J. Romero, 74′ A. Lazaar)

Oakleigh Cannons 3 – 1 Dandenong Thunder (20′ A. Deu, 28′ A. Salmon, 41′ J. Guest – 77′ Y. Uchida)

Avondale 2 – 0 Hume City (11′ M. Aguek, 56′ S. Zinni)

Melbourne Victory 1 – 2 Green Gully (76′ T. Minutoli – 37′ K. Hallam, 76′ K. Hallam)

Melbourne Knights vs. St Albans Saints (Match played on Sunday afternoon)

South Melbourne vs. Dandenong City (Match scheduled for Monday night)