Check out all the weekend’s highlights from around the NPL and VPL

TALKING POINTS: Scores level, 90th minute, enter Max Mikkola with a goal that has to be seen to be believed, while two young guns produce match-winning performances.

Max Mikkola's match-winning bicycle kick. Picture: Luke Radziminski/Kou Media

We’re entering the home stretch of the NPL and VPL seasons.

Clubs are jostling for premiership glory, finals spots and survival.

Another weekend of action is in the books with more stunning goals and results.

Perhaps none more so than Max Mikkola’s bicycle goal for South Melbourne.

Check out all the highlights from around the grounds below.

🚨🟡 NPLMVIC GOAL! 89:13: South Melbourne FC score to make it SMFC 2 : PLFC 1.

Watch live and free at https://t.co/SD1KcDDDwUpic.twitter.com/VNHJenj84p

— NPL Victoria (@nplvictoria) June 15, 2025

MIKKOLA MAGIC

It’s a stunning goal at any time of the match but a 90th minute match-winner, against hated rivals Preston Lions, in front of the faithful at Lakeside Stadium, to revive South Melbourne’s season. It might go down as one of the best in Hellas’ storied history. Max Mikkola reached deep into his bag of tricks on Sunday night and pulled out the most magical of moments to secure South a thrilling 2-1 win over Preston. Entering the 90th minute, Sam Francou whipped in a cross. Mikkola controlled the ball with his chest and executed a wonderful bicycle kick to nestle the ball in the back of the net and spark wild celebrations on the pitch and in the stands. The stunning goal snatched a fine come-from-behind victory. The Lions had taken a 56th-minute lead thanks to the head of Brandon Lauton. However, it didn’t last long as an Aaron Anderson own goal in the 64th restored parity. Just as it looked like the points would be shared, Mikkola took his moment. The result continues South’s impressive resurgence under new coach Sinisa Cohadzic. Hellas has won three of its past four matches to jump back up to ninth on the ladder, now nine points behind Preston in sixth. The club has also secured its place in the Australia Cup Round of 32 in that time. South’s revival will get a big test next Sunday when it hosts high-flying Dandenong Thunder at Lakeside.

WARRIORS BACK ON TOP

Heidelberg United is back on top of the NPL Victoria ladder after an impressive 2-0 win over premiership rival Dandenong Thunder at Olympic Village on Friday night. The Warriors move back up after Avondale was held to a draw by St Albans – more on that later. Jamal Ali continued his marvellous season, scoring the opening goal of the game in the 26th minute, tapping in Mo Aidara’s cross. It’s his seventh strike of the season. Bul Juach then sealed the three points on the hour mark with his 13th of the campaign. The strike keeps him joint leader in the competition goalscoring race, along with Joe Guest and Many Aguek. While Heidelberg is a point clear on top, Dandenong falls eight points behind in the premiership race and is seven behind Avondale in second.

SAINTS HOLD AVENGERS

For the second week in a row, Josh Divin scored a 90th-minute equaliser. On Saturday, it held Avondale to its first draw of the 2025 season. A Divin toe-poke rescued a point for St Albans at Avengers Park, a precious point as the club battles relegation. Cian Cuba had given the Avengers the lead in the 11th minute only to see young gun Ollie Dragicevic equalise just five minutes later that a delightful outside-of-the-foot finish from the edge of the area. Daniel Edwards restored the hosts’ lead in the 75th minute and many would have presumed it was enough. However, as he did last week against South Melbourne, Divin popped up when most needed to rescue a point. St Albans falls back into the bottom three but is only a point behind Melbourne Victory in 11th. Avondale also falls, dropping off the top of the table, to second and a point behind Heidelberg United.

ALL SQUARE IN RELEGATION BATTLE

Two teams in desperate need of a win but Port Melbourne and Melbourne Knights had to settle for a draw on Friday night. The Knights were minutes away from their first win since in 10 weeks but were denied by an Aiden Brown equaliser in the 90th minute. Knights had twice taken the lead at Murphy Oval, only to quickly concede equalisers. A Maker Maker own goal gave the visitors a 32nd-minute lead before Delarno Pharoe levelled in the 44th. Kaine Sheppard then lashed in a powerful volley to give Knights a 80th-minute lead but they again couldn’t hold on as Brown poked home from close range. With the bottom three going down this season, survival is looking difficult. Knights sit last and are now five points behind 11th-placed Melbourne Victory, while Port is three points back of safety.

🚨🟡 NPLMVIC GOAL! 36:19: Melbourne Victory score to make it OCFC 1 : MVFC 4.

Watch live and free at https://t.co/SD1KcDDDwUpic.twitter.com/eXuQqKbiLQ

— NPL Victoria (@nplvictoria) June 13, 2025

VICTORY SMASH CANNONS

At one stage, Melbourne Victory was sitting in the top-six but seven straight losses and eight games without a win saw it fall into the relegation battle. The streak was broken in the most comprehensive of ways on Friday night. Oakleigh Cannons at Jack Edwards Reserve is a daunting task for any team. The Victory young guns showed no fear and had a two-goal lead inside the opening 10 minutes as Alex Houridis and Daniel Lazarevski stunned the high-flying hosts. Linus Bourke then made it 3-0 in the 22nd minute. Alex Salmon got one back for Oakleigh two minutes later with a quick-thinking free kick, catching the Victory sleeping. However, Victory wasn’t done. Charlie Gorevski restored the three-goal lead in the 37th minute with arguably the goal of the night. Driving down the middle of the pitch, Gorevski then unleashed an unstoppable drive into the top left corner. After a hectic first half, Joe Guest gave Oakleigh the perfect start to the second with a powerful strike in the 53rd minute. Yet, once again, Victory replied and Jordan Hoey finished a sweeping attack to seal a stunning 5-2 win. The result moves Victory one point clear of the bottom three with a relegation battle against Port Melbourne this weekend.

HUME WAITING FOR HEGARTY

It’s been a tough couple of weeks for Hume since parting ways with Ric Marchioli. The club started well enough under interim coach Halil Hussein with a 3-0 win over top-six rival Dandenong City. However, it missed out on a place in the Australia Cup Round of 32 with a shock 4-0 loss to VPL2 club Nunawading City. On Saturday, it followed it up with a 1-1 draw with Altona Magic at Paisley Park. Josh Okane gave City the lead in the 53rd minute. However, Magic claimed a point thanks to a howitzer of a strike from defender Alex Gust in the 71st minute. The point sees Hume sit in fifth place, now seven points ahead of Dandenong City in seventh. Club legend Nick Hegarty will officially take the coaching reins on Tuesday and faces a brutal welcome as ladder-leader Heidelberg United visits Broadmeadows Stadium on Friday night.

🚨🟡 NPLMVIC GOAL! 71:09: Altona Magic SC score to make it AMSC 1 : HCFC 1.

Watch live and free at https://t.co/SD1KcDDDwUpic.twitter.com/8PM7yaMJfQ

— NPL Victoria (@nplvictoria) June 14, 2025

MAMURA BRACE LIFTS WESTERN

If Western United is to secure automatic promotion, this might be the game that turned its season around. And youngster Alex Marmura was the star. After 14 goals in 10 under-23 appearances, Marmura got a start last week and scored a brace against Manningham United. He backed it up on Sunday with another double to seal a massive 3-0 win over ladder-leader Bentleigh Greens at Ironbark Fields. Marmura opened the scoring in the 60th minute and doubled the lead 10 minute later. Oscar Tanic then sealed the three points in the 77th. The Western United young guns now sit in fourth on the VPL1 ladder and are nine points behind Bentleigh in second spot. The loss sees the Greens drop to second on goal difference behind Melbourne City.

BECVINOVSKI’S DEBUT TO REMEMBER

Melbourne City sits on top of the VPL1 ladder and it has young gun Luke Becvinovski to thank. Making his senior debut, the 16-year-old bagged the winner for City to secure a 1-0 win over North Sunshine at Larissa Reserve. Becvinovski has 15 goals in 13 under-23 appearances to earn a call-up on the bench. He came on in the 19th minute, replacing Mikey Ghossaini, and repaid the faith by scoring the decisive goal in the 74th. Chasing down a ball over the top of the Eagles’ defence, the youngster showed poise beyond his years to chip the oncoming goalkeeper. The result sees Melbourne City jump Bentleigh Greens into top spot thanks to its superior goal difference.

LANGY MOVING UP

Langwarrin looked resigned to relegation a month ago, but wait. Three wins on the trot, the latest a solid 2-1 victory over Manningham United on Saturday, and the club is out of the bottom three. In fact, Langy is 11th and two points clear of the relegation zone. As they’ve done so often this season, Tom Youngs and Brad Blumenthal stepped up when their club needed them. Youngs opened the scoring in just the seventh minute of the match. Manningham talisman Ben Everson found an equaliser in the 27th – his ninth goal of the campaign. However, Blumenthal restored the home team’s lead just minutes after the half-time break and it proved the match-winner. While Langwarrin are moving up, Manningham is far from safe. After relegation from NPL last year, the Blues are only five points clear of the relegation zone.

BRUNSWICK EDGES GEORGIES

After a shock loss to Langwarrin last week, Brunswick responded in style. The Spartans went on the road and came home with a 1-0 win – and three points – over high-flying Caroline Springs George Cross at City Vista. Sione Faapoi was the match-winner, finding the back of the net in the 40th minute. It’s a critical result for City as it fights to hold onto sixth spot and a place in the promotion playoffs. It’s now two points clear of Bulleen Lions, which plays on Monday night.

LIONS HIT MORELAND FOR SIX

Two teams in desperate need of a win and it was Eastern Lions that produced a commanding performance. The Lions trounced relegation rival Moreland City 6-2 at Gardiners Creek Reserve on Saturday to keep their survival hopes alive. The hosts opened the scoring through Hussain Al Sharifi in the 19th minute but quickly conceded an equaliser as Jayden Scott put Morland level just four minutes later. However, Al Sharifi bagged a brace in the 29th minute to restore the lead just as quickly. Ren Nagamatsu and Shaun Ruzvidzo scored either side of half-time and all of a sudden it was a 4-1 game. Ali Al Shiekh got Moreland back in the game in the 63rd minute. However, the Lions finished in a hurry as Nagamatsu scored his second and Alex Kapaklis added the finishing touches. Eastern now sits 12th, just two points away from safety. Moreland, on the other hand, looks headed for back-to-back relegations as it sits last on the VPL1 ladder and is eight points away from safety.

SRBIJA KEEP HEAD ABOVE WATER

On paper it looked pretty simple but football rarely is. Fighting for VPL1 survival, FC Melbourne dealt high-flying Northcote City a major blow to its automatic promotion hopes. Instead, Srbija’s 1-0 win on Friday night at John Cain Reserve could prove critical in the club’s fight to cement itself at the level. Marcus Dimanche delivered the winner in the 54th minute, a sublime curling strike that found the top right-hand corner. It was his sixth strike of the season and one of the most important. Srbija sits 10th on the ladder, three points clear of the relegation zone. Brunswick remain fifth but are now just two points ahead of seventh-placed Bulleen, which plays on Monday night.

@fkmelbsrbija#srbijatiktok#србија#aussieserb#fudbal#goal♬ Football Is My Life (feat. Shaggy) - Fritz Jerey Latino Remix - Leo Aberer

WARRIORS RISE

After back-to-back relegations, a premiership would be the perfect response for North Geelong and the club is now in the box seat to claim the VPL2 title. The Warriors moved to the top of the ladder with a commanding 4-1 win over Whittlesea United at Epping Stadium on Saturday. After a shock 7-1 loss to Nunawading, the club is now riding an eight-game winning run. Ionut-Casian Anghel gave the visitors the lead in the 11th minute and Angus Chapman doubled it in the 22nd. Chapman’s strike was his 11th of the campaign, the most in the competition. Marcus Day got Whittlesea back in the game in the 38th minute. However, a quick-fire double from Sergio Escudero in the 83rd and 89rd minute sealed the three points and an enjoyable trip back down the highway. North Geelong is now one point clear of Eltham Redbacks and three clear of Brunsick Juventus.

PACCO POWER

Pascoe Vale hadn’t won a game in 10 weeks and was languishing on the bottom of the ladder, facing the prospect of State League football in 2026. However, the one-time NPL power showed a glimpse of their halcyon days on Friday night with a dominant performance. A 4-1 win over Essendon Royals at Cross Keys Reserve is one of the upsets of the NPL/VPL season. Jordan Adeyemi had given the high-flying Royals the lead in the 35th minute and it looked like a routine win. However, the Rams then exploded. In the shadows of half-time, Tom Barforosh scored twice in two minutes to flip the script. The star forward then made it a hat-trick 10 minutes into the second half to stun the home crowd. It took him to 11 goals for the season, tops in the competition. Felix Ruiz put a cherry on top a superb performance in the 78th minute. Despite the win, Pascoe Vale remains last on the VPL2 ladder but is now only four points away from safety. Essendon sit fifth, now seven points off the automatic promotion spots.

ALTONA EYES PLAYOFFS

Altona City is closing in on the top-six after a strong 3-1 win over Werribee City at Kim Reserve on Friday night. Nick Georgopoulos gave the home team the perfect start, opening the scoring in the 12th minute. Carter Ramsay then took control in the second half, potting goals in the 48th and 58th minute to claim a brace. John Mabok scored a consolation goal for the Bees in the 82nd minute. City is sitting in seventh, now just two points behind Goulburn Valley Suns in sixth.

SUNS KEEP NOSE IN FRONT

With plenty of pressure on for a top-six finish, Goulburn Valley travelled down to Nunawading City and secured a critical 2-1 win at Mahoneys Reserve. Nunawading couldn’t back up their giant-killing Dockerty Cup performance from mid-way after thrashing NPL power Hume City 4-0. Brandon Giaccherini gave the Suns a 53rd minute lead but it didn’t last long as Santiago Lupino levelled just three minutes later. With a deadlock looming, Mangara Munguakonkha popped up with his sixth goal of the campaign and the match-winner in the 82nd minute. The Suns keep Altona City at bay, staying two points ahead in sixth.

LEADERS HELD

They’ve been front-runners for much of the season but Eltham Redbacks and Brunswick Juventus now find themselves chasing after draws on Saturday. The Redbacks were held 1-1 by Boroodara-Carey Eagles at Wilcox Field. John Prescott had given the visitors a 26th-minute lead but Josh Stadnicki snatched a dramatic equaliser for the Eagles in the 86th minute. The result sees Eltham fall to second, one point behind North Geelong. Juventus, meanwhile, are now three points off top spot and two off automatic promotion after a 0-0 draw with Geelong at CB Smith Reserve.