By Kieran Yap (27/6/23)
(Kieran84@live.com.au)
Above: Alana Jancevski is mobbed after scoring a late equaliser for Bulleen Lions. (Not visible Alana Jancevski) Image: Bulleen Lions instagram.
FV Emerging had a well deserved win, Box Hill rebounded from last weeks thrashing and the question remains, how many goals do you need to score to beat Boroondara?
Box Hill United 2-0 Heidelberg United
The two sides entered Sunday’s match needing a response. In round 14, Box Hill suffered a 7-0 thrashing at the hands of Boorondara-Carey. The performance was not a disaster, but the scoreline could not be ignored. They needed to bounce back quickly because the alternative would be to undo all that they have achieved in the previous four games.
Heidelberg United were in the unusual position of being in a losing streak. Losses to Bulleen and Bayside United in the league were followed up by an unlucky defeat to Calder United in the Nike FC Cup. Although nobody at the club will be using it as an excuse, their fixture has been punishing.
The match against Box Hill United was their third in seven days. They were well organized, and impressively energetic throughout the afternoon, but two moments of quality were their undoing.
Sofia Sakalis can lay claim to being one of the league’s best players. The Box Hill playmaker followed up last year’s gold medal-winning season with an excellent campaign for Perth Glory in the A-League Women. She has returned to the NPLW with momentum and some unassailable form.
Her combination with Mindy Barbieri is near telepathic, and it produced both goals just minutes either side of halftime.
The first goal was scored right before the break. Nikolina Bucalo burst down the right wing and found Barbieri. Her cross was toward Sakalis, and her first touch took her around the defender. The second touch prodded it beyond Melissa Maizels to open the scoring.
The other goal was scored just moments into the second half. Sakalis won the ball cleanly from Elwen Parbey as Heidelberg tried to attack. With barely a glance, Sakalis slid a long pass behind the defence. Only Barbieri knew it was coming and ghosted in to score what would turn out to be the sealer.
Heidelberg battled gamely, but the longer the game went on, the less likely they looked to score. Fatigue was a factor in the loss, quality was a factor in the win.
Box Hill can now shrug off the big loss to Boroondara. It was obviously a blip against a high-scoring team. They achieved this win without prodigious playmaker Sienna Techera or a goal from Anais Josefski. This was an impressive performance, particularly from their back four.
Heidelberg need a breather. Three games in a week is a huge load for a professional team, let alone at NPLW level. The quality remains, but they were hit with the loss of Bella Wallhead through injury and then immediately thrust into the hectic schedule.
They will be back, but Box Hill keep rolling along.
Bayside United 1-3 FV Emerging
FV Emerging’s form has deserved more wins than they currently have. The NTC side has tested some of the top teams but had only a single win coming into Round 15.
Bayside United were the favourites after breaking into the top four last round, but a Candice Kilderry goal in the ninth minute set the stage for FV Emerging to achieve a second impressive victory this season.
Anabelle Yates was set free down the right flank. She ran directly at goal and opened up her options. With a shot looking imminent, Yates slid the ball across the face of goal for a fast-arriving Kilderry to finish at the back post.
Miwa Sasaki struck back for Bayside with an excellent free kick from the edge of the box. The shot was stuck low and hard, leaving the goalkeeper with no chance.
Some wing wizardry by Alana Cortellino restored Emerging’s lead. The fleet-footed attacker received the ball wide, then with a shift of direction and an abrupt change of pace she was suddenly in yard of open space. Her final ball in was most likely a cross, but it flew in at the far post. There may have been an element of luck about the finish, but not about the buildup. It was a spectacular goal in any case.
With Bayside pushing for another equaliser, Emerging struck on the counter-attack. Ehva Gutszmit raced clear and although her shot was blocked by Coco Majstorovic in goal, but Danella Butrus was on hand to finish the move into the empty net.
It was reward for effort and a deserved end to a slick team move. FV Emerging held on for the remaining 30 minutes to register their second win of a still admirable season.
Preston Lions 2-0 Southern United
Goals from Miri Nishimura and Georgia Henderson gave Preston Lions a much-needed win, and ensured that Southern United are still in search of their first.
There was no stopping the opening goal. Preston applied pressure up the pitch as Southern United tried to play out. The eventual turnover fell to Nishimura who struck from long range with a dipping effort to make it 1-0 in the 18th minute.
The goal scorer was involved in the second goal. Emma Checker’s clearance from defence found Nishimura who cut inboard and ran through the centre of the pitch. She delayed until playing the perfect pass for Henderson who had slotted into goal after a wonderfully timed run.
The 2-0 advantage was enough for Preston to see out the win. Preston Lions have not quite recovered their early season form, but this was their first clean sheet since early April. They were able to keep the game on their terms for most of its duration and with the free-scoring Boroondara-Carey Eagles coming up next week, that confidence will be important.
Alamein 3-3 Boroondara-Carey Eagles
How much of a buffer do you need to beat Boroondara in current form? Heidelberg had a two goal lead, then lost 5-4, Alamein fans would have been confident that three was enough, but a shootout is where the Eagles thrive, and this was another classic match in a memorable season.
Things started well for the hosts. When Margot Robbine was dispossessed by Alamein’s press, Sidney Allen pounced. The captain embarked on a slaloming solo run that was capped off with a fantastic finish in the fifth minute.
Allen was in ominous form and doubled the lead two minutes later. Boroondara Goalkeeper Emma Somers got a good punch on the ball, but Allen was first on the scene and buried the chance from 18 yards.
Rebecca Saber added a third, and her fourth of the season in the 25th minute. She raced onto a long goal kick and tucked the ball away to give Alamein a solid three-goal lead.
For much of the opening half, Boroondara had struggled to get into any rhythm. Alamein enjoyed the home-ground advantage and made the most of it, but also hassled and pressured the visitors into errors that directly resulted in goals.
The Alamein defence had worked hard to deny any clear chances. In response to that, Boroondara scored from a nothing-chance.
After another blocked shot, the ball was cleared out by Alamein and Hayley Guerts launched a first-time effort from at least 30 yards out. The ball dipped under the crossbar, and Boroondara had a lifeline.
For the first half, Alamein had kept Kurea Okino well-marshalled, but there is no stopping her for an entire match right now. In the 55th minute, Robbine slipped a pass into the Japanese striker’s path and she made no mistake to notch up her 21st of the campaign.
Robbine almost equalised when she got on the end of a curling Georgia Koutrouvelis cross. Her header only made the slightest contact and glanced just wide. But Boroondara had clearly wrestled back momentum.
The third goal eventually did come. Mawa Sumaoro was the hero. She headed home from Emily Sutcliffe’s deep cross to level the scores in the 87th minute. The point was vital for Boroondara. It keeps them in contention for top spot. With the other two contenders playing each other on Monday, and considering the three-goal deficit, a draw looks as good as a win.
Bulleen Lions 1-1 South Melbourne
Two of the league’s most high-profile sides met at the Veneto Club on Monday night. South Melbourne had a bye in the previous round and arrived with the chance to snatch top spot on the ladder.
Bulleen has been in strong form. They fought out a win against FV Emerging last week and still boats a squad strong enough to have A-League Women players on the bench.
Claudia Mihocic and Grace Taranto were in Bulleen’s squad. They were up against their old side from last season. The pair played a big part in South Melbourne’s run to the Nike FC Cup Final and Mihocic started in defence with one eye on helping Alex Natoli contain Danielle Wise.
Bulleen started stronger. Maja Markovski led the line for The Lions and was aggressive with and without possession. Beattie Goad was hard-working and creative and although effort was put into limiting Paige Zois’s time on the ball, she was still able to direct play from deep.
Leticia McKenna and Miehsa Westland formed the midfield pairing for South Melbourne. Westland found space at a premium, but when they were able to link up, they looked dangerous. McKenna’s long-range effort was South Melbourne’s best chance of the early exchanges along with Janna Lawson’s powerful run.
Bulleen looked to have taken to lead in the first half. Alana Jancevski chested down a Zois pass into the path of Tiff Eliadis. The Bulleen captain’s volley was only marginally wide, and no matter how often it is viewed it still boggles the mind that it missed. It certainly deserved a goal.
Markovski collided with South Melbourne goalkeeper Miranda Templeman. It was 2023’s latest edition of “Templeman scares South Melbourne and Melbourne Victory fans” but after a short recovery she was able to continue.
Although Bulleen had most of the attacking play, South’s defenders were composed and organized. Brianne Reed and Leia Varley were largely impassable. They dropped deep in sync and jockeyed the Bulleen attackers to prevent them getting behind.
At the other end, Natoli and Mihocic were equally strong, although Lia Muldeary was also a standout at fullback. Her mobility and pace allowed Bulleen to pass the ball out of tight situations.
Although Wise had been kept quiet and largely away from goal for most of the game. it only took one-half chance for her to score. in the 74th minute a flowing end-to-end move that began with Templeman, ended with a McKenna dummy and a Dragana Kljajic cross. Gaby Garton got a hand to it, but the Bulleen keeper could only push it into the path of Wise who does not miss those chances.
After going a goal down, Bulleen momentarily looked panicked. Passes became hurried and attacks looked more hopeful than purposeful. Caitlin Friend made some moves. She brought on more defensive players and swapped Markovski for Grace Taranto. This gave Bulleen the foundation they needed to push forward in the final stages.
It took cool heads to level the scores, and when the game was on the line, Zois and Jancevski wanted the ball. Zois stook over a free kick in the 91st minute. Jancevski meandered past her and into space on the left wing.
With the defence expecting a swerving delivery, or a shot on goal from Zois, she slid a pass wide to Jancevski who’s first touch took her instantly into a dangerous position.
There was space for a cross or shot and that left everybody in two minds except Jancevski. The finish was one of her best in a growing list of impressive strikes, and one of her most important goals this season.
The draw felt like a fair result, neither side really deserved to concede, but this game had two of the best-attacking players in the NPLW on display, in the end, they found a way. But the draw felt like a win for Bulleen. They stay first on the ladder alongside Boroondara and like last week’s game against FV Emerging, they found a way to get the job done even when things were not going their way.
South Melbourne were in a winning position but will be confident of a win should they face Bulleen in the finals. Except for one moment of magic, their game plan worked. A draw away from home to Bulleen is a strong result, even if they are disappointed with the late goal.
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