Bulleen Lions 8-0 Calder United
By Joe Rosedon 26/8/24
Premier winners Bulleen complete victory lap against relegation threatened Calder. Four goals from a sensational Maja Markovski alongside a double from Nia Salleh and goals from Lourdes Gonazalez and Yuka Sato completed the rout.
Gonzalez opened the scoring for the champions, after a well worked short corner ended up at the feet of Gonzalez. She used her body well to turn her marker and curled the ball home from inside the box.
Markovski was next on the score sheet only four minutes later. Bulleen were able to win the ball back deep in Calder’s half. Rosie Rodger slipped an excellent ball into Markovski who poked the ball underneath an onrushing Natalie Picak to double the home side’s advantage.
The goal scoring floodgates were well and truly opened in the second half, their third goal coming just after the resumption of the game. Alana Cortellino was able to whip the ball into the box from the byline towards Salleh. Salleh first attempt was saved but a kind rebound gave her a simple finish to make it three
Salleh bagged her second and Bullen’s fourth in spectacular fashion. An audacious effort straight from a corner kick that neither Picak or the Calder defence could deal with, the ball flew into the net.
For the remained of the game, it was the Markovski show. Sheturned provider for the fifth goal. Again, Calder did themselves no favours giving the ball away in dangerous areas. This time, Alana Burn won the ball back and found Markovski on the left-hand side. Markovski fashioned space in the box and cut the ball back to Sato to fire home.
Markovski added a sixth after good work from Salleh from the right. Her cross was pushed out by Picak to Cortellino on the opposing wing. Western United’s new signing had plenty of time at the back post to find Markovski to hammer the ball into the roof of the net.
Her hattrick goal and Bulleen’s seventh was soon to follow. Salleh’s corner was headed by an unmarked Markovski in the six-yard box. Her initial header was saved but tapped in the follow up to make it seven.
But she was not finished just yet. Markovski isolated Maia Heysen and drove at her with real intent. After escaping the defender, her first attempt was well saved by Picak. However,she capitalised on a dawdling defence to get to the ball first and get her fourth and Bullen’s eighth goal of the game.
This result concluded an excellent season for Bulleen. They next face Essendon who were the only team to beat Bulleen twice in the regular season.
Calder finish the season rock bottom of the league and now face relegation just two years after being winning the Grand Final.
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