By Kieran Yap 28/7/26
Above: Kiara Bercelli scores for Box Hill United Pythagoras. Photo: Ashley Perez Photography
Bulleen win a close one to stay in the title hunt, Bentleigh win against City and Kiara Bercelli stars again for Box Hill.
Friday night saw Box Hill United defeat Alamein FC 2-0 at Wembley Park. Goals to Kiara Bercelli and Juri Kawano settled the game, Box Hill were comfortably in control of this one. The return of Rhianna Pollicina to the line up helped, but Kawano was outstanding in the link between midfield and attack.
Bercelli scored the first in the 22nd minute. The in-form winger kept her feet to finish from close range after Kawano’s ball into the box fell to her via Erin Keyt.
Bercelli has steadily become one of the most dangerous wingers in the league this season. This was her 10th goal to go along with 16 assists over 22 games.
Alamein responded with shots from Summer Laskey and Emma Runnalls in quick succession, but Keeley Segavcic had them well covered. Box Hill’s control over the game’s tempo made it hard for Alamein to get a foothold in the contest.
Still, the visitors held out and it took until the 74th minute for the result to be put beyond doubt. Kawano latched onto a back pass to round Miranda Templeman and double the advantage.
The win keeps Box Hill United in first place on the ladder. They next face Bulleen Lions in a crucial match for both sides in Round 23.
Friday night’s other game was played between Preston Lions and Keilor Park SC. Sian Dewey scored the only goal of the match in a 1-0 win for the home side.
It was a fairly even contest, but Preston’s goalkeeper Charlotte Hrehoresin was once again outstanding with nine saves including a crucial one from Caitlin Karic in the final moments of the game.
Dewey’s goal arrived in style. Fiorina Iara’s ball in from the left wing was cleared but fell to the A-League recruit who struck the ball hard and low from distance for the only score of the match.
The first time finish was reward for Preston’s early intent, and although they could not build on that lead they continued to threaten throughout the game.
Despite the low score or perhaps because of it, this was an entertaining game. Overall, Preston deserved the win, but Keilor Park will be ruing some missed chances of their own.
Bulleen Lions survived a late surge at Lakeside Stadium as the visitors defeated South Melbourne 2-1. This was essentially a six pointer with only two places and four points separating the sides on the ladder. A loss to Bulleen would put a serious dent in their title aspirations, and with both Tiffany Eliadis and coach Caitlin Friend serving suspensions from Round 21, and Danella Butrus still injured, a trip to South Melbourne was a tough task. Although they were able to welcome back Sarah Cain and the captain would make a big difference.
Bulleen had less, possession, fewer shots and struggled for momentum, but won the game through some real determination and composure that hints at great potential for the finals.
Nia Salleh scored the first goal somewhat against the run of play. Daniells Wise and McKaela Schmelzer already had efforts blocked for South Melbourne before the Bulleen winger cut inside and unleashed from distance.
Bulleen doubled the advantage late in the second half. An Ava Briedis corner fell to Cain at the far post and the Bulleen captain lofted it across goal again. Alana Cortellino is an unlikely aerial threat but proved a potent one and she nodded the ball home to give Bulleen a crucial buffer.
With the game escaping them, South Melbourne increased the pressure. Substitute Clancy Westaway became more influential in her return from injury and brought her side back into the contest with a brilliantly taken long range finish.
Bulleen were defending desperately by the final whistle, with nine outfielders behind the ball at all times. The whistle finally arrived to the relief of the visitors who stay in touch with the leaders. Bulleen’s upcoming game against Box Hill looms as one of the biggest of the season so far.
Essendon Royals defeated Melbourne Victory 6-0 in another frightening performance by the Nike Cup finalists. Despite the final score, the game was not as one sided as it looked. Victory’s youngsters made a good account of themselves for the first half. Akeisha Sandhu’s ridiculous free-kick was all that separated the sides at the break.
In the second half, the dam broke and the goals flowed. Maggie Jenkins scored another for Essendon. The New Zealand international poked home a poor back pass in the 59th minute.
An unmarked Kelli McGroarty scored her 26th goal of the season when she met Grace Maher’s perfectly curled corner four minute later and if there was any doubt left, that was removed by Sandhu’s spectacular second goal.
The fullback’s cross from a rehearsed set play drifted into the net. It may not have been fully intentional but it was reward for another brilliant display from Sandhu.
Paige Kingston-Hogg made it 5-0 with a close range finish in the 80th minute and McGroarty edged 10 goals clear of the nearest Golden Boot challenger with a poacher’s finish to close out the scoring.
Mia Otero and Kiera Meyers both scored as Bentleigh Greens secured a 2-0 win over Melbourne City.
Meyers put in a low cross for Otero to arrived unmarked in the six yard box for the 18th minute opener. Although City grew into the contest and managed to get their passing game going they could not generate many shots on goal, although Jami Marandola came close in the first half.
Bentleigh’s best opportunities came from distance. Yuka Sato long range effort was saved by Dali Gorr Burchmore, but was a warning to City to not give the home side any space.
The second goal arrived through the same combination of players as the first. This time it was Otero supplying the pass for Meyers. The through ball put the star recruit clear on the left and she skipped past the goalkeeper to finish into an empty net.
The win was important in Bentleigh’s continued improvement this season and takes them off the foot of the table.
Boroondara Eagles defeated Spring Hills FC 2-1 in a close game at the Veneto Club. Boroondara were slightly more successful in attack, generating 15 shots on goal for the game, although the scoring came in a rush before half time.
Emma Vane’s powerfully hit effort deflected and deceived Ayana Aoyagi in the Spring Hills goal. The 41st minute effort came after a well worked move from a Boroondara throw in and gave them the break through which they immediately built upon.
The next goal arrived almost immediately following the kickoff. Boroondara won back possession and Vane’s long ball for Sarah Brunner unlocked the Spring Hills backline. The low cross was met by Priya Savariryan at the far post and she made it 2-0 in the3 42nd minute.
Spring Hills star defender Natasha Dakic gave her side a lifeline in the 59th minute. Her cushioned finish amid the scramble from a corner kick was classy and perfectly placed, but Boroondara held on for the win and remain in the top six.
Avondale FC won again. This time 4-0 against Heidelberg United. The NPLW’s most in-form team scored all four goals in a relentless first half of football.
Aideen Keane got the first in the 17th minute. the A-League All-Star turned the bouncing ball in from close range after a corner kick was nodded towards the six yard box. Keane was involved for the second when her cross led to Hannah Wilkinson’s header looping into the net.
Elise Kellond-Knight made it 3-0 with a vicious strike from inside the box and Keane teed up Sloane Young to score Avondale’s fourth with another dangerous cross to the back post.
It could have been more with Keane trying her luck once more before the break and a couple of times after. The A-League champion was one of the outstanding players in a comfortable win from the visiting side.
Heidelberg can be forgiven for the lacklustre performance. They have bigger fish to fry in the coming weeks as they prepare to face Essendon Royals in the Nike FC Cup final next weekend.
In appreciation of Kiara Bercelli
Box Hill have stars on every line. With an aim to repeat or improve on last season’s Championship win, they recruited impressively and welcomed back some big bad stars. One of their best performers this season has been Kiara Bercelli.
The New Zealand winger joined after a season with Sampdoria in Serie A and has often looked a class above in the NPLW.
Bercelli is a traditional winger. She spends a lot of the game lurking off the shoulder of the opposition fullback, both keeping them from venturing too far upfield and providing a quick option for her teammates.
When she gets the ball. Bercelli has been explosive and consistent. Her goal against Alamein FC was her 10th for the season to add to a startling 16 assists so far.
Bercelli seems to be comfortable on either foot. She can impact games on either wing but looks most dangerous on the left where she displays a tendency to cut inside and shoot off her right.
As she showed on the weekend, Bercelli is also deadly closer to goal and can withstand physical challenges. She’s fleet footed but still tough when it matters.
Bercelli is just one of Box Hill’s many threats, but this season she has been an uncontainable one. She gets the ball into dangerous positions with impressive frequency and is a chance finished as much as a creator.
Box Hill have a real weapon on the wing. One that has now hit double figures in goals and assists. As the league enters the final months she is firmly established as one of the best players of the season.
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