Preston Lions 1-0 Essendon Royals
By Joe Rosedon 2/9/24
Preston edged past Essendon to reach their first ever Grand Final, after Haley Johnson once again delivers for Preston, scoring the only goal of the game
An unsurprisingly cagey start saw very few chances of note, with both teams reluctant to reveal the hands too early and Essendon able to nullify Preston’s free scoring front line. A tight angled effort from Emma Robers was the closet to opening the scoring for either team during the first 15 minutes but was eventually held by Charlotte Hrehorsein after initially spilling the ball.
Preston’s pressure began to build as the first half wore on and a goal for the home side looked more and more likely. It almost came from Miri Nishimura when her attempt from the edge of the box looked destined for the bottom left corneronce the ball left her boot, only for it to be a few inches wide of the goal.
On the stroke of hall time Preston had their breakthrough. Mebabe Tanaka received the ball just in front of the halfway line. Her searching cross into the box was aimed for Johnson.
On receival, Johnson held off Marie Rampal and like she has done all season, put the chance away by sliding the ball underneath an onrushing Bethany Mason-Jones to give Preston the lead.
Essendon needed a strong start to the second half to wrestle back momentum from Preston. A dangerous corner from TJ Vlajnic forced Hrehorsein into two punches until the ball was eventually cleared away.
Johnson could have had a second but good combined defensive work from Rampal and Mason- Jones pushed Jonhson into a less than favourable shooting position and was unable to convert.
Essendon pushed and prodded but did create enough clear-cut chances to really trouble the Preston defence in the second half of the game. They resulted to desperate long-range efforts in the closing stages that were easily delt with by Hrehorseinwhile their set pieces were met with a similar fate.
Preston will now face Heidelberg in the Grand Final on Saturday after their shock away victory against Bullen. Reaching the final in only their second season in the NPL Victoria, Preston’s season has been nothing short of remarkable and will be looking to conclude it the perfect way.
Essendon will obviously be disappointed with the result, however after back-to-back promotions the club is clearly headed in the right direction and will look to go one step further next season.
Bulleen Lions 2-4 Heidelberg United
By Kieran Yap 2/9/24
Heidelberg United will join The Preston Lions in the NPLW Victoria Grand Final after a 4-2 win away to Bulleen.
The fourth placed Bergers came into this game after ending the season in surging form, but for most neutrals, Bulleen were the favourites having won the Nike FC Cup & the premiership this season.
Heidelberg began in attacking fashion, forcing Erin Hudson into a low, close range save early on. A free kick from Alana Jancevski whistled over the bar soon after and it appeared that the visitors had arrived with intent to shoot without hesitation.
Bulleen’s best early chances came through Alana Cortellino. The new Western United signing raced behind the Heidelberg attack but could not find a teammate or the goal.
Tiffany Eliadis battled and ran tirelessly in midfield, but Heidelberg pressed in a fast and organised fashion making it hard for the home side to gain any sustained control.
The opening goal arrived through Stephanie Galea. The Heidelberg captain capitalised on a turnover to lift the ball over Hudson in the 25th minute.
That lead was doubled when Sarah O’Donoghue’s free kick whipped around the wall and bounced over a diving Hudson nine minutes later.
If there was any doubt that it was Heidelberg’s day that was confirmed in the second half. Asuka Miyata’s shot from long range bounded off the bottom of the post and into the diving Hudson’s back before crossing the line.
Bulleen continued to try and force a way back into this game. Maja Markovski created chances from wide positions and Cortellino continued to threaten, but as they chased the game, they left themselves open to counter attacks against a pacy Heidelberg attack.
Galea effectively sealed the win with her second of the game in the 76th minute. She sped through on goal and slipped the ball past the onrushing Hudson.
Cortellino produced some moments of magic to set up two late goals and give Bulleen some hope, but time was their enemy and Heidelberg never looked like conferring a third.
The result ends Bulleen’s campaign, but 2024 remains a remarkable season. They won their second consecutive premiership with a very different lineup and won the Nike Cup in a thriller of a contest.
Trebles are hard to win and climbing the mountain top three times over a few weeks proved one challenge too many for the best side of the home and away season, but they should be proud of the year they had, even if they stumbled in the unforgiving Australian finals system.
Heidelberg United will face second placed Preston in the Grand Final at the Home of the Matildas.
Based on this performance, they could easily to in as favourites. Heidelberg were fast, decisive and dangerous. They looked energetic with and without the ball and took advantage of errors by their opponents.
Preston United have probably been better for longer, but Heidelberg are peaking at the exact right time of the season.
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