By Kieran Yap 7/9/23
Above: South Melbourne players celebrate a goal against Boroondara. Photo: South Melbourne FC.
Bulleen and South Melbourne are through to the Victorian NPLW Grand Final after both recorded 2-1 wins last weekend over Calder United and Boroondara-Carey respectively.
The Veneto Club pulled double hosting duties on Saturday evening as the top four teams and their supporters converged in Bulleen to watch a double header of high quality football. Bulleen and Calder faced off first. It was the third meeting between the sides in a month of football.
Calder have had the upper hand recently. A recent nil-all draw in the league almost derailed Bulleen’s premiership quest, while a hard fought 2-0 result secured the Nike FC Cup for Calder United.
Bulleen 2-1 Calder United
The first semi final was also a replay of last season’s decider. On that day in 2022, a similar looking Bulleen lineup lost 2-0 to a very different Calder United who were now short the Taranto twins and Stacey Papadopoulos to name a few.
Despite the absences of the Western United stars this season, Calder has slowly built through the season. Kiwa Hieda has evolved into one of the leagues most dangerous attackers. 18 year old Natalie Picak was officially announced on Tuesday night as the NPLW’s best goalkeeper and they have been led from the front by Raquel Derales and Ava Groba.
Bella Sewards’s form in midfield has earned her a nomination to represent Victoria’s NPL against Queensland’s and it would be of little surprise to see her in Western United’s colours in the future.
Despite their recent record, Bulleen would have been confident coming into this game. They finished on top with good reason. Their squad has depth and quality. Coach Caitlin Friend is able to rotate and rest A-League level players such as Maja Markovski and Grace Taranto, and has not had to call on Lia Privitelli all season while she recovers from an injury sustained with Melbourne Victory.
Bulleen has introduced Markovski and Perth Glory defender Claudia Mihocic alongside Katie Beck and the returning Beattie Goad.
For the semi final, Bulleen started with Markovski on the bench. Aroha Little and Rosie Rodger started and Tyla-Jay Vlajnic came in on the left.
Despite the optimism from the home fans it was Calder who opened the scoring. Hieda swept the ball past Gaby Garton in the fourth minute after Calder intercepted the ball in midfield. It gave the visitors the upper hand on the scoreboard and that translated into general play. Calder forced Bulleen to rush in midfield and blunted their attack despite the absence of Alana Cerne from defence.
With Bulleen struggling to get a foothold in the game, Caitlin Friend made changes. Maja Markovski entered the game in the second half and immediately gave Bulleen more presence in attack. The shift also freed up Alana Jancevski who was able to drift into more space and start finding room to shoot.
In midfield, Paige Zois began to dictate play with her enviable passing range. Bulleen were knocking on the door and earning corners. It was only a matter of time before one went in and it was Katie Beck who bundled home the equaliser.
Hieda and Markovski each had good close range chances to win the game, but were denied by good goalkeeping at either end. The game went into extra time with both sides determined to avoid penalties, but also visibly apprehensive about making any mistakes.
Not for the first time this season it was a Zois set piece that proved decisive. The Melbourne Victory midfielder has starred in a deep playmaking role this season, but her delivery from free-kicks has made the difference in tight games.
On this occasion it was a perfectly weighted ball that dropped behind the Calder defence, but too far for Picak to confidently come out for. The pace on the ball meant that an assured touch would spell trouble for the defence, when the moment arrived it was Mihocic who found space and directed the ball into the net.
It was a strikers finish from the centre back, her second of the season and a terrific way to win the game.
Mihocic wheeled away to be swamped by teammates. Zois lifted two arms to the sky in relief as much as jubilation. Bulleen had beaten their toughest foe and were now into a second successive Grand Final.
Boroondara-Carey 1-2 South Melbourne
The second semi final was just as entertaining, as South Melbourne put an end to Boroondara’s fairy tale campaign.
The Eagles have been flying high in 2023. Brave recruitment and bold game plans have seen them finish in second place but with the league’s equal best goal difference. They scored 61 goals in the league and were a joy to watch, but South Melbourne invested heavily and have been improving toward the end of the season as Boroondara began to show signs that they had peaked a few weeks too early.
Francesca Iermano got South Melbourne off to a strong start with a close range finish in the 25th minute. Dragana Kljajic’s curling ball into the box was met by the former Western United attacker who finished well. It was reward for South’s early dominance.
Boroondara have rarely been kept goalless this season, and although Kurea Okino was being well marshalled, they can score from almost anywhere. It has been a real feature of their game this season and Emily Sutcliffe’s 30 yard stunner pulled the home team level before half time.
A midfield turnover still did not seem dangerous even when the ball fell to Sutcliffe. She was simply too far out, and South’s defence tracked back to cover the space that Sutcliffe had no intention of using while an attempt was made to close her down.
It was no use. She smashed the effort over Mirana Templeman with unbeatable velocity and the teams went into the break at 1-1.
Sadly for Boroondara it was a defensive error that cost them the match. A late back pass was latched onto by Tayla Christensen who kept her head to score from close range and send South Melbourne into Saturday’s Grand Final.
The league’s decider will be held at 7pm at Latrobe’s Bundoora campus at The Home of The Matildas. Two star studded teams have made the final and if their last encounter is anything to go by, this will an eventful encounter.
An earlier league meeting between the two teams ended in a 1-1 draw, but it was a fantastic contest between two equally matched teams. South Melbourne has Danielle Wise, Miesha Westland and a returning Leticia Mckenna. Bulleen will try and overcome them with the likes of Mihocic, Jancevski and Goad.
Crucial to either side’s chances are the defensive pairings. Beck and Mihocic have been vital for Bulleen, while Leia Varley and Brianne Reed have been South’s most consistent contributors.
In goal for either side will be Gaby Garton and Miranda Templeman for Bulleen and South Melbourne respectively. Both are firm favourites of Melbourne Victory supporters, and are looking to etch their names into NPLW history.
This will be an incredible final.
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