By Kieran Yap (29/5/23)
Above: Maja Markovski keeps the Southern United defence busy. Photo: Passion Creations
South Melbourne continued to climb the ladder, Bulleen Lions returned to the winners’ list and Calder recorded their biggest score this season. Round 11 of the Victorian NPLW had some classy moments and yet another classic game.
Southern United 0-2 Bulleen Lions
Caitlin Friend has assembled one of the most eye-catching squads in the league. For the first eight rounds of the season, Bulleen remained well-organised and difficult to beat. However, they struggled to score goals despite the creativity of Rosie Rodger and a stubborn defence led by Alex Natoli.
They have some big guns back now, and the depth on display on their visit to Southern United was frightening. After scoring in Round 10, and twice midweek in the Nike FC Cup, Alana Jancevski was rested. Playmaker Paige Zois also started on the bench, and Melbourne Victory star Beattie Goad was not in the matchday squad.
Into the Bulleen team this week came Tyja-Jay Vlajnic and Claudia Mihocic continued her return to football. An injury stalled her exceptional season for South Melbourne in 2022, and the defender was forced to sit out the last A-League Women season.
Mihocic’s is a perfect addition to this team. Bulleen are used to having top-class defenders, and she is an ideal player to follow in the footsteps of Kayla Morrison and Rebekah Stott before her.
Southern United are still winless this season, with their best result so far being a 1-1 draw with FV Emerging. This was another stern test for the newly promoted side.
The goals came in either half. Maja Markovski’s flick-on have Vlajnic half a chance, and the winger capitalised on defensive hesitancy to skip free and finish in the 22nd minute.
Bulleen remained in control, but the scoreline was still finely balanced. The Lions introduced Jancevski and Zois into the match to devastating effect.
Jancevski’s talents make a mockery of the XG concept. Her left foot is simultaneously a wand and a sledgehammer. A chance from 30 yards out is just as good as one from the top of the six-yard box.
Her second-half free kick looked simple but unsavable in its execution. It curled around the wall at a low trajectory to double the lead and coupled with a clean sheet, Bulleen are now up to third on the table.
Box Hill United 2-0 Preston Lions
Box Hill United have their second consecutive win, and it was once again the duo of Sofia Sakalis and Mindy Barbieri who were instrumental.
Preston Lions are the latest side to add a big name to their ranks. Perth Glory midfielder Ella Mastrantonio has joined Kaitlin Torpey and Emma Checker from the A-League Women, and her incisive passing will add another threat to the side.
Box Hill United have also added Rosie Curtis and Emily Kos to the line-up in recent weeks, it has coincided with the progression from good performances to convincing wins.
Sakalis opened the scoring in the 16th minute. Kanna Moriya delivered a free kick from deep. It was dummied over by Asuka Doi and Sakalis was able to control it with one magic touch and finish emphatically with her second.
Doi was instrumental in the second goal. After holding up the ball, she played the ball into the path of Curtis who was brought down, and a penalty awarded despite the pleas of the visiting crowd.
Barbieri made no mistake from the spot. The 78th-minute goal gave Box Hill United the cushion they needed to hold off Preston’s attempts at a comeback.
Heidelberg United 3-0 FV Emerging
Stephanie Galea set the tone for Heidelberg United in the 17th minute against the ever-dangerous FV Emerging. The Begers captain has been in excellent form this season and that confidence was on full display for the opening goal.
Galea controlled a long pass with her right foot as it dropped over her shoulder, then finished with the left to complete a swift and direct attack.
Katrina Nikpour added a second to take advantage of hesitancy and confusion in the emerging defence. A slightly overhit cross was hit high into the penalty area and Nikpour attacked the bouncing ball to nod it beyond the keeper who had come out to gather it, just not quite quickly enough.
Nicole Blackett added a third in the second half. Galea and Nikpour were involved once again and after the ball was pulled back to the edge of the box, Blackett struck it with venom into the back of the net.
The win keeps Heidelberg in the top four, and they are improving in every game. Their A-League talent has definitely added plenty to the side, but the form of Galea and Blackett in recent weeks has been as vital as it is impressive.
This was only Emerging’s fourth loss for the season and only the second time they have been held goalless. Their ladder position belies their ability.
This was a convincing win by Heidelberg and a strong response to that chaotic loss to Boroondara Eagles in their last match before the bye.
Calder United 6-2 Bayside United
The league champions put in a ruthless performance against Bayside United in a goal fest out west.
Kiewa Hieda got them off the mark in the 9th minute after nodding in a well-worked corner from close range.
Raquel Derales was then on the board for the first time this season. Ava Groba charged down a ball far from goal as the Bayside goalkeeper rushed out to clear. It fell to Derales who had the composure and technique to fire home from long range.
Bayside hit back before halftime. Kayla Deaver added another to a growing list of spectacular efforts in the 14th minute.
The long ball forward was collected by Julia Budiongo who did well to hold it up and find Deaver in a central area. there was still plenty to do for the striker and she swivelled to curl the ball into the net from 20 yards.
Former Perth RedStar hot shot Larissa Walsh made it 3-1 to Calder in response. Hieda’s long run down the wing was capped off with a perfect cut back and Walsh was able to finish from close range.
Walsh returned the favour for one more second-half goal. Some clever and patient wing play between Montana Matthews and Groba ended up at Walsh’s feet. With her back to goal, she played it to Hieda who sent a rocket into the back of the net to make it 4-1.
Deaver provided another lifeline for Bayside. As Calder tried to play the ball out from the back, the Bayside press was effective enough to spill the ball loose on the left flank. Deaver was in a crossing position but fired a low show to the near post. It was 4-2 and with Deaver in form, Bayside looked ominous.
As they had all game, Calder United responded. Derales outmuscled her defender to hold off a challenge and hit a half volley home from close range.
Groba put the result to bed in the 68th minute. Her pace took her in front of the last defender to attack a cross, and despite the initial effort being blocked, she kept her feet to tuck it home to complete the afternoon’s scoring.
The 6-2 win only takes Calder to seventh on the table, but with Derales and Groba in scoring form and the improving depth they have throughout the rest of the squad, it would be foolish to count them out.
South Melbourne 4-3 Boroondara-Carey Eagles
Attending a Boroondara-Carey game this season guarantees entertainment. Since returning to the league, The Eagles have played In some classics, and goals are inevitable. No team has been able to keep a clean sheet against them, and only Preston have been able to prevent them scoring more than once and that was six weeks ago.
So even though South Melbourne are in form and Bulleen’s Nike FC Cup win showed that The Eagles can have their wings clipped, nothing was certain in this game except that there would be highlights.
Two of the leagues best strikers faced off. Kurea Okino for Boroondara, and Danielle Wise for South. Okino leads the race for the Golden Boot, but it was last season’s winner who was celebrating early.
In the fifth minute, Wise scored her first of the afternoon. Taylah Christensen crossed low into a crowded penalty area and Wise sped past the defenders to tap home from close range in predatory style.
Taylah Christensen doubled the lead minutes later with a terrific solo goal. she cut inside from the left wing and shot off her right foot to give South Melbourne an early boost.
Brianne Reed added a third in the 16th minute and South Melbourne looked to be cruising. But anybody who saw Boroondara’s game against Heidelberg knows that you can’t keep them out forever.
Kristina Hall pulled one back with a close-range free kick before Okino scored from long range with her latest in a growing list of goal-of-the-season contenders. At halftime it was 3-2 to South Melbourne, but The Eagles were taking flight.
Seconds into the second half, Boroondara were level. Emily Sutcliffe worked her way into the area and scored from close range. 46 minutes have been played, and the game was living up to its billing.
As the game went on, both teams slowed down. Leticia Mckenna was introduced for South Melbourne and the chaos subsided as checkers turned to chess. With a midfield of Miesha Westland and McKenna, this seemed to suit South Melbourne, although both sides looked wary of conceding again.
When it finally happened, it came too late for Boroondara to stage another comeback. Caitlin Pickett charged forward in the 89th minute. Her pass dissected the defence, but Mia Mossman was out quick to collect the ball.
Unfortunately for the Eagles, but to the delight of South’s home crowd, the ball bounced off her knee and Wise was charging down the chance to deflect it in.
It was 4-3 to South Melbourne, they have climbed into second on the ladder, and the Victorian NPLW had staged another classic match.
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