Tuesday 19th August 2025 rolled around like just another day. The clear, sunny day was a prelude to a cold and windless winter’s night in Melbourne – perfect weather for soccer.
Tuesday was unexceptional but for the fact that the highly anticipated quarter final of the Australia Cup was due to be hosted at our very own, humble Olympic Village.
45 minutes before kick-off, the queues for Heidelberg’s savoury souvlakia already stretched ‘around the block’ as the faithful arrived in earnest, quietly hoping that lightning does in fact, strike twice.
Having freshly witnessed their beloved A-A-Alexandro, hit Western Sydney Wanderers ‘out of the stadium’ the previous week, the loyal Bergers were unfazed by the challenge of climbing Mt Everest again.
The signs were promising from the get go. Within minutes of kick-off Heidelberg had already created two shots on goal. With a bit of luck either could have been a ‘home run’.
But Johnny A has grown wily and shrewd since those early days at South when, in 2004, he undertook his first coaching role in the NPL.
Tuesday night wasn’t his first rodeo and by now Johnny A understood fully, that luck is the meeting of preparedness with opportunity.
Johnny A, with the fullest backing of a dedicated and tireless Management Committee headed by President Steve Tsalikidis, had been preparing for this game from the moment he was appointed Head Coach at the start of last year.
And Tuesday night was his opportunity.
As soon as he was appointed at the start of last year, Johnny A with his loyal deputy, Nick Deligiannis, quickly set about transforming a hapless Heidelberg into a disciplined fighting phalanx.
Within weeks of last year’s season launch, it was apparent that their tedious preparations were going to blossom into something for the purists.
My involvement is simply that of a hardened soccer fan. I find myself attending 40+ games annually at the NPL/VPL/State League levels. I am amongst thousands who do so, week in week out, in the faint hope that we can witness first-hand, the beautiful game being played as it should.
And on Tuesday night, Jonny A’s chargers delivered in spades.
Over the past two seasons in the NPL, Heidelberg’s fitness, possession and consistent dominance of opposing teams has been evident. Yes, training 5 and 6 days a week, does that.
Whilst there are only a few marquee players, when you see the tracking back done by star forwards like Sabit Ngor and even the league’s highest scorer this year, Bul Juach, you quickly realise that outcomes are not left to chance.
Whilst Heidelberg has adopted a quick passing game and selfless team-first approach, players are also given licence to cut loose and express themselves when the opportunity presents.
But once you ascend the rarefied air of the quarter finals in the Australia Cup against full time professional outfits, these attributes alone are simply not enough to produce the desired outcome.
Johnny A’s instructions to adopt a different playing style were evident against the Wanderers the previous week and were executed to perfection against Wellington Phoenix.
Given this, Johnny A adopted blitzkrieg soccer. And as evidenced on Tuesday night, it was worthy of Bundesliga status.
When in possession, Heidelberg didn’t panic and going forward, the players were as if possessed.
The first goal can be attributed to captain Ben Collins who, in my mind, was man-of-the match, the previous week.
Phoenix, were lulled into believing that Heidelberg would play their slow deliberate game of possession across the back before steadily moving forward.
Instead, Collins sold his opponent a dummy that sent him scrambling and despatched a piercing and almost un-defendable ball forward which resulted in an own goal under pressure.
The second was worthy of Ronaldinho. The execution by Bisetto was a peach but what most fans may not appreciate is that it was the initial ball out of defence by Anthony Lesiotis that created the quick transition which left the opponents’ hapless midfielders wanting.
Lesiotis has been a distribution machine all season. If he isn’t voted player of the season in the NPL this year, I will be as disappointed as Johnny A was infuriated at seeing the minor premiership slip from his fingers when Heidelberg recently conceded a late goal against Avondale in the 14th(!) minute of ten minutes of extra time.
Go figure.
Such heartbreaking moments can depress the spirit. But Johnny A and his boys had the bit between the teeth and simply used those moments to spur them on.
The third goal was just as impressive. A gut busting run out of defence by Jamal Ali
(on one leg) once again, broke the lines in an instant. Despite the recent hamstring strain and his heavily bandaged thigh, his pace and fitness left his opponent in his wake.
He played Sabit Ngor through on the right wing, who seemingly had time for a coffee. The ball across was in behind the defence and Phoenix again were stumbling. Twelve seconds from goal kick to the back of the net. Marvellous.
As I applauded the masterful exhibition before me, to the left and right, the Heidelberg faithful were in delirium.
It took fans half an hour to recover and catch their breath. Wellington were afforded possession but to no effect.
At the 83 minute mark Alex Katsifaras (of Radio Rythmos fame) who was in our parea, declared that he personally thought a score line of 4-nil would be fitting.
We all thought, even for someone with Alex’s generous appetite, this was being a little greedy!
Within a minute, his words were found to be prophetic.
Delirium turned into pandemonium.
For those soccer fans who were absent, sadly the moment has passed. Seeing soccer played like that, is like a once-in a-lifetime opportunity to see the London Philharmonic Orchestra at its finest at the Royal Albert Hall.
On the night, Heidelberg was an exemplary symphony – players, coaching staff as well as the fans and administration that supports them.
The highly paid bureaucrats (fat cats) at FA can take note. This is what is possible in a truly competitive market.
The FA and its still born child, the A-League, have done everything possible for almost twenty years to monopolise our beautiful game and deny opportunity to the thousands of traditional clubs around Australia.
This includes, the FA’s Domestic Player Transfer System Paper which runs to 75 pages (!) but in reality, is weighted dice in favour of their little protection racket and against traditional clubs.
Just as sunshine is the best sanitiser, an open embrace of the broader soccer fraternity by the introduction of promotion and relegation across Australia, is the best antidote to the current woes of the national competition.
The FA’s attempts to pick favourites, is demonstrably a failed laboratory experiment of which, Western United is simply the latest sad example.
To everyone involved at Heidelberg – well done and thank you.
Last Tuesday will be etched in my heart alongside the great nights witnessing my beloved South of the mid-eighties in full flight.
Bravo Mega. Go the Bergers.
