Heidelberg United, under the guidance of manager John Anastasiadis, have notched up an incredible 13 consecutive wins across all competitions, looking readier than ever to lift the coveted NPL Victoria Men’s championship trophy.
The latest side to fall to the “yellow-and-blacks” was the youthful Melbourne Victory. The Victory youngsters couldn’t match the men of Heidelberg United at any stage of the match.
The visitors came out with all guns blazing, breaking the deadlock as early as the 11th minute through their usual suspect, Bul Juach. The scoreline doubled to 0–2 just 17 minutes later, with Sabit James Ngor finding the back of the net.
The final 0–3 score was sealed in the 86th minute, with Jamal Ali putting the cherry on top of the cake.
It was yet another brilliant footballing display from a group of players who look primed to fight for the title until the very end!
South Melbourne Hellas are still kicking in the NPL Victoria Men’s, refusing to go quietly. The Greek Australian outfit played the first of a series of “finals” that will decide their fate in Victoria’s top football tier next season—and they delivered in style, clinching a 2–0 victory over Melbourne Knights. The hero of the night was Hellas’ talismanic striker Jack Pope. The blonde-haired forward bagged a brilliant brace, taking his side by the hand and leading them to a crucial three points against the Knights.
Don’t be fooled—this was no walk in the park. These are two giants of the competition, used to battling for titles and glory, now scrapping tooth and nail to avoid the drop. The heart and soul poured into the performance by Sinisa Cohadzic’s lads was nothing short of inspiring.
The match started with a dream opening for the visitors, who broke the deadlock early in the 11th minute through Pope’s first stunner. Just five minutes later, in the 16th minute, he doubled Hellas’ lead, putting them firmly in the driver’s seat. The Greek Australians were painting a masterpiece of dominance on the Tompsett Stadium pitch, but the picture started to blur in the 36th minute when Pope, the two-goal hero, saw red, leaving his side with ten men.
The numerical advantage sparked hope in the Knights’ camp, who celebrated Pope’s sending-off like it was a goal of their own. From that moment, it was all hands-on deck for Hellas. They fought for every ball, tightened their defensive screws, and somehow held firm to protect their 2–0 lead, walking away from the hostile Knights’ ground with three golden points.
Reigning champions Oakleigh Cannons also notched a vital win on Friday night, seeing off one of the league’s form sides, Green Gully, in a 3–1 thriller. The “Cannons” had one goal in mind: a victory to keep them breathing down the necks of the ladder leaders. Chris Taylor’s armada delivered exactly that.
The breakthrough came in the 20th minute via a rejuvenated Asad Kasumovic. The hosts then eased off the gas, focusing on keeping a clean sheet at the back.
That approach nearly backfired when Josh Hope levelled with a cracking header in the 72nd minute, silencing the Cannons faithful and casting a shadow of doubt over the under-renovation Jack Edwards Reserve.
But captain fantastic Joe Guest had other ideas.
Just two minutes later, the Cannons’ number ten produced a moment of pure magic to restore their lead at 2–1, racing to celebrate with his teammates in front of the blue-and-white bench. Cameron McGlip sealed the deal with a third goal in the 86th minute, putting the final nail in Green Gully’s coffin and sending the 300-odd home fans back home with grins from ear to ear. The win keeps Oakleigh third on the ladder, five points shy of second-placed Avondale.
Speaking of Avondale, they had to dig deep to scrape a 1–0 win over Port Melbourne Sharks. The “Nea Hellas” side, revitalised under new gaffer Maxim Gaydovskiy, gave it everything but couldn’t avoid another defeat, leaving them second-bottom, just above Melbourne Knights.
The match was a proper arm-wrestle, with stats showing both sides evenly matched—Port Melbourne had 10 shots to Avondale’s 12, while possession was split 44% to 56%. The difference? A single moment of brilliance from Manyluak Aguek, who struck just two minutes into the game. Despite the loss, Port Melbourne’s third straight game of fight and flair shows there’s still hope. Every match from here is a do-or-die final if they’re to stay in the NPL for 2026.
VPL1
Friday night served up a proper derby as second-placed Pancyprios took on ladder-leaders Melbourne City, ending in a 1–1 stalemate. The hosts fell behind in the 23rd minute but regrouped, with the brilliant Ismail Haji equalising in the 32nd minute—a goal that could prove golden in the race for the title.
Iraklis put on a show on Saturday afternoon, dismantling Moreland City 3–1 at Northcote. The Greek Australian side were ruthless, creating chances for more and climbing to fourth on the VPL1 ladder, leaving their fans buzzing.
Brunswick City, however, had a night to forget against Melbourne Srbija. The Greek-Australian outfit barely showed up, slumping to a 3–0 defeat that dropped them to fifth, ten points adrift of Melbourne City.
VPL2
Box Hill United’s season took another hit with a 2–1 loss to North Geelong Warriors on Saturday. Pythagoras battled hard in a tight contest, but the one-goal margin left them languishing in 12th, just above Boroondara Carey Eagles and Pascoe Vale.
NPL – Results
Melbourne Knights – South Melbourne 0–2 (11′, 16′ J. Pope)
Port Melbourne Sharks – Avondale 0–1 (2′ M. Aguek)
Oakleigh Cannons – Green Gully 3–1 (20′ A. Kasumovic, 74′ J. Guest, 86′ C. McGlip – 72′ J. Hope)
Preston Lions – Dandenong City 1–1 (88′ J. Romero – 73′ K. Athiu)
Dandenong Thunder – Hume City 1–1 (64′ D. Clark – 90+3′ R. Harker)
St Albans Saints – Altona Magic 0 – 1 (38′ A. Frangie)
Melbourne Victory – Heidelberg United 0 – 3 (11′ B. Juach, 28′ James Ngot S., 86′ J. Ali)
NPL – Standings
1. Heidelberg 15 37
2. Avondale 15 36
3. Oakleigh Cannons 15 31
4. Dandenong Thunder 15 30
5. Preston Lions 15 25
6. Hume City 15 24
7. Dandenong City 15 23
8. Green Gully 15 21
9. Altona Magic 15 17
10. Melbourne Victory 15 12
11. South Melbourne 15 12
12. St Albans Saints 15 11
13. Port Melbourne Sharks 15 10
14. Melbourne Knights 15 9
VPL1 – Results
Bentleigh Greens – Melbourne City 1–1
Manningham United Blues – Eastern Lions 1–0
Northcote City – Moreland City 3–1
Caroline Springs George Cross – North Sunshine Eagles 4–0
Melbourne Srbija – Brunswick City 3–0
Kingston City – Western United (To be played Monday night, 26.5)
VPL1 – Standings
1. Melbourne City 15 35
2. Bentleigh 15 32
3. George Cross 15 30
4. Northcote 15 25
5. Brunswick 15 25
6. Bulleen Lions 13 23
7. Western United 13 21
8. Manningham 15 21
9. North Sunshine 15 18
10. Melbourne Srbija 15 14
11. Eastern Lions 15 14
12. Kingston City 14 10
13. Langwarrin 14 10
14. Moreland City 15 8
