Check out all the weekend’s NPL and VPL highlights and our Goal of the Week

TALKING POINTS: Cannon Oliver Kubilay picked the perfect time to score his first goal of the season, while the VPL premiership races have tightened up.

Oliver Kubilay in action for Oakleigh Cannons. Picture: Hamish Blair

There’s just six matches left in the NPL and VPL seasons.

The premiership races are tightening up, while the battle for the NPL top-six will go down to the wire.

It’s been another big week on the field.

Check out all the highlights from the weekend.

Plus, a half-pitch wonderstrike takes our Goal of the Week.

KUBILAY DELIVERS MATCH-WINNER

With his club’s NPL premiership ambitions hanging by a thread, Oliver Kubilay couldn’t have picked a better time to score his first goal of the season on Sunday afternoon. The breakthrough delivered Oakleigh Cannons one of its best wins in recent history, a 2-1 win over South Melbourne at Lakeside Stadium. Kingsley Sinclair opened the scoring in just the fourth minute of the match, capitalising on a Javi Lopez howler to roll the ball into an open net. South levelled in the 75th, Mario Barcia scoring one of the more extraordinary goals we’ll see this season. In shades of David Beckham and Wayne Rooney, the Hellas midfielder launched an ambitious effort from the halfway line and it soared perfectly over Nick Feely’s outstretched hand and into the top corner. However, Oakleigh came again and it was Kubilay who delivered the match-winning moment with just three minutes remaining. Marko Jankovic’s headed clearance bounced perfectly to him on the edge of the area and his shot took a deflection into the bottom left-hand corner. The victory ended a three-game losing streak and rekindled Oakleigh’s premiership hopes, now seven points behind South Melbourne. Hellas remains four points clear on top, ahead of Avondale.

74:25: GOAL! South Melbourne score to make it SMFC 1 : OCFC 1.

Watch live and free at https://t.co/h6s3fuVIqL#NPLMVICpic.twitter.com/XYaKrcVzx9

— NPL Victoria (@nplvictoria) June 30, 2024

GOAL OF THE WEEK

Wonderstrike alert. South Melbourne’s Argentine midfielder Mario Barcia has clearly been inspired by the Albiceleste’s performances at the Copa America. He produced a moment of magic on Sunday, channelling his best David Beckham or Wayne Rooney. After a bit of aerial ping pong on the half-way mark, Barcia took the ball just inside the attacking half before unleashing an audacious volley that sailed perfectly over Nick Feely’s outstretched hand and into the top corner. The amazing 40m strike is by far the longest goal of the NPL season to date.

CLARK DOES IT FOR THE KEEPERS

If it wasn’t for Barcia’s wonderstrike, Pierce Clark would likely have been a shoe-in for Goal of the Week. The Dandenong Thunder goalkeeper sent Melbourne Sokkah Twitter into meltdown on Saturday night. The former Newcastle Jets and Perth Glory A-League gloveman made it a 95th minute equaliser to rescue a point in a 1-1 draw with Green Gully at George Andrews Reserve. In torrential rain and with time running out, Daniel Alessi put one last cross into the box and a Josh Karantz flick on fell perfectly to Clark. With the outside of his foot he curled it top bins into the left corner.

CITY’S MAGNIFICENT SEVEN

Dandenong City took out its Dandy Derby defeat frustrations on lowly Moreland City on Friday night. Hadjuk put seven goals on the struggling club at George Holohan Reserve – three in the first half and another four in the second. Kenny Athiu and Tim Atherinos bagged a brace, while Will Bower and Valli Cesnik also found the back of the net. Curtis Miley provided an own goal. Jose Sanz scored a first half goal for Moreland. The dominant win gets City’s goal difference back in the black as they move within two points of sixth place.

SUPERPOWERS CAN’T BE SEPARATED

The first meeting between Heidelberg United and Avondale ended nil-all. Friday night’s clash provided 90 minutes of goalless action as well before all hell broke loose at Olympic Village. Cian Cuba’s red-hot goalscoring form continued as he broke the deadlock in the 90th minute of the match, curling home from the edge of the area. After wasting a glut of chances, Heidelberg players looked hopeless. However, that feeling lasted less than 120 seconds. Mid-season signing Sebit James Ngor, in his Warriors return, got on the end of a Sean Ellis corner to power a header home and ensure a share of the points. The result moves Avondale within four points of South Melbourne at the top of the table but Heidelberg is nine points back of top spot.

MANNINGHAM STAYING UP

While relegation is likely to be scraped this season with the National Second Division on the horizon, Manningham United have all but secured NPL football for 2025 regardless. The Blues’ thumping 4-0 win over St Albans at Pettys Reserve is the club’s fourth win in its maiden top-flight season and takes them four points ahead of Moreland City and the Saints. Ben Everson reminded everyone of his class with a superb hat-trick, opening the scoring in the fifth minute of the match before adding on in the 62nd and 77th minute. Dau Akol added a cherry on top in the 85th minute, heading home a Junya Kada cross.

SHARKS FINALS HOPES TAKE BLOW

It’s now five games without a win and Port Melbourne’s finals hopes are hanging by a thread, despite the Sharks remaining in sixth place. On Saturday, Bul Juach was the hero for Altona Magic as it secured a last-gasp 1-0 win at Paisley Park. Juach, one of the recruits of the season, scored an 89th minute winner – his 10th of the campaign – to put further heat on Port’s place in the top-six. The Sharks are now only two points ahead of Dandenong City and four clear of Melbourne Knights in the race for finals. The Magic themselves are only six points behind, level with Green Gully with six games remaining.

DAVINE’S DIVINE EASTERN RETURN

Ben Davine’s return to Eastern Lions from Heidelberg United could not have gone better. The promising young forward scored a brace in his first game back, delivering both goals in a rousing win over VPL1 premiership contender Preston Lions at BT Connor Reserve. Davine struck twice in the second half to secure the stunning result. The defeat is a blow to Preston’s title aspirations, the National Second Division-heading club now sitting three points behind ladder-leader Melbourne Victory, which was held to a 3-3 draw with Melbourne City.

NORTH DELIVERS NORTHCOTE DISASTER

In Preston’s loss was bad, Northcote City’s was very much a disaster. Hercules let a two-goal lead slip in a 3-2 defeat against bottom-placed North Geelong at John Cain Reserve – and with it top spot. A Trent Skapetis goal and Anthony Banovac own goal had given the hosts a 2-0 lead at half-time before it all went pear-shaped. Salou Jallow got the comeback started before George Ellis found an equaliser. Northcote City’s inability to deal with a late corner then saw Sergio Escudero head home a rebound to spark wild celebrations among the visitors’ faithful. A red card to Matthew Stosic the only sour note for North Geelong. With Melbourne Victory’s draw against Melbourne City, Northcote City (and Preston Lions) are now three points in arrears with six games remaining.

GEORGIES’ BACK-TO-BACK ACADEMY WINS

After stunning Melbourne Victory last week it was Western United’s turn to taste defeat at the hands of Caroline Springs George Cross. The Georgies put a dent in United’s VPL1 premiership aspirations with a come-from-behind 3-2 win at City Vista on Saturday. Luke Vickery had given the A-League academy the lead in the first half and doubled it from the penalty spot in the 455th minute. Cue an extraordinary five-minute outburst from George Cross the steal victory. Riki Hosoai scored a penalty in the 80th minute before Naoki Miyoshi levelled the scores just 60 seconds later with a long-range strike. Morgan Filer scored the winner, rising highest from a corner, in the 85th minute to cap one of the all-time comeback wins. With Melbourne Victory drawing and Preston Lions and Northcote City both losing, United remains just five points off top-spot.

BENTLEIGH BACK ON WINNERS’ LIST

It had been a tough old month for the Greens, facing the VPL1 top-four in consecutive weeks and coming away with just one point – a draw with Melbourne Victory. In fact, it had been six games without a win and another loss in the Australia Cup for Bentleigh. However, it bounced back in style on Monday night, securing a much-needed 2-0 win over local rival Kingston City at The Grange. Scott Lochhead goals either side of half-time secured the victory, which was soured by a red card to Chris Droutsas.

BEAUMARIS DENTS ZEBRAS’ HOPES

In one of the upsets of the VPL2 season, Brunswick Juventus has been stunned by last-placed Beaumaris at CB Smith Reserve. In what the Zebras surely thought was going to be a simple Friday night win, the Sharks produced a sterling performance to go home with a critical three points as they look to avoid the wooden spoon. A first-half strike from Sean Grella was all that was needed to secure the win and put a major dent in Juventus’ premiership aspirations. Brunswick missed the opportunity to gain on North Sunshine as it drew with Nunawading City and now sits four points behind the ladder-leader and three behind second-placed FC Melbourne. Altona City moves level on 30 points.

CITY, SRBIJA CAPITALISE ON EAGLES SLIP

In contrast to last week it was Altona City and FC Melbourne’s chance to capitalise on a rival’s slip up. With Nunawading City holding league-leader North Sunshine to a 1-1 draw on Friday night, City and Srbija both picked up critical wins – 1-0 over Box Hill United and 3-1 over Goulburn Valley Suns respectively. Lachlan Smith produced the decision goal for Altona, while Ryan Brown, Marko Basic and Maksim Ilic found the back of the net for FC Melbourne. The trio of results sees the Eagles lead at the top cut to a single point, FC Melbourne sit second and Altona City is joint third, moving level with Brunswick Juventus.

DOVETON CONTINUES SURGE

Since a 6-0 thrashing from North Sunshine, the Doves have been on a tear. Saturday’s 3-1 win over Boroondara-Carey made it back-to-back wins for two wins and a draw against Essendon Royals in their past four matches. The late surge has seen the club jump up to 10th and four points clear of the hyperthetical relegation zone (depending on the National Second Division going ahead). Isiah Joseph, Josh Frame and Jason Quinlan all found the back of the net at Waratah Reserve, while Christian Koutroulis got a consolation for the Eagles.