NPL Victoria: check out all the major highlights from NPL, VPL1 Round 1

Weekend wrap: Avondale pushed to the limit by Dandenong City, a diving red card, major upsets and our Goal of the Week. Check out all the NPL & VPL1 highlights.

Avondale and Dandenong City players have a get-together. Picture: Brendan Beckett

The NPL and VPL1 seasons kicked off over the weekend and, boy, did it deliver.

There was drama, controversy, goals and saves galore in a terrific start to 2024.

There was a red card for diving, a match-deciding back-pass call, big upsets and more debut goals than we could count.

Plus, Goal of the Week is back and we’re starting with a banger.

Check out all the highlights from across the two leagues below.

Kurt Kouakou (Dandenong) battles Joey Katebian (Avondale) for the ball. Picture: Brendan Beckett

AVENGERS NERVY, CITY IMPRESS

Reigning premier and champion Avondale did what it needed to, win, but Dandenong City gave the Avengers one hell of a scare. Zoran Markovski will quite rightly point to the three points and four goals scored but also be disappointed with the three goals conceded. The Avengers showed off their attacking weapons with Stef Zinni, Liston Diaz, Yusuf Ahmed and new man Cian Cuba all getting on the scoresheet. City, meanwhile, stepping back up to the top-flight after winning the VPL1 title last year showed they’ll be no pushover this season. Young gun Tom Giannakopoulos was excellent in defence and also found the back of the net. However, it was second-half substitute Tim Atherinos that stole the show. The midfielder hit the cross-bar, provided the assist for Kyan Bryant goal and got on the board himself with a stunning long-range strike. While only one claimed any points, we think both teams would have walked away happy with the match.

88:29: GOAL! Dandenong City score to make it AVFC 4 : DCSC 3.

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— NPL Victoria (@nplvictoria) February 10, 2024

GOAL OF THE WEEK

He was only on the field for 30 minutes but didn’t Tom Atherinos make an impression on debut for Dandenong City. The young midfielder was in everything as Hadjuk pushed NPL heavyweight Avondale. Atherinos takes home the Round 1 Goal of the Week with a spectacular, curling, long-range strike. After winning a battle in midfield against Blake Carpenter, Atherinos plays a quick one-two with Kurt Kouakou before unleashing from outside the box and finding the top right-hand corner, giving Tom Manos no chance. Earlier in the same game, Cian Cuba found the back of the net with a long-range strike of his own and sits on the podium with Heidelberg United’s Asahi Yokokawa.

WHAT A WAY TO INTRODUCE YOURSELF …

It’s the start of a new season and there are plenty of new faces but an inordinate amount of goals in Round 1 were scored by debutants. In the NPL, Luca Tevere (Green Gully), Cian Cuba (Avondale), Kyan Bryant, Tom Giannakopoulos, Tim Atherinos (all Dandenong City), Asahi Yokokawa (Heidelberg United), Wade Dekker (Dandenong Thunder), Lloyd Isgrove and Aamir Abdullah (both Hume City) all found the back of the net in their first game for new clubs. It continued in VPL1 as Werribee trio Tom Biss, Dante Siccita and Ibrahim Mohamed, Luka Kolic (Melbourne Victory), Michael Domfeh (Northcote City), Russell Currie (Caroline Springs), Deandre Vollenhoven (Eastern Lions), Dylan Allshorn (Brunswick City), Mark Kurita (Bulleen) and Chok Dau (Preston Lions) all made the perfect introduction. Finally in a case of re-introductions, Harrison Sawyer marked his return to South Melbourne with the match-winner against Melbourne Knights on Thursday night.

29:39: GOAL! Avondale FC score to make it AVFC 2 : DCSC 0.

Watch live and free at https://t.co/h6s3fuVIqL#NPLMVICpic.twitter.com/ktkjh3AGOB

— NPL Victoria (@nplvictoria) February 10, 2024

RED CARD CAN’T STOP GULLY

Green Gully saw vice-captain Josh Hope sent off but was able to hold off Moreland City for a season-opening 1-0 win at Gully Reserve. Hope was shown a second yellow in the 68th minute for diving. As City captain Corey Thomas challenged for the ball, Hope went down inside the box looking for a penalty but referee Ioannis Zisis had no hesitation in judging simulation and giving the Cavaliers star his marching orders. The hosts were already in front thanks to a fortuitous Luca Tevere strike in the 35th minute. The former Port Melbourne man loaded up from outside the box and saw his shot deflected past City keeper Alex Kondoleon.

WARRIORS MAKE WINNING START

Life under John Anastasiadis has started well at Heidelberg United after a 1-0 win over Altona Magic at Paisley Park. Former Japanese underage international Asahi Yokokawa provided the pivotal moment of the game with a delightful match-winner. Jamal Ali does well to beat two men on the right wing before finding Kaine Sheppard. He finds Yokokawa on the edge of the area and the off-season recruit cuts back against traffic to open up a shooting lane before firing across the keeper and into the left-hand corner to announce himself.

29:00: GOAL! Heidelberg United score to make it AMSC 0 : HUFC 1.

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

— NPL Victoria (@nplvictoria) February 10, 2024

CANNONS SHOW CLASS

NPL title contender Oakleigh got its season off to a perfect start with a 3-0 win over promoted Manningham United. The big names stepped up on opening night as Alex Salmon, Joe Guest and Stef Valentini all found the back of the net. Guest’s goal was particularly eye-catching with all three involved. Nick Freely launched the ball up-field where Salmon controlled it with one touch before delivering to Valentini on the right. His first-time cross found Guest charging through the middle to beat United keeper George Tzamouranis to the ball. Off-season recruit Moonib Adus also impressed, providing plenty of run down the left wing, and the assist on Salmon’s opening goal.

BACK-PASS CONTROVERSY

Hume City’s come-from-behind win over Dandenong Thunder at George Andrews Reserve on Saturday, delivered the year’s first big controversy. In the 93rd minute of the match, City was awarded a contentious indirect free kick inside the penalty area after Thunder defender Jay Romanovski’s miscued clearance attempt was picked up keeper Pierce Clark. Referee Daniel Ilievski deemed it a back-pass, awarding the kick just to the left of the penalty spot. Hume’s boom recruit Lloyd Isgrove then stepped up to smash the ball through a sea of red and black shirts and secure a stunning 2-1 victory.

STARTING WITH A BANG

It just had to be Harry. Harrison Sawyer marked his return to South Melbourne – in his first official game as captain – with a spectacular goal in just the fourth minute of the NPL Victoria season. And it proved enough for Hellas to claim a 1-0 win over original derby rival Melbourne Knights in the season opener at Lakeside Stadium on Thursday night. From a Max Mikkola long-throw, Sawyer reacted quickest as the ball fell to the back of pack and acrobatically drove it home.

BEES SHOW ATTACKING STING

Werribee City showed it could be a team to watch this season, welcoming North Geelong back to VPL1 with a 3-0 hammering at Galvin Park. A quick-fire double strike put the Bees in control early thanks to a Tom Biss penalty and then Dante Siccita strike in the 13th and 16th minute. Second-half substitute Ibrahim Mohamed then wrapped up three points in the 91st minute. North Geelong’s day was further soured with Anthony Banovac seeing red after picking up two yellow cards.

GEORGIES CONTINUE PREMIERSHIP FORM

Reigning VPL2 premier Caroline Springs George Cross made the perfect start to its VPL1 campaign with a thrilling 3-2 win over Melbourne City. Russell Currie continued his Golden Boot winning form too with a brace in an excellent start after crossing from Goulburn Valley. Jordan Tucker opened the scoring in the 19th minute with a beautiful curling strike from the edge of the area. Currie then made it 2-0 after 35 minutes. However, the game changed in a matter of moments as City young gun Emin Durakovic scored two of the more stunning goals you’ll see. The first a blistering long-range strike from 35m out and the second a curling free kick from a similar distance – both leaving the Caroline Springs keeper clutching at air. However, Currie provided the decisive moment, tapping home after somehow being left unmarked deep in the penalty area after a corner.

VICTORY PUTS GAME AWAY

Unlike their A-League team, Melbourne Victory’s NPL outfit didn’t waste an opportunity to bank three points. Adem Duratovic, Jesse Hoey and off-season recruit Luka Kolic all found the back of the net in a 3-1 win over Northcote City at John Cain Reserve. While Duratovic and Hoey’s goals were more blue collar, Kolic’s finish was all class, curling home a free kick from outside the area to mark his first appearance after making the move from Melbourne Knights.

LANGY WELCOMES GREENS WITH HARSH LESSON

If Bentleigh Greens thought it was going to come back to VPL1 and dominant, it got a rude awakening on Saturday. Langwarrin ambushed their neighbouring rivals at Lawton Park, 3-0. Tom Youngs and Lucas Portelli gave the Lions a two-goal lead at half-time and Brad Blumenthal wrapped up a season-opening three points. Langwarrin finished mid-table last season and will be looking to jump up the ladder under new coach Jamie Skelly this season. A win over a pre-season premiership fancy will certainly have rivals taking notice.

KUOL RETURNS TO LIFT KINGSTON

Released by NPL club Dandenong Thunder before the season, Paul Kuol made a triumphant return to Kingston City. The star forward bagged both goals in the 2-1 win over Western United at Saltwater Reserve on Sunday, including a 94th minute winner. Jake Najdovski had put United in front in the first half before Kuol equaliser before half-time. The City ace then produced the match-winning moment at the death to complete the comeback. Kuol was a key driver in Kingston’s promotion push last season and starts 2024 with a bang against a fellow promotion contender from last season.

LIONS HOLD LIONS

Monday night’s mouth-watering match-up between Bulleen Lions and Preston Lions failed to produce the expected fireworks, instead ending in a 1-all draw. Neither team could break the deadlock in the second half. Mark Kurita got on the scoresheet for Bulleen, while boom off-season recruit Chok Dau was Preston’s goalscorer. Much is expected of Preston after a blockbuster off-season, signing a bevy of high-profile recruits, but they couldn’t find a way through a stout Bulleen defence at the Veneto Club.