NPL Round 7 wrap: South Melbourne, Green Gully pick up big wins, Goal of the Week

NPL Victoria continues to produce stunning results and magic goals as South Melbourne and Green Gully score big wins and Heidelberg United stuns Port.

NPL Victoria continues to deliver.

Round 7 saw some stunning results and magical goals.

We’ve wrapped up the biggest talking points of the weekend and named our Goal of the Week.

From South Melbourne’s thrilling win over Oakleigh, to Green Gully magnificent seven and Bentleigh Greens first win under new management, there was plenty to like.

Plus, the best of the NPL2 and NPL3 included a new ladder-leader, Preston Lions continuing their strong season and red card disasters.

Alun Webb in action for South Melbourne. Picture: Luke Radziminski

SOUTH WINS BATTLE OF PREMIER-CHAMPION

South Melbourne has solidified its chase for back-to-back NPL Victoria premierships after defeating Oakleigh Cannons 1-0 at Jack Edwards Reserve on Saturday.

The victory for South comes after the club were smashed by the Cannons, 5-0, in last season’s grand final.

Despite losing the shot count by almost double (11-6), corners (7-1) and possession, South found the lead in the 53rd minute through Josh Wallen and held firm to win the game.

Stand-in skipper Marco Jankovic said it could be a season-defining win.

“We were definitely happy to go there and get three points,” he said.

“We knew it was going to be a very tough game. We had a lot of boys out.

“I think we had five or six first-team players not playing.

“Everyone that played did their bit and I think going into that game, we were remembering a lot from last year’s grand final and we sort of put every single bit we had into it.

52:47: GOAL! South Melbourne FC scores to make it OCFC 0 : SMFC 1

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— NPL Victoria (@nplvictoria) April 1, 2023

“You saw towards the end of the game, everyone was off their feet trying to defend and get the win.

“It was a great win and I think towards the end of the season, we will look back and see what a big three points they were.”

The win for South marks a strong comeback after suffering a shock first loss of the season to Heidelberg United in Round 5.

Since then, the reigning premiers have won two in a row, defeating St Albans 1-0 before this Saturday’s result.

Making the victory even more special was the fact South were missing all four of their leadership group members except for Jankovic.

Captain and defender Brad Norton is still recovering from an MCL injury which is expected to take another six weeks.

Midfielder Marcus Schroen and forward Andy Brennan were also out with injuries. The pair are expected to return in the next few weeks.

For Oakleigh, it was their first loss of the season, leaving ladder-leaders Avondale as the only undefeated team in the competition.

Avondale are yet to play the Cannons or South this season.

Avondale will host the Cannons in Round 11 and play South Melbourne in Round 12.

74:22: GOAL! Hume City FC scores to make it MCFC 1 : HCFC 4

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— NPL Victoria (@nplvictoria) April 1, 2023

GOAL OF THE WEEK

It’s hard to go past a wonderful strike from Hume City’s Josh Bingham. The former Central Coast Mariner controlled a pinpoint cross from Ben Bowler with his chest before launching a stunning bicycle kick that gave Moreland City keeper Alexander Kondoleon no chance. It will go down as one of the goals of the season, without a doubt. And it had some stiff competition to beat in Round 7 with Bentleigh Greens scoring a terrific tiki-taka team goal. Lucas Derrick took the ball down the left wing before laying it back to Tom Strickland, a dummy by Chris Theodorakopoulos saw the ball land at the feet of a charging Mario Barcia, who fended off a tackle before finishing. A high-point in Bentleigh’s breakthrough win.

WARRIORS SEND OLYMPIC PARK WILD

As Friday night’s game ticked into injury time, Port Melbourne looked on track for a comfortable 2-0 victory over Heidelberg United. However, the Warriors had different ideas. Half-time substitute Shigeto Masuda was the hero, scoring in the 90th and 96th minute, in a stunning late show to rescue a point for the home team. Masuda’s first goal was an opportunistic, reflex strike after Port keeper Andy Withers had initially punched away a Sean Ellis corner but the second was set-piece perfection. Left all alone on the left wing, Deion Nikolaidis whipped in an inch-perfect cross that found Masuda’s head and the back of the net. The Sharks will be left wondering how they coughed up two points. Half-time substitute Mohamed Adam getting sent off after just 20 minutes probably didn’t help.

Josh Hope in action for Melbourne Victory.

GULLY IN SEVENTH HEAVEN

Former Melbourne Victory midfielder Josh Hope put on a dazzling display as Green Gully put North Geelong Warriors to the sword on Saturday. Hope was in everything for the Cavaliers, scoring two goals and added a couple of assists. Pierce Waring added a late brace, scoring two in a minute, while Tyler Vecchio, Alan Gerez and Adolph Koudakpo also found the back of the net. The result sees Gully jump up to fifth on the NPL Victoria ladder and get a massive goal difference boost, going from -1 to +6.

BENTLEIGH ON THE BOARD

It took seven weeks and a change of coach but Bentleigh Greens are on the board in NPL Victoria 2023. After starting the season 0-6, the Greens parted ways with Peter Tichy and installed Newcastle Jets assistant Riccardo Marchioli and it paid immediate dividends. Bentleigh gave its fans plenty to cheer about at Kingston Heath on Friday night, securing a thumping 4-1 win over St Albans. After a scoreless first half, St Albans opened the scoring through Joseph Monek in the 50th minute but it only served to spark the home team into action. Scott Hilliar equalised two minutes later and Mario Barcia put the Greens in the 56th in six minutes of madness. Goals to Luka Ninkovic and Mitchell Rooke then made the three points safe and ensured a long-awaited happy weekend.

AVONDALE LAST CLUB STANDING

With Oakleigh’s defeat on Sunday, the Avengers are the last undefeated club in NPL Victoria. The ladder-leaders secured their sixth win of the season with a 3-0 triumph over Melbourne Knights at Avenger Park on Saturday. The result extends the club’s goal difference to +18, 13 more than South Melbourne and 10 more than Oakleigh. Liam Boland scored a brace to take his tally to an equal competition high six, while Manyluak Aguek also got on the scoresheet.

51:01: GOAL! Altona Magic SC scores to make it AM 3 : DNT 1

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— NPL Victoria (@nplvictoria) April 1, 2023

HOME, SWEET HOME FOR MAGIC

When Altona Magic was in desperate need of a win Paisley Park delivered. The Magic has two wins this season and both have come at home, the latest a 3-2 win over Dandenong Thunder. The visitors took the lead in the 22nd minute through Grad Daman but the Magic was quickly back on level terms as Tommy Semmy pounced on a horror defensive error to bag his first goal of the season. Charlie Leech and Jonas Markovski then scored within two minutes of each other early in the second half to put the home team in the box seat. Markovski’s powerful strike continued his outstanding campaign as he sits joint leading goalscorer with six in seven outings.

WARRIORS SHIP SEVEN

A couple of weeks ago it was fellow promotion-winners Moreland City copping a seven-goal hiding from Avondale. On Saturday, it was North Geelong’s turn. The Warriors had a nightmare in front of their fans at Elcho Park as Green Gully ran riot. Former A-League star Josh Hope scored a brace and had several assists in a masterclass performance. North will go back to the drawing board after a number of defensive errors gifted goals to Gully.

LIONS BOUNCE BACK

It was a sight to behold as a huge crowd packed into BT Connor Reserve on Wednesday night for the Australia Cup tie against Oakleigh Cannons. While it wasn’t to be for the Lions, suffering a 3-1 defeat, they bounced straight back to form on Saturday with a massive NPL2 result. Travelling to red-hot Langwarrin, Preston snatched a thrilling 2-1 victory. Chris Gregory had given the home team the lead at Lawton Park but a Jordan Figon brace wrapped up three points for the visitors. It was a coaching masterstroke by Louie Acevski who threw Figon on in the 75th minute and he repaid the faith with his first goal inside a minute and wrapped up the win 11 minutes later.

HANDY WIN FOR DANDY

It’s been a difficult start to the NPL2 season for Dandenong City but the club was celebrating on Sunday after a commanding 3-1 road win over Melbourne City. While Taylan Unal gave City the lead in the 17th minute, Dandenong were quickly back on level terms thanks to Brady Quinn in the 23rd minute. Quinn scored a second just two minutes later from the penalty spot and Brad Plant made it three just before half-time. The result leaves City anchored to the bottom of the ladder while Dandenong jumps from second last to 10th.

KINGSTON ON TOP

It’s been a bit of a merry-go-round at the top of the NPL2 ladder so far this season and this week it’s Kingston City’s turn. City’ secured a 1-0 win over Brunswick City at The Grange Reserve to take full advantage of Langwarrin’s slip. Keisuke Honda scored the winner in the 15th minute, his third goal of the season. It sets up a blockbuster Round 8 clash against promotion rival Pascoe Vale at CB Smith Reserve.

THREE FROM THREE

Nunawading City and Melbourne Victory remain perfect in NPL3 after three rounds. Nunawading secured a comfortable 3-1 win over Box Hill United at Mahoneys Reserve thanks to a Michael Romas brace and late Callum Freeman strike. Victory, meanwhile, scored a 87th minute penalty to deny Ballarat City in a 2-1 result. Austin Ganino opened the scoring in the 11th minute before Kenta Futami equalised for Ballarat four minutes into the second half. However red cards in 10 minutes to Will McLoughlin and City captain Yushiro Shiomi, which resulted in the penalty, turned the game in Victory’s favour.