By Kieran Yap 24/7/23 (kieran84@live.com.au)
Above: South Melbourne celebrate one of thier goals against Preston Lions. Image: South Melbourne FC Instagram
Box Hill United 2-1 Bayside United.
While the finals teams in the Victorian NPLW seem settled, Box Hill and Bayside are both lurking just outside of the top four and have been in strong form. So when the two sides met on Friday night it was a game that had much at stake.
With three rounds to go of the regular season, a win here would keep pressure on the teams above them, while a loss would mean relying on multiple teams to do them favours.
The opening minutes were dominated by Box Hill, but that was undone by another spectacular effort from Baysides long range specialist Kayla Deaver. The forward received the ball wide on the right and cut in before firing extremely long range. Nothing about the move seemed dangerous until the ball crashed in off the post to give the visitors the lead.
It took until the second half for Box Hill to hit back. Sofia Sakalis was marginally missed from Asuka Doi’s cut back, but Melinda Marbieri won back possession on the wing for Box Hill.
Nikolina Bucalo was able to exchange passes with Emily Kos and after a clever turn, the ball was whipped in to be met by Kanna Moriya to give Box Hill a 52nd minute equaliser.
Box Hill’s winner would come eight minutes later through Doi. After scrambling to clear an attack, Bayside were under pressure again almost immediately. Bucado’s attemped shot was blocked and Doi slammed home what would turn out to be the game winner.
The win keeps Box Hill within a chance of finals. They are two points behind fourth placed Calder United but have played a game more.
Bayside will finish the season with two winnable games, and a meeting with Calder United. They are not out of it yet.
Alamein FC 2-4 Bulleen Lions
A masterclass in set pieces by Bulleen Lions has launched them into top spot, one point ahead of Boroondara-Carey Eagles after they defeated Alamein in a competitive encounter at Dorothy Laver Reserve.
Bulleen’s game style and personnel has changed drastically throughout the season, but one thing has remained consistent for Caitlin Friend’s team. They are deadly from corner and free kicks.
Alana Jancevski can deliver from one side, Paige Zois from the other, and both cause chaos, especially when the pair combine. Janvevski’s 11th minute corner was whipped in and Tiffany Eliadis directed it across the line from close range.
Alamein hit back through Patricia Charalambous. It was an end to end move by the home side a sublime piece of skill by Elaina Vatcky set Charalambous free to round the onrushing Gaby Garton and finish into the empty net.
Bulleen regained the lead for half time. Maja Markovski’s burst down the right in possession and crossed behind the retreating defenders for Beattie Goad to score. Markovski influence has been growing in recent weeks, and she looks in ominous form as finals approach.
Vatcky replied for Alamein, levelling the scores after a frantic scramble by both sides in the Bulleen defence. It made it 202 in the 50th minute and Bulleen momentarily looked under threat. Then Paige Zois stepped up.
First an undefendable corner kick from the Bulleen number six was headed in by Katie Beck. It was the second of the season from the American and an important one to put her side 3-2 ahead.
Zois then sealed the result herself. Jancevski played the short corner to her at the edge of the penalty box. She took a touch and rifled and effort that nestled inside the netting at the far post.
It was terrific technique from the Melbourne Victory fan favourite, and enough to seal three valuable points.
As things stand, Bulleen are one point ahead of Boroondara, but with an inferior goal difference. They will need to win all three remaining games to guarantee a premiership and top billing for finals, but they are the only team whose destiny remains in their own hands.
Calder United 3-0 FV Emerging.
Calder United are in form, and still building, they have slowly built after a slow start and are into a Nike FC Cup final. The win over FV Emerging on the weekend, has them in a strong position to play finals.
Kiwa Hieda was the architect of this win. She got the home side off to a perfect start with a long range missile in the 11th minute.
She helped set up Larissa Walsh for an easy finish after winning the ball back from a goalkick. The pressing was intense from Calder, they looked to hassle the FV Emerging players into errors at the back, although it took until the 64th minute, it paid off.
Hieda capped off the win with a goal of her own in the 80th minute. After winning possession again in the final third, the Japanese attacker skirted multiple challenges before accelerating into space and slotting home on her left foot from close range.
It was a dazzling display from the speedster, and Calder can secure fourth spot in the next two weeks. In the form they are in, other sides may hope they tumble out.
Southern United 1-1 Heidelberg United
Southern United won a point out of their meeting with Heidelberg United. The home side have struggled against most sides this season, but with The Bergers below their early-season best, they took their chance to avoid defeat for only the third time this season.
Erin Keyt got the home side off to a strong start. She took her chance after Yuka Sato released Rhiannon Kelleher into space behind the Heidelberg defence. The shot was initially blocked by the goalkeeper before Keyt bundled it in on the line.
Heidelberg introduced Nicole Blackett into the game in the first half and her influence rescued a point with a second half goal.
Keeley Lockhart received the ball from a brilliant Kathryn Vlahopoulos touch and played in Blackett who shot across goal to level the scores in the 76th minute.
The result helped Heidelberg avoid a disaster and denied Southern United their first win of the year, but it was not what most would have been expecting going into this match. Their top four hopes are over for this season.
Preston Lions 1-4 South Melbourne
A sensational goal from Kaitlyn Torpey was not enough for Preston Lions against South Melbourne who boasted an Olympico amongst their four efforts on Sunday.
South still have the title within their sights, but are also sharpening their game ahead of an inevitable finals campaign. Danielle Wise opened the scoring in the 21st minute after Tayla Christensen’s low cross was turned in by the co-captain.
Torpey’s effort levelled the scores just moments later. Miri Nishimura intercepted the ball to cut off South Melbourne’s patient buildup and Torpey raced onto the resulting pass to finish venomously past Miranda Templeman.
South retook the lead in the 39th minute when Christensen’s corner kick swung directly into goal, Akeisha Sandhu’s penalty kick gave them a two goal cushion before half time.
Wise scored her second of the afternoon after a miscommunication between Lisa Fonua and Emma Checker presented the South Melbourne striker with the easiest of tap ins.
The win keeps South in third place, and just four points off top placed Bulleen. A premiership is still a strong possibility, but they will play Calder United next week and Boroondara in the final game of the season. They will need some things to go their way and do everything right themselves.
Follow Impetus on social media – we’re @ImpetusFootball on Threads, Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. DON’T MISS our brand new TikTok platform @ImpetusFootball too!
impetusfootball.org 