NPL Round 3 wrap: Oakleigh’s late win, plenty of penalties, Goal of the Week

Late winners, plenty of penalties, Goal of the Week and a nine-goal thriller. All the major talking points from a big weekend of NPL action.

Joe Guest in action for the Oakleigh Cannons.

The NPL Victoria season is heating up.

Round 3 saw a number of big results as clubs jostle for early-season advantages.

Oakleigh Cannons snatched three points at the death, Altona Magic got its first win and Moreland City continued its promising start.

Meanwhile in NPL2, Melbourne City won a nine-goal thriller and Preston Lions secured a remarkable win.

Check out the week’s major talking points from the weekend’s action below.

CANNONS SNATCH LATE WIN

The reigning NPL champions were made to work in their clash against Dandenong Thunder at George Andrews Reserve after conceding a goal in the 34th minute. The Cannons made a come-from-behind with a Connor Hampson header finding the back net in the 90th minute to seal the win. Former Queensland NPL Lions FC striker Alexander Fiechtner scored the equaliser in the 54th minute to get the Cannons back in the game.

GOAL OF THE WEEK

Another big week for great goals but it was hard to go past Yagoub Mustafa’s terrific goal for Hume City. Mustafa started and finished off a great piece of play to equalise against Avondale. Taking the ball near halfway, he turned and burned off two defenders before his pass found skipper Josh Bingham, who hit a perfect first-time chip back to a charging Mustafa. He controlled the ball with his chest before firing home and finished off with the Celebration of the Week as well, a cartwheel into the backflip. George Ott’s backheel for St Albans and Chris Duggan’s chip for Port Melbourne made the podium.

36:23: GOAL! Hume City FC scores to make it AVFC 1 : HCFC 1

Watch live and free on https://t.co/bOA3JNp71S#NPLVIC#AVFCHCFCpic.twitter.com/XpvDkIu999

— NPL Victoria (@nplvictoria) March 4, 2023

PAYING THE PENALTY

There were a number of penalties awarded in Round 3 with several having major ramifications. Avondale benefited from two spot kicks, converting for the opening goal and match-winner in a five-goal thriller against Hume City. Moreland City also snatched a point from the spot as a penalty kick secured a 1-all draw with Port Melbourne. Dandenong Thunder and Melbourne Knights’ goals in their respective 2-1 defeats came from penalties and in its 2-0 win over Bentleigh, Green Gully’s sealer also came from a penalty.

GEORGE OTT CONTINUES GOAL SCORING STREAK

The St Albans striker has been a star this season with five goals from the first three games. He continued his run of goals in every game on Friday night when he flicked a ball behind his body which rolled into goal for the only goal in his side’s win 1-0 over Heidelberg United. In the week prior against Dandenong Thunder, he scored a hat trick. Ott is the leading goalscorer in the competition with five goals, two clear of second.

We would like to congratulate Senior Head Coach, Stephen Downes on reaching 100 matches as Senior Head Coach for Green Gully Soccer Club.

It's an amazing achievement and we appreciate the hard work and dedication you continue to give to this club.

📸: @Avellino_Photopic.twitter.com/vrO351hOz0

— Green Gully SC (@GreenGullySC) March 3, 2023

GULLY ON THE BOARD FOR MILESTONE COACH

After losing to tough opponents Oakleigh and South Melbourne in the first two rounds of the season, Green Gully produced a strong showing against Bentleigh Greens to gain their first points for the season. Josh Hope scored the opening goal in the 75th minute before Pierce Waring made it 2-nil from the penalty spot in the 82nd minute. Making the occasion even more special was the fact Stephen Downs was coaching his 100th game for the Cavaliers. After a playing career with the club beginning in 2011, the English born footballer went on to coach the club and reach his 100th game on Friday night.

BOLAND TO AVONDALE’S RESCUE

The star Avengers striker came off the bench to slot the match-winning penalty against Hume City on Saturday. The goal was Boland’s first of the season and after missing a spot kick last week he made no mistake to seal a 3-2 win at Avenger Park. In a thrilling back-and-forth clash, Joey Katebian opened the scoring in the sixth minute of the match with a penalty kick before Yagoub Mustafa equalised in the 37th minute. In an extraordinary nine minutes of injury time, Avondale snatched a half-time lead thanks to Zander Guy’s strike in the 51st minute of the half. Jawad Rezai equalised again for Hume before Boland got the winner in the 74th minute.

Marco Jankovic scored the opening goal of the original Melbourne derby. Picture: Max Hatzoglou

SOUTH MAINTAIN WIN STREAK

South Melbourne is the only team in the NPL with three wins from the first three games after a solid 2-1 win over Melbourne Knights in the original Melbourne derby on Monday night. In front of a healthy crowd of approximately 1500, South also maintained its undefeated run against the Knights on their home pitch in NPL history. From eight encounters at Lakeside Stadium it has won seven matches and drawn one. Overall, in nine years, South has won 11, drawn one and lost four games against their old foes.

MORELAND CITY FINDING FEET

Before its return to Victorian football’s top flight, Moreland City coach Adrian Mathers said it was critical his team found its feet early. If the opening three rounds are to be believed they have certainly done that after snatching a 1-all draw with last season’s premiership runner-up Port Melbourne. Chris Duggan had given the Sharks the lead in the 15th minute with a delightful lob over the keeper but Moreland City wouldn’t be denied. Chris Theodorakopoulos held his nerve and converted a penalty kick to ensure his team shared the points to back up the club’s first win of the season last week.

SECOND HALF FADE OUT BITES THUNDER

In front of a raucous home crowd, Dandenong Thunder took the lead over reigning champion Oakleigh Cannons at George Andrews Reserve. Mamadi Kamara converted a penalty kick in the 35th minute and the home team went into half-time 1-nil up. However, the couldn’t hold the advantage as the Cannons found an equaliser in the 54th minute and then snatched all three points in the 90th minute thanks to Connor Hampson. A gut punch for Dandenong.

DANDENONG CITY FACING RELEGATION BATTLE AGAIN?

City suffered relegation from NPL Victoria’s top flight last season and, while there’s a long way to go this season, is in the bottom two after three rounds of NPL2 this season. Dandenong had a win over Brunswick City in the opening round of the season but has suffered losses to Pascoe Vale and Preston Lions in the past fortnight. A 4-1 defeat to NPL3 premier and promotion winners Preston Lions at Frank Holohan Complex will be particularly concerning.

ON THE BOARD

Werribee City, Brunswick City and Northcote City all secured their first wins of the season. Every team except Brunswick Juventus now has at least one win on the board. Northcote and Brunswick both had a convincing 3-1 wins, while Mark Kurita’s second goal of the campaign earned Werribee a 1-nil victory over Kingston City. Northcote were too good for Juventus at CB Smith Reserve and Brunswick also picked up three points on the road against Manningham United.

LIONS LATE SHOW

On the road, conceding early, Preston Lions produced one of the best performances of the young NPL2 season. The NPL3 premiers went 1-nil down in just the sixth minute but rallied in the second half. The Lions found an equaliser through Delarno Pharoe in the 61st minute and then 15 minutes of mayhem secured a thrilling win. A quick-fire double – Nick Dib and Marcus Dimanche scored within three minutes of each other – secured the three points and Robert Stambolziev finished off the sensational comeback.

SKIPPER LEADS THE WAY

Pascoe Vale captain Terence Carter scored a double to keep his team perfect through three rounds of the NPL2 season. Carter’s brace set up a 3-nil away win over Western United and also took him to the top of the competition’s goalscoring charts. The Rams are looking to return to the top flight after being relegated in 2019 and look on track to challenge for promotion this season.

REPORT: SOUTH GO TOP WITH ORIGINAL DERBY WIN

LEADER: GET YOUR LOCAL SPORT NEWS HERE

NPL: PROUD MOMENT AS CITY ENDS 60-YEAR WAIT

NINE GOAL THRILLER

Melbourne City and Eastern Lions put on a great show for a neutral soccer fan, scoring nine goals between them on Sunday. Melbourne City claimed a 6-3 win at Parade College to continue its strong start to the NPL2 season. There were also nine individual scorers in the match as the celebrations were shared around. It was 2-1 City at half-time before the goals started to flow. The game was up for grabs at 4-3 entering the final 10 minutes before City sealed the deal with a pair of late goals.