NPL Talking Points: Altona Magic comeback, stunning NPL3 late show, Goal of the Week

It was the Easter weekend so it seems right there were some stunning comebacks. Check out all the major news from around the NPL.

Altona Magic celebrates a goal against Heidelberg United. Picture: MP Images

It suits the Easter weekend delivered several stunning comebacks.

The most notable was Altona Magic’s revival against Heidelberg United to snatch three points at Olympic Village.

There were plenty of eye-catching results across the NPL competitions with big scores and highlight-reel goals.

Plus, we’ve named our NPL Round 8 Goal of the Week.

Check out all the major talking points in our wrap below.

Tommy Semmy scores the winner for Altona Magic. Picture: MP Images

MAGIC AT THE VILLAGE

For the second week in a row, Altona Magic has come back from 1-nil down to snatch victory. After Dandenong Thunder last week, it was Heidelberg United on the receiving end in Round 8 as Magic came away 2-1 victors at Olympic Village on Sunday. Alexander Castiello scored the first of two second-half goals for Magic. The defender put a boot to ball in a corner scramble to find the leveller just after half-time. Then it was Tommy Semmy, who curled a ball to the bottom right corner in the 73rd minute for the match-winner.

Coach John Markovski was complimentary of his players after picking up their second-straight win. “The boys have been working really hard and they deserve it,” Markovski said. “It has been really good. “We still have areas to improve, but at the end of the day, they are starting to play the way we want them to play and we are getting results. “And to play away and get a win is brilliant, especially at Olympic Village, it’s always hard to get a result there.”

Markovski, who is in his third stint as Magic coach, said he was pleased with Semmy’s last two weeks where he has found the back net. “Tommy is a vital part of our team so it is good to see him get amongst the goals,” he said. “Hopefully he continues that.” Magic will look to make it three on the trot when it takes on St Albans this Friday.

62:16: GOAL! St. Albans Saints SC scores to make it PMSC 2 : ST.A 1

Watch live and free on https://t.co/bOA3JNp71S#NPLVIC#PMSCST.A pic.twitter.com/v33KHwKAA4

— NPL Victoria (@nplvictoria) April 8, 2023

GOAL OF THE WEEK

There were some cracking goals this weekend but it’s hard to go past a dead ball special from St Albans’ Michael Grgic. The Saints defender stood over the ball left of goal near the edge of the area and proceeded to hit a perfect curling shot over a four-man wall to beat the Port Melbourne goalkeeper. Alas for St Albans it wasn’t enough as the Sharks claimed a 2-1 win but it’s some small consolation. Grgic had a bit of competition too from Melbourne Knights’ Gevaro Nepomuceno, who left a North Geelong defender sliding before curling the ball home, and Heidleberg United’s Bilal Habib, who stepped past a Altona defender before shooting truly from a narrow angle.

CANNONS BACK ON THE WINNERS LIST

After a tough 1-nil loss to South Melbourne on their home deck last week, Oakleigh Cannons bounced back with a convincing win over Bentleigh Greens. The 3-0 victory at home was the Cannons’ fifth triumph of the season. Joe Guest and Connor Hampson respectively scored in the 22nd minute and 41st minute to make it 2-0 heading into half time. Daniel Clark then sealed the win with a goal in the 83rd minute. The Cannons sit third on the table on 17 points. They take on Port Melbourne and Altona Magic next before ladder-leader Avondale in Round 11.

GREEN GULLY’S SECOND-HALF BLITZ

The Cavaliers took over in the final 45 minutes of their encounter against Moreland City, scoring four goals to nil to win at Green Gully Reserve on Friday. The Cavaliers scored two goals in two minutes through Alan Daniel Gerez (61’) and Josh Hope (63’). The home side continued its dominance with Tyler Vecchio scoring in the 70th minute to make it three goals in nine minutes. For the cherry on top, Hope scored his second goal in the 80th minute. The second half spectacle came after City had levelled the scoreline twice in the first half. After Gianluca Lannucci opened the scoring account in the 12th minute, City’s Fletcher Fulton replied with an equaliser in the 29th minute. Gully’s Pierce Waring gave his side the lead again in the 41st minute, although it only lasted seven minutes with Jamie Latham scoring a penalty on the brink of halftime to make it 2-2. The second-half bonanza led to the Cavaliers fifth win of the season which has them sitting in fourth spot. It was a solid performance for Gully who had lost their Australia Cup game during the week to Eastern Lions.

STAR PAIR SPARK SHARKS

So much of Port Melbourne’s attack goes through Chris Duggan and Luca Tevere and both found the back of the net in a critical 2-1 win over St Albans at Murphy Reserve on Saturday. Duggan opened the scoring in the 39th minute and then set up Tevere for the Sharks second in the 53rd. Duggan now has five goals this season, equal third in the competition, while Tevere has four.

Luca Tevere in action for Port Melbourne. Picture: Mark Wilson

WARRIORS FIGHT ON

It was looking pretty grim as Melbourne Knights took a 3-0 lead before the hour mark on Saturday night but North Geelong showed plenty of spirit, fighting back to 3-2 before running out of time. The Warriors broke their duck through a slice of luck – a Joe Franjic own goal – and kept fighting to the last minute as Luke Zivcic scored in the 93rd minute. It was a hard-fought strike as Zivcic fought off a pair of Knights defenders to poke the ball home.

GOALS GALORE AS PREMIERSHIP RIVALS SHARE SPOILS

CB Smith Reserve looked the place to be over the weekend as NPL2 title rivals Pascoe Vale and Kingston City played out a thrilling 3-all draw. Ladder-leader Kingston jumped out to an early 2-0 lead thanks to a Triantafilos Skapetis brace inside the opening 14 minutes. However, Pascoe Vale were level just before half-time as Nick Georgopoulos and Will Roberts scored within seconds of each other in an extraordinary minute of play. The Rams looked to have found a winner when Roberts scored his second in the 74th minute but City wouldn’t be denied and snatched a invaluable point on the road thanks to Yianni Danigelis just five minutes from time.

DANDENONG CITY STUNS LIONS

After going winless in five straight games Dandenong City has turned its season around in stunning style. After picking up a breakthrough win last week against title contender Pascoe Vale, the club thrashed Langwarrin 4-0 on Saturday. Damian Iaconis scored a brace to lead his team to a big win and sees the club jump up to seventh on the NPL2 ladder. Brady Quinn and Nick Hamakiotis also got on the scoresheet.

UNITED POURS MORE HURT ON CITY

In the battle of the A-League academies, Western United thrashed Melbourne City in a 4-0 win. Young gun Max Bisetto scored his seventh goal of the campaign, while Abel Walatee scored a brace to take his season tally to four. Sebastian Lo Monaco also found the back of the net. The result sees United jump to the top of the NPL2 ladder, a point ahead of Preston Lions. City, meanwhile, remains anchored to the bottom of the ladder.

NUNAWADING LATE SHOW

Four goals in a 12 minutes delivered Nunawading City a stunning come-from-behind win over Caroline Spring George Cross at City Vista on Saturday. Despite being down to nine men due to three red cards, the home team looked on track for a win thanks to Daniel Bramall’s 25th minute strike. However, City took full advantage of the extra players, producing a stunning late show to snatch all three points. Atsushi Bando equalised in the 84th minute, Marcelo Arapis put the visitors in front in the 90th, Miguel Restrepo sealed the win in the 94th and Arapis put a cherry on top with his second in the 96th. It keeps Nunawading on top of the NPL3 ladder on goal difference ahead of Melbourne Victory.