Check out the Round 2 highlights from NPL and VPL1 and our Goal of the Week

Talking Points: Controversial calls cruel Moreland City, Dandenong City late show heroics and three red cards in a heated VPL1 clash.

Michael Tzoutzidis in action for Moreland City. Picture: Hamish Blair

After a blockbuster opening round, the NPL and VPL1 seasons continue to excite.

There were some stunning goals and plenty of highlights across the weekend.

There was also plenty of controversy with tough calls, penalties and three red cards in a single match.

Plus, check out our Goal of the Week.

See all the highlights from across the top two tiers of Victorian football here.

CRUEL END FOR MORELAND

It was minutes away from securing a fighting draw with South Melbourne but a controversial penalty call denied Moreland City at the death on Saturday. For 92 minutes City had fought doggedly to keep the attacking might of Hellas at bay – the last 20 minutes with 10 men – conceding 27 shots to three with seven to one on target. However, in the second minute of stoppage time, a quick flick from Emilie Peios hit Nuoman Aliy on the arm and referee Ross Clark had no hesitation pointing to the spot. It was a rough call on the defender who didn’t appear to have much reaction time. South skipper Harrison Sawyer then cooly slotted the goal to secure the win. Moreland were earlier aggrieved by a straight red card shown to defender Michael Tzoutzidis. In the 70th minute, Tzoutzidis wins the ball before colliding with Andy Brennan but Clark deemed it a foul on Brennan. Despite several teammates around him, Tzoutzidis was deemed the last man and sent off.

89:41: GOAL! Hume City score to make it HCFC 2 : GGSC 0.

Watch live and free at https://t.co/h6s3fuVIqL#NPLMVICpic.twitter.com/8P1WCEVfpu

— NPL Victoria (@nplvictoria) February 17, 2024

GOAL OF THE WEEK

There’s been plenty of buzz around Hume City recruit Lloyd Isgrove and that will only grow after one of the most stunning goals the NPL has seen on Saturday night. Isgrove pulled off an audacious bicycle kick to seal Hume’s 2-0 win over Green Gully at Broadmeadows. Fellow off-season signing Mickel Platt got to the byline and whipped in a cross that the Welshman met perfectly in mid-air, smashing the ball past Gully custodian Liam Driscoll. Words can’t really do the goal justice, just watch the video. Elsewhere, while there is no footage, by all reports Birkan Kirdar’s free-kick for Dandenong Thunder was excellent, while Maker Maker’s effort for Port Melbourne against Melbourne Knights was also eye-catching, smashing the ball home from long-range to give Chris Oldfield no chance.

LATE SHOW KINGS

Dandenong City’s VPL1 premiership was built on late goals and that form has continued into the NPL. After almost clawing back from three goals down against Avondale in Round 1, Hadjuk showcased its late-game magic on Friday night. Having seen Altona Magic erase a two-goal deficit with an 84th minute equaliser to make it 2-2 at Frank Holohan Reserve, City sparked back into action. Just two minutes later, a determined run from Jacob Alexander opened up a shot on goal with a deflection taking the ball past Magic keeper Ben Ratajczak. The 86th minute winner secured City its first win back in the top-flight. Earlier, goals from George Lambadaridis and Will Bower had given Dandenong a comfortable lead but Bul Juach and then Darcy Anastovski looked to have grabbed a share of the points. That is, until the late show kings pulled off another thrilling escape.

85:15: GOAL! Dandenong City score to make it DCSC 3 : AMSC 2.

Watch live and free at https://t.co/h6s3fuVIqL#NPLMVICpic.twitter.com/6xiQRKHR4d

— NPL Victoria (@nplvictoria) February 16, 2024

HUME GO TWO FROM TWO

Back to Isgrove and Hume, the club is now 2-0 after a 2-0 win over Green Gully at Broadmeadows. Expected to be one of the season’s big improvers, City has certainly lived up to the hype in the early rounds and knocks off Gully, which also had a busy off-season. While Isgrove will steal the headlines with his stunning bicycle kick goal, Mark Ochieng’s opener was also brilliant in its execution. Cutting in from the right, Ochieng nut-megs an unfortunate Cavaliers defender before curling a left-footed effort into the top left corner. Hume now sits atop the NPL Victoria ladder, ahead of fellow undefeated teams Avondale and South Melbourne. A trip to Lakeside Stadium to face Hellas next Monday will be a big test for Cam Watson’s side.

PORT STUN KNIGHTS

After being held nil-all by St Albans last week, Port Melbourne showcased its attacking flair with a 3-1 win over Melbourne Knights on Friday night. Centre-back Amahorn Khamis opened the scoring with a deflected effort in the 33rd minute and the Sharks took the one-goal lead to half-time. Maker Maker then doubled the lead with a sizzling long-range strike that found the top corner and gave Chris Oldfield no chance in goal. Lucas Bryns then made it three to seal the three points, charging onto a quickly taken free-kick and firing home. Mitch Hore got a late consolation goal for Knights, which are now 0-2 to start the season and it doesn’t get any easier with a clash against Avondale on Friday night. Port Melbourne, meanwhile, hosts Moreland City at Murphy Reserve on Saturday.

KUR DOUBLE DOWNS SAINTS

Avondale looks to have found another goalscoring weapon. Kur Kur – a South Sudan international, who spent 2023 with Brisbane Roar’s NPL team – showcased his talent on Sunday afternoon with a match-winning brace. The Avengers remain undefeated after a come-from-behind 2-1 win over St Albans at Churchill Reserve. The Saints took the lead in the 19th minute through Josh Divin. However, it would last only 10 minutes as Kur levelled with a well-taken strike. A through-ball from Cian Cuba found Kur all alone up the middle and he eased the ball past an on-rushing Jasmin Keranovic. Then, a minute into the second half, the Avengers were in front. Kur pinched the ball in midfield, Kristian Trajceski played an excellent pass back to Kur and he smashed the ball from outside the area into the bottom right corner.

BLUES MAIDEN WIN

History was made at Pettys Reserve on Saturday. In its first NPL Victoria home match, Manningham United claimed its first top-flight win with a come-from-behind 2-1 victory over Dandenong Thunder. Chris Theodorakpoulos was the hero, bagging both goals. After a difficult NPL debut, suffering a 3-0 loss to Oakleigh, it was the perfect response from the Blues.

GEORGIES FIND A WAY

You don’t win premierships by giving up and reigning VPL2 champion Caroline Springs George Cross certainly showed those qualities on Saturday. Just minutes from defeat against Werribee City, the Georgies launched an attack. In the first minute of stoppage time, Jack Wardle lofts a long ball forward and unleashes the extreme pace of Nick Sette. The winger charges past his marker and finishes cooly past Bees gloveman Nick Eres. The goal saw the teams share the spoils 2-2 in an entertaining contest at City Vista. Russell Currie was Caroline Springs other goalscorer, while Tom Biss and Ali Dulleh was on the scoresheet for Werribee.

VICTORY’S RED-HOT START

Promotion-winning Melbourne Victory have made a stunning start to the VPL1 season with a second straight win on Friday night. Victory is the only perfect team after two rounds after knocking off pre-season fancies Preston Lions 2-0 at BT Connor Reserve. Marc Petheriotis opened the scoring in the 32nd minute with a bizarre goal. Running along the byline, he attempts to cross but a deflection sees the ball balloon up, over the goalkeeper and miraculously into the far corner. Jesse Hoey’s goal though was all quality. Winning the ball in midfield, the Joeys young gun gets the ball back, charges into the box and fires across Matt Symes in goal. Victory’s undefeated start faces a big test when Bentleigh Greens visits John Cain Reserve on Monday night.

THREE REDS IN SPITEFUL CLASH

Northcote City claimed a spiteful 2-1 win over Western United on Friday night with referee Ugar Arslan given plenty of work. Hercules saw two red cards with Zach Bates and Terry Skapetis both given their marching orders, while United’s Hasani Lumu was also given an early shower. A Michael Domfeh penalty gave City the lead and an eye-catching goal from Bates doubled the lead before half-time. Bates appeared the win the race to the ball between the goalkeeper and two United defenders, deflecting it in through the collision of bodies. James York got one back for Western but the visitors couldn’t find an equaliser. As challenges flew in left, right and centre, 11 yellow cards were shown and the three reds with Skapetis seeing straight red.

IMPORT STEPS UP FOR BRUNSWICK

After neither could secure a win in Round 1, North Geelong and Brunswick City were despite for victory at Elcho Park on Saturday. And it was City’s boom off-season signing, Welshman Dylan Allshorn, that delivered. With the scores deadlocked nil-all in the 80th minute, Allshorn took the ball on the edge of the area, run left to open up a shooting lane and skilfully found the bottom right-hand corner. After also scoring in the opening round draw with Eastern Lions, Allshorn is proving his worth.

TWO GAMES REMAINING

The VPL1 round wraps up on Monday night with two matches – Kingston City hosts Melbourne City at The Grange, while Bulleen Lions takes on Bentleigh Greens at the Veneto Club.