Check out all the NPL and VPL highlights from the weekend

Heidelberg United is closer to the NPL premiership but not before a world-class save from Yaren Sozer or was it? Plus, home finals locked in and South Melbourne on the charge.

Asahi Yokokawa in action for Heidelberg United.

We’re inside the final month of the NPL and VPL seasons.

The premiership and relegation races remain open – for now – while there’s also a fierce battle for top-six spots and finals chances.

The weekend saw another host of scintillating performances, wonderful goals and stunning saves.

Check out all the highlights below.

HEIDELBERG’S TITLE TO LOSE

Heidelberg United is so close to the NPL Victoria premiership, it can taste it. The Warriors moved five points clear at the top of the table with an impressive 3-0 win over Green Gully at Gully Reserve on Friday combined with Avondale’s 1-1 draw with Dandenong City. The club is chasing its first premiership since 2019 when it also pipped the Avengers. The league-leaders were forced to work for the win and very nearly fell behind but for a world-class save by Yaren Sozer. The A-League championship winner showed all his talent to keep out Aamir Abdullah from point-blank range just before the hour mark. Alexander then found the breakthrough in the 71st minute thanks to captain and central defender Ben Collins. The floodgates then opened as Asahi Yokokawa scored in the 81st and Jamal Ali in the 88th. Heidelberg faces a rejuvenated South Melbourne, title rival Avondale, reigning champion Oakleigh Cannons and Port Melbourne in a testing run home.

CITY HOLDS AVENGERS

There’s still time but Avondale’s 1-1 draw with Dandenong City at Avengers Park on Saturday put a major dent in the club’s NPL premiership aspirations. It continues a frustrating month for the Avengers, which has been held to draws by St Albans, Preston, Dandenong Thunder and now City. It’s seen the club fall five points behind Heidelberg United in the title race. Yusuf Ahmed opened the scoring in the 61st minute and it looked like the home team would secure a valuable three points. However, Valli Cesnik pounced in the 88th minute to send Hadjuk home with a point. Avondale travels to Altona Magic on Saturday before a potentially premiership deciding clash with Heidelberg at home and South Melbourne and Green Gully to finish.

THUNDER, CANNONS LOCK IN HOME FINALS

Dandenong Thunder’s 2-0 triumph over Port Melbourne and Oakleigh Cannons’ 4-0 drubbing of Hume City has all but confirmed home elimination finals for the pair. Avondale is five points ahead in second and will be hard to catch for a first-week bye but the Thunder is nine points clear of fifth-placed Preston, while Oakleigh is seven points ahead of the Lions with four games remaining. Dandenong was too good for the Sharks at Murphy Reserve. Hassan Jalloh continued his outstanding season with his 11th goal of the campaign – fourth most in the competition – in the 59th minute. Medin Mehmeti then sealed the points eight minutes later. Meanwhile at Jack Edwards Reserve, the Cannons showed off its range of weapons. Defender Connor Hampson opened the scoring in the 10th minute. Young gun Adem Duratovic then doubled the lead in the 25th. Defender Ajak Deu scored for the first time in 14 weeks on the hour mark and mid-season recruit Tom Alisandratos put a cherry on top in the 74th minute.

FRANCIS OPENS ACCOUNT

It’s taken him a while to find his feet but boom mid-season recruit Luke Francis is on the board at Preston Lions. The Sheffield Wednesday junior arrived last month from NPL Queensland outfit Wynnum Wolves, where he won a Golden Boot. Not content with one, Francis scored a brace in the 3-0 win over Melbourne Knights at BT Connor Reserve, twice punishing Knights defensive turnovers. Aaron Anderson also opened his season account with the third goal of the night, heading home from a Luc Jeggo corner. It’s a critical win for Preston, cementing fifth, moving five points clear of seventh-placed Dandenong City.

LOOK OUT FOR SOUTH

After being in relegation danger mid-season, South Melbourne is within range of finals. And, if they made it, Hellas is one club you would not want to face. A strong 2-0 win over Altona Magic at Lakeside Stadium continued the club’s resurgence to move within five points of fifth-placed Hume City. It also won through to the Dockerty Cup final last week, taking down Avondale 3-1. Nahuel Bonada opened the scoring in just the eighth minute, poking home after a goalmouth scramble. Hellas was reduced to 10 men just before the half-hour mark as skipper Marco Jankovic was shown a straight red card after catching Chris Theodorakopoulos with his follow through clearing the ball. However, it mattered little. Jack Pope sealed the deal with a deflected long-range shot just four minutes after the second-half restart. South will face a giant task on Saturday, taking on ladder-leader Heidelberg United, in an early Dockerty Cup final preview.

VPL1 & VPL2 HIGHLIGHTS TO COME