By Kieran Petrik-Bruce 26/3/24
Above: Maja Markovski in attack against Heidelberg United. Photo: Maja Markovski Instagram
The second round of the NPLW saw five Saturday matches, with the Preston Lions FC v South Melbourne FC re scheduled to Wednesday 8 May due to ground availability.Round two saw goals from freekicks, the penalty spot,delightful chips, and top bins.
FV Emerging 1-1 Brunswick Juventus
In the first of the 3pm kickoffs, FV Emerging hosted Brunswick Juventus. After a great comeback win to kick off the season, Juventus were looking to take it right to Emerging from the first whistle.
Nicole Cooper, came off the bench in last game to score and assist, started for Brunswick this week and found the back of the net early to give the visitors the early lead.
Late in stoppage time of the first half, Clancy Westaway nicked the ball from the last defender, and calmly slotted it past the keeper to level the scores at the break.
While both sides had chances in the second half, the best chances came after Danella Butrus was shown a second yellow in the 74thminute. The last 10 minutes of the game including stoppage time, was almost all Emerging, as Carina Rossi tried everything to carve out a chance for the hosts. However Sienna Gidari and the Juventus defence held strong and the finally score was 1-1.
Calder United 4-2 Essendon Royals
Calder United faced the other promoted team, Essendon. On the end of a 4-2 lost last round despite some brilliant goals from Akane Shimizu, it was the hosts who handed the Royals a 4-2 defeat. From a Calder corner, the Royals made a fast break, with a long sweeping one two play from Olivia Ristevski in the 44th saw her chip the keeper who was off her line, from well outside the box.
Keen to find a foothold in the game, it was Shimizu who found the net less than two minutes after the restart. The build up play from Calder starting to break the Essendon backline and Larissa Walsh netted in the 57th. With all the momentum, a corner kick for Calder was turned into the net by Royals defender Kendrah Smith just six minutes later. Katherine Goff scored a great goal to bring the score back to 3-2 after an errant header fell to the forward, who strongly went past the last defender and finished with style into the net. Yet the passing play from Calder was too slick for the Royals and Jennifer Lum finished off a great move to restore the two goal cushion and seal the game.
Bulleen Lion 3-1 Heidelberg United
Bulleen Lions hosted Heidelberg off the back of a shock opening round defeat to Essendon and fans and players alike would have been nervous at the start of the game.
On nine minutes, a ball played just inside the box to Asuka Miyata, who went past one challenge then found herself in space, struck a left foot curling ball sweetly into the top corner. An absolute gem of a goal.
Holding onto that lead was going to be the key for Heidelberg , and they were doing well until just before halftime. In the 42nd minute, with Katrina Nikpour intercepting a poor pass, before some delightful one touch play finished with Nikpour converting a tap in.
The second half was much more in Bulleen’s control, and a first goal for the club for Isabel Dehakiz in the 52 minute gave the Lions the lead before she cooly converted from the spot in the 85thminute to seal a 3-1 victory for the hosts.
Bentleigh Greens 1-0 Box Hill United
Box Hill travelled to Kingston Heath to face Bentleigh Greens, with both trams searching for their first win of the season. In the first half it was all Box Hill, with a number of chances falling to Chi Ting and Maryam Anvari. Despite the attacking display, the halftime score was goalless, and Box Hill came out with even more fire in the second half.
Yet despite the play being mostly for Pythagoras, it was a free kick from Greens Olivia Bomford that broke the deadlock. Struck with enough power to travel from well outside the box, and enough direction and curl to nestle in the top corner past Natasha Stathopoulos. The goal would prove the only goal of the match and Bentleigh would record their first win under the new name.
Boroondara-Carey 1-0 Alamein United
The final match for the round saw Boroondara-Carey host Alamein.
Both teams looking for win number one in season 2024, it was the Eagles with the first big moment of the game.
A corner into a dangerous area in the 4th minute saw Gabrielle Hollar swooping in under the defence converting a low header very well after nudging her defender and protecting the space.
First seven minutes all Boroondara however, as if woken up by the goal some nice play from Alamein resulted in a corner which was initially cleared, before some lovely passing around the box. The move breaking down but Alamein showing a spark.
With both teams stringing a few passes in the middle without breaking through that backline it was a great long ball by Anna Liacopoulos playing out wide, followed by a ball into the box which Hollar struck wide of the goal
Hollar showing fantastic hold up play, coming from the front into the mid and being a target for Eagles to hit. Playing the ball out wide then getting back into dangerous positions on the edge of the box. This was how Boroondara were finding joy, as another long ball by Liacopoulos was well headed on by Hollar, down to Anais Josefski who controlled it well, dribbling into the box and lashing a shot into the side netting
Not content with just the play up front, when Alamein did get forward, and won a corner, it was Hollar with the defence header, the ball being initially cleared then crossed back in but only to find the head of Hollar again.
Starting to grow into the game and winning a foul on the edge of the box, Sidney Allen struck the free on target, with Mia Mossman tipping onto the bar and back into play in a dangerous area before Liacopoulos with a resolute clearance on the goal line.
Again another freekick, in a slighty better position and Allen again on target this time Mossman with a strong save pushing it over the crossbar in the 39th minute.
A bit of déjà vu as another corner for Alamein headed clear by Hollar for another corner, the resulting corner again headed clear by Hollar. The next corner, was swung in short and lowat an un-headerable height and Mossman claimed it comfortably.
Corner in and headed cleared for a corner by Hollar. The follow up corner again headed clear by
Into the second half and it was a case of much the same as the first. Alamein winning a corner and Hollar involved in clearing it. All the play for the Eagles going through Hollar, while all the best moments for Alamein were coming via Allen.
The game was very open and fast paced, at times frantic with the only lull in play the brief few seconds before the respective keepers launched an attack.
Some changes for both sides seemed to work in favour of the Eagles who looked the more likely in scoring, Alamein were struggling to get the ball out of their own half, but were staying resolute in defence.
Needing a spark, it was a lovely run from Kristen Molloy through from defence, with some neat 1-2 play before a ball out to the edge of the box was cut out by Boroondara, but served as a warning that Alamein would create something yet,
Some fierce challenges flying in at either end as the intensity rose a level. Alamein with a few good minutes, and some clever play down the left saw Rebecca Saber receive the ball in the box, fighting off 2 defenders before turning and shooting her shot wide of the goal.
Another substitution and a corner in the 82’ for Alamein. Allen whipping the ball in before seeing the ball cleared back out to her. Driving into the box some quick footwork drawing the lunging challenge from Turner who rushed in and got it wrong, giving away the penalty. Sidney Allen stepped up to take the important kick, and hit the left post before the ball bounced back out and after a scrap eventually ended up in Mossman’s arms.
A cruel twist as Allen has been the pivotal player for Alamein all game.
The play still with Alamein, but a counter sae Anais Joesfskibehind the defence and going one on one with Tayla Murphy. Murphy was quick off her line and did not go to ground, the shot from Joesfski well blocked and the rebound was fired well wide of everything.
Searching for the late equaliser, a corner from Allen found a head in the box as the ball looped onto the bar before coming back into play, coming out to the left hand side and the follow up was struck well by Molloy but always rising. A massive chance missed and it would be the final chance as Hollar up front was closing down every ball and eventually winning a foul, and taking time off the clock running towards the corner flag. An enthralling match ending 1-0 to Boroondara-Carey
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