By Kieran Yap
Above: Fiorina Iaria is brought down by Akeisha Sandhu. Photo: Passion Creations.
Round 13 of the Victorian NPLW saw some stunning goals, but the game of the round was a nil-all draw between FV Academy and South Melbourne.
When these two sides met in Round Two, it was an exciting, if one-sided game. On that occasion, South Melbourne scored seven against FV Academy. There were bright spots for the state’s youth development side, but they were outmuscled and outgunned by the end of the evening at Albert Park.
Since then, South have recruited two of FV Academy’s brightest prospects, captain Ehva Gutszmit and Eva Kokotis, but despite these setbacks, FV Academy put in one of the performances of the season, showing massive improvement from the early season thrashing and likely will feel that a they could have or even should have won.
Football purists will insist that a scoreless game can sometimes be one of the best ones, and this was a perfect example. Both sides were intent on breaking the deadlock from the first minute to the last and to South Melbourne’s credit, even going a player down in the second half did not dampen their attacking intent. Put simply, this was a classic.
The visitors started strongest, and were unlucky not to score when Raquel Derales looked through on goal. she was foiled by the outrushing Charlotte Hrehoresin, and Meisha Westland’s long range follow -up effort skimmed off the crossbar.
Emily Rutkowski hit back for FV Academy, the left back cut inside and fired a dipping strike that had Cristina Esposito beaten, but the woodwork denied what would have been a goal of the year contender.
Nikki Furokowa tried her luck after a South Melbourne counter-attack but her effort whizzed over the bar from 20 yards. FV Academy responded with a direct end-to-end move through Chelsea Biggs (exceptional at Centre Back), Clancy Westaway and Alice Francou. The Academy winger skipped past her marker, but her strike crashed off the upright.
Westaway was the next to test Esposito in the South Melbourne goal. A move started by Rutkowski out wide found the playmaker in space, and her 30 yard shot looked dangerous, but went narrowly over the bar. FV Academy had wrestled the momentum into their favour.
The second half saw FV Academy continue to push for a goal. Fiorina Iaria was becoming more involved, and created her side’s best chance with a low cross that fell for Anika Dovaston. The attacker had the goal at her mercy but the effort on the bounce went over the bar.
On the hour mark, Iaria’s influence forced a challenge from Akeisha Sandhu, who was shown her second yellow card after brining down the winger. FV Academy had a numerical advantage but South still looked dangerous in the final 30 minute of play.
Just minutes later, Gutszmit worked her way into the box and send a low ball across goal that somehow evaded the South Melbourne attackers. In response Rutkowski tried another long range effort that had some fans celebrating early.
Substitute Jasmine Millar was unlucky not to score for FV Academy. Westaway’s ball across goal was somehow bundled clear by the desperate South defence.
The goal never came for either side, but still looked inevitable until the dying seconds. Hrehoresin’s quick thinking dash off the line snuffed out a chance when Derales looked certain to score. The excellent and tireless Grace Taranto’s run and pass provided Westland with a chance to win it for the visitors but found Hrehoresin equal one final time.
Although the game ended in a draw, this felt like a win in the context of FV Academy’s season and the individual development of their players. Biggs was brave on the ball and disciplined without in in defence, Rutwkoski looked like peak Lucy Bronze for long stretches of play at fullback and the newly arrived Poppy O’Keeffe was as combative as she was composed in the middle of the park. The returnee from a season with Melbourne Victory was a huge factor in FV Academy winning the midfield battle and she was constantly busy without ever looking rushed.
Kaya Jugovic worked hard in attack, while Westway and Dovaston provided their usual spark, with Westaway’s tireless efforts constantly testing the South defenders.
Only luck, the woodwork and terrific goalkeeping from both team’s custodians kept this game scoreless, but it provided moments of flair, skill and effort that FV Academy can really build on as a squad, but also as individuals still building the foundations of their careers.
It was the game of the round and terrific entertainment.
Around the Grounds
In the other games, Alamein continued to hold onto second place on the table with a 92nd minute winner against Preston Lions. New signing Maximillia took advantage of a defensive error and Eva Harrington’s long ball to score the late winner against the run of play.
Essendon Royals and Box Hill United played out an entertaining 2-2 draw. Fijuwara Airi and Olivia Wood gave Essendon a two-goal lead at half time, but Sofia Sakalis and Sienna Techera both scored in the final 10 minutes to secure a point on the road for Box Hill FC.
Bulleen Lions came from a goal down at home to Spring Hills FC to win 3-1. Nia Salleh’s excellent volley through traffic cancelled out Mami Ambo’s opportunistic and well struck opener for Spring Hills. The equaliser came on the stroke of half time and allowed Bulleen to reset.
Substitute Danella Butrus scored an excellent individual goal after cutting in from the left, and Ava Briedis sealed the result with a dipping effort similar to her Round One goal oin the last A-League Women season.
It was a game controlled by Bulleen for the majority of play. Sarah Cain and Paige Zois formed a formidable and creative midfield duo.
Heidelberg United opened up a six point gap at the top of the table with a 3-1 win over Bentleigh Greens. Sawa Matsuda scored again (a phrase that can seemingly be copied into every week’s report) and Asuka Miyata doubled the home side’s advantage before half time.
New Bentleigh signing Tanika Lala pulled one back for the visitors, but her Perth Glory teammate Sarah O’Donoghue made the result certain with an 87th minute effort.
Mary Stanic-Floody scored the goal of the round for Brunswick Juventus, but it was not enough to stop a rampant Boroondara-Carey Eagles who ended the game with five goals.
A brace to Hayley Geurts along with goals from Kanako Higuchi, Saki Nagai and Grace Norbury ensured that the Eagles end Round Thirteen still in the top four.
It is a crowded ladder in a competitive season. Only six points separate Essendon Royals in sixth place and Alamain FC in second. The teams in the bottom half of the table like Box Hill and FV Academy are rapidly improving, and as the match at The Home of The Matildas showed, early season form is not indication of how things will end up later in the campaign.
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