Check out all the weekend’s NPL and VPL action, plus our Goal of the Week

Four NPL matches were decided in stoppage time in a dramatic weekend, meanwhile, the premiership races are heating up in VPL1 and VPL2. Plus, our Goal of the Week.

Marko Jankovic celebrates a South Melbourne goal. Picture: Behind the Lens

There was no shortage of drama across the NPL and VPL this weekend.

Numerous late goals, red cards, and more shock results made for an enthralling round of football.

The premiership race in all three competitions remains tight with three teams locked together in VPL2.

Plus, an eye-catching Goal of the Week nomination that was timed to perfection in more ways than one.

Check out all the highlights below.

ANYONE FOR A LATE EQUALISER?

It was a weekend for late, late equalisers in NPL Victoria. South Melbourne, Manningham United, Port Melbourne and Melbourne Knights all scored in the 90th minute or later to either pinch victory or equalise. It goes to show no game is ever over until the ref’s whistle is blown. The results set to have major ramifications for the premiership race.

SOUTH DO IT AGAIN

For what feels like the umpteenth time this season, South Melbourne scored a late winner to pip Hume City on Saturday night. With the scores locked nil-all, Marko Jankovic popped up to net the winner in the 90th minute at Broadmeadows Stadium. With Hellas’ tall timber pushed forward, the centre-back found himself all alone and swept the ball home from an assist from partner Jake Marshall. The goal could prove decisive in the premiership race with South now four points clear of Oakleigh Cannons.

93:58: GOAL! Manningham United Blues score to make it MUFC 1 : GGSC 1.

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— NPL Victoria (@nplvictoria) June 1, 2024

MANNINGHAM SPOILS FALZON DEBUT

Ramon Falzon took charge of his first Green Gully match on Saturday but the Cavaliers had to settle for a one-all draw with Manningham United at Pettys Reserve. Mohamed Adam had given the visitors a first-half lead and they were seconds away from three points but Junya Kada had other ideas. In the 94th minute, the Japanese import got his head on the end of a perfect Chris Theodorakopoulos corner to turn the ball home. Gully had an incredible 23 shots on goal but just two on target, as well as eight corners, but couldn’t capitalise on its dominance.

10-MEN KNIGHTS HOLD AVENGERS

Down to 10 men for 60 minutes, Melbourne Knights will no doubt feel satisfied taking a point from Avondale at Avengers Park on Saturday. Defender Tom Woerndl was shown a straight red card for what looked a soft foul in the 34th minute of the match. After a goalless first half, Avondale found the breakthrough a minute into the second 45 as Liston Diaz set up Cian Cuba for a well-made goal. Just as it looked like Avondale would continue its winning run, Ciaran Bramwell denied it in a dramatic finish. A Anthony Duzel cross found Bramwell unmarked at the near post to tap home his eighth of the campaign. The result sees Avondale drop five points behind South Melbourne in the premiership race.

95:01: GOAL! Melbourne Knights score to make it AVFC 1 : MKFC 1.

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— NPL Victoria (@nplvictoria) June 1, 2024

PORT BREAK MORELAND HEARTS

Moreland City’s mid-season revival continued but it could have been so much more. The last-placed club led Saturday’s clash with fifth-placed Port Melbourne for 89 minutes at CB Smith Reserve but couldn’t come away with three points. Marco Cannatelli scored in just the second minute of the match. A driving run from Michael Tzoutzidis took him past three Sharks defenders before a slicing through ball found Cannatelli. The young forward got the better of Alex Baker before finishing with aplomb. However, it wasn’t to be as Alec Becvinovski scored a brilliant goal to share the points just minutes from full-time.

GOAL OF THE WEEK

Speaking of Becvinovski, he not only snatched a point for his club but he takes home our Goal of the Week as well. As the ball pinged around the Port Melbourne box it was the second-half substitute who’s close touch and control opened up the smallest of windows for him to score. First controlling the ball with his chest, a flick over the shoulder of the closing defender with his right foot and before the ball hits the ground, a left-foot volley into the back of the net. A fitting goal for such a dramatic finish.

WARRIORS BOUNCE BACK

After falling to its first loss of the NPL season, Heidelberg United responded with a clinical 2-0 win over Dandenong Thunder at Olympic Village on Friday night. Centre-back Ben Collins and star striker Kaine Sheppard both found the back of the net in the first half, enough to seal the three points. The strike was Sheppard’s ninth of the campaign, fourth most in the competition. As a team, the Warriors also sit fourth in the premiership race, now eight points behind ladder-leader South Melbourne.

CITY KEEPS HEAT ON

The race for the top-six is far from over with Dandenong City’s 2-0 win over St Albans keeping the reigning VPL1 premiers in the finals race. First-half strikes from George Lambadaridis and Tim Atherinos were enough for Hadjuk to secure the win at George Holohan Reserve. With Port Melbourne’s draw away at Moreland City, the gap is now six points. However, City will face red-hot Oakleigh Cannons this coming weekend in a big test of their finals credentials.

NORTHCOTE UNDER THE RADAR

While the likes of Melbourne Victory, Preston Lions and Western United grab the spotlight, there’s a premiership darkhorse flying under the radar in VPL1. Northcote City is sitting equal second after a strong 5-2 win over Kingston City at The Grange on Friday night. Hercules is now just five points behind Victory in the title race and level with neighbouring rival Preston. Kingston opened the scoring as Chris Petkaris bundled in a corner at the back post before Michael Domfeh sent the teams to half-time level from the penalty spot. In a wild second half, Northcote took the lead through an unlucky George Gerondaras own goal and were 3-1 when Yianni Panakos headed home. Manyumow Achol got one back for Kingston but Domfeh’s second sealed the win and Yuki Uchida put a cherry on top.

WESTERN ENDS LIONS’ RUN

Preston Lions’ nine-game undefeated run came to a crashing halt on Sunday night as VPL1 premiership rival Western United staged a second-half comeback. The Lions had led 2-1 at half-time, thanks to goals from Aaron Anderson and Giorgio Serdenes, but the A-League academy team stormed home at Ironbark Fields with goals in the 60th, 75th and 88th minute. Abel Walatee finished with a brace, while Max Bisetto and Rhys Bozinovski also found the back of the net. The result narrows the fight at the top of the ladder with Preston Lions remaining in second but now level with Northcote City and one point above Western United.

BRUNSWICK BOUNCES BACK

After falling to a shock loss at home to cellar-dweller North Geelong, Brunswick City responded in style on Friday night. The Spartans were too good for Caroline Springs George Cross at Dunstan Reserve, taking a 3-1. Lisandro Paz scored a brace and Gerrie Sylaidos also got on the scoreboard, all in the first half. Aiden Brown then answered for the Georgies but there would be no comeback.

CITY’S MAGNIFICENT SEVEN

Can a thumping 7-1 win revive Melbourne City’s VPL1 season? The A-League academy side showed Werribee City no mercy at Casey Fields on Saturday. The hosts were four goals to the good at half-time and, while the Bees got one back, City’s attack showed no signs of slowing down in the second half. Arion Sulemani scored a brace, the only multiple goalscorer, as Kavian Rahmani, Jayden Necovski, Lawrence Wong, Medin Memeti and Harry Shillington all found the back of the net in the one-sided romp. The win takes City to 20 points but it will need to string a few wins together to challenge for promotion with Western United 10 points ahead of fourth. Milos Marinkovic scored Werribee’s sole goal.

MORE POINTS FOR NORTH

North Geelong is now two wins from three games following the departure of coach Joey Didulica. The Warriors made it back-to-back victories on Saturday, claiming a tense 1-0 win over Langwarrin at Elcho Park. Second-half substitute Sonny Brimmer was the hero, popping up with a late winner to take all three points and continue the club’s mid-season resurgence. North are now just two points behind Werribee City in the battle for the VPL1 wooden spoon.

PYTHAGORAS STUN

Box Hill United pulled off one of the upsets of the VPL2 season on Friday night, knocking off Pascoe Vale at CB Smith Reserve. Pythagoras came from a goal down to secure a critical 2-1 win. Daniel Lucente opened the scoring for Pascoe Vale but, in the shadows of half-time, Spanish import Ruben Sanchez Marcano found an equaliser with a well-taken free kick. Just as it looked like the match was heading for a draw, Ryo Okamoto powered a long-range effort into the back of the net in the 84th minute to snatch all three points. In a tightly contested competition, the win takes United to ninth, now nine points clear of the bottom two and just three points away from fifth.

EAGLES HIT SIX

North Sunshine flexed its muscle to take the ladder lead on Friday night. The Eagles smashed struggling Doveton 6-0 to earn top spot on goal difference and hit the 30-goal mark after 12 matches. Corentin Chauve and Ndue Mujeci both scored braces to sit among the leading goalscorers in VPL2, while Redouane Sarakh and Ryan Kirkus also hit the back of the net. Holding a two-goal lead at half-time, North Sunshine showed no mercy in the second 45, adding four more goals. In a tightly contested premiership race, the Eagles hold a five-goal lead over FC Melbourne. Adding to a dirty night for the Doves, Luca Slavica was shown a straight red card.

SRBIJA RISE, CITY FALLS

It’s tight at the top in VPL2 with a three-way tie now at the top of the ladder, North Sunshine and FC Melbourne’s wins, combined with Altona City’s draw with Boroondara-Carey has all three locked on 26 points. In a battle of top-four teams, Srbija had too much class for Brunswick Juventus, winning 3-1 at Kevin Bartlett Reserve. The hosts were two goals up at half-time and finished their work strongly to grab a slice of top spot. Star striker Luka Ninkovic scored a brace to move to the top of the league goalscoring charts, while Ayrton Redmore unfortunately put the ball in his own net. Stefan Ristic scored the consolation goal for Juventus. The Zebras sit fourth, three points behind the top three.

KATSAKIS, WARRIORS REUNION

The final round of the Australia Cup state preliminary rounds has been drawn and there are some doozies. Bentleigh Greens will host Heidelberg United on Tuesday, June 11, at Kingston Heath. It will be Greens’ coach George Katsakis’ first meeting with his former club. Katsakis led the Warriors to one Dockerty Cup trophy and reached the quarter-finals of the Australia Cup four times during his tenure. On the same night, NPL heavyweights Oakleigh and Avondale will do battle at Jack Edwards Reserve. On the following night, Hume City hosts VPL1 club Caroline Springs George Cross, South Melbourne takes on NPL rival St Albans and Kingston City battles the lowest ranked entry, VPL2 outfit FC Melbourne. The winner of each match will progress through to the national Round of 32 and qualify for the final rounds of the Dockerty Cup.