NPL Victoria wrap: all the big results and talking points from weekend’s action

UPDATE: South Melbourne has come out on top in its re-started match against Dandenong Thunder game but it comes at a cost.

South Melbourne's Lakeside Stadium. Picture: Ben Higgins

The long weekend certainly provided plenty of drama in NPL Victoria.

From some stunning results on Friday night right through to Sunday afternoon when the South Melbourne-Dandenong Thunder match was called off.

The match was then controversially re-started on Tuesday night.

The premiership, finals, promotion and relegation battles are all heating up across the leagues.

There was stoppage time winners, own goal heart-break, season-reviving upsets and plenty more.

Check out all the major talking points from the weekend below.

Due to a lighting issue with the stadium, the referees have deemed there is not enough light to continue the match tonight. Further information will be provided once updates are received from Football Victoria

— South Melbourne FC (@smfc) June 11, 2023

LIGHTS OUT AT LAKESIDE

As if two goals in the final minute before half-time wasn’t dramatic enough, then the lights went out. South Melbourne’s match against Dandenong Thunder at Lakeside Stadium was called off at half-time after an issue with the venue’s lighting. It took almost an hour for the game to be suspended as South Melbourne officials scrambled to get the lights turned on. An attempt saw three of four light towers come on at 50 per cent but it was deemed insufficient for play to continue.

On Monday night, Football Victoria decided to restart the game from half-time on Tuesday night. The decision, curiously, was announced by South Melbourne on social media. It is believed Dandenong Thunder opposed the call, preferring instead to either replay or restart the match in the NPL’s catch-up weekend on August 4. However, the game went ahead and South Melbourne prevailed 3-2 in a dramatic finish to a dramatic match.

Max Mikkola gave South Melbourne a two-goal lead in the 57th minute as the home team looked to be cruising to victory. However, things started to go pear-shaped for the joint league-leader as Morgan Evans was sent off in the 82nd minute and Marcus Schroen followed suit just three minutes later. Dandenong, sensing a comeback, surged forward and skipper Harry Ascroft found the back of the net in the 93rd minute but the visitors could not find the equaliser.

On Sunday, Ali Sulemani had given South Melbourne the lead in just the ninth minute and Schroen doubled the host’s advantage as the clock ticked into first-half stoppage time. However, Dandenong hit back almost immediately as Leo Mazis fed Kasper Hallam to keep the Thunder in the game.

GULLY COMEBACK

With its finals hopes on the line, Green Gully produced a memorable comeback to snare three invaluable points against top-six rival Port Melbourne on Friday night. Luca Tevere put the Sharks in front after just five minutes and the home team took the lead into half-time. However, it was all Gully after the break. Nahuel Bonada levelled the scores in the 55th minute before Adolph Koudakpo put the visitors in front in the 62nd and sealed the win with his second in the 78th. Koudakpo has been in outstanding form the last month, scoring in three of his last four appearances. Green Gully is now inside the top-six, a point ahead of Altona Magic, while Dandenong Thunder – two points behind – has a game in hand as its clash with South Melbourne was suspended.

KNIGHTS SURVIVE

Good teams win ugly and that’s what Melbourne Knights did on Saturday, snatching a 1-0 win over Bentleigh Greens at Kingston Heath. Mohamed Sumaoro got the match-winner in the 59th minute as Knights survived. Bentleigh will be ruing a number of missed opportunities that could have at least got them a draw, if not a win, on the day and now face a massive challenge to survive relegation. Knights, meanwhile, keep pace with Oakleigh Cannons in third and move well clear of Port Melbourne in fifth.

SAINTS HIT BACK

It had been a difficult month for St Albans, after a strong win over Green Gully it suffered three consecutive defeats and shipped 11 goals. However, the club responded on Sunday with a commanding 3-0 win over Hume City at Churchill Reserve. After a scoreless first half, Mouad Zwed opened St Albans’ account in the 63rd minute and then Daniel Fabrizio and George Ott scored within three minutes of each other to wrap up three points in the 84th and 87th minutes. It was a drought-breaking goal for Ott who had gone 11 games without finding the back of the net. The result likely also confirms St Albans place in NPL for next season as they moved seven points clear of Bentleigh Greens in the relegation zone.

MARKOVSKI BACK IN FORM

After a lean spell, Jonas Markovski is back in red-hot form and has one hand on the league goalscoring award. The Magic gun started the season brilliantly, scoring in seven of the opening eight matches. He then went goalless in his next four. However, the striker has responded with five goals in his last three games, including a brace against Avondale and two more in Saturday night’s 3-1 win over Moreland City. The twin tallies take him to 12 goals for the season, three clear of his nearest challenger.

ZEBRAS WIN RELEGATION BATTLE

Speaking of the relegation zone, Brunswick rival Brunswick Juventus secured arguably its biggest win of the campaign on Friday night. A 1-0 win over relegation rival Bulleen Lions is the Zebras’ second win in a row, reviving the club’s survival hopes. Jay Kelly scored the match-winner in just the fifth minute of the game, set up superbly by Denis Daluri. While the club remains in 14th, it is now just one point behind the Lions and three behind Pascoe Vale and survival. A tense final few weeks looms with as many as eight teams in danger of the drop.

CITY AT THE DEATH I

In the sixth minute of stoppage time, with essentially the last touch of the game, Riley Bidois snatched victory for Dandenong City. Jacob Alexander floated in the free kick and Bidois flick on somehow found its way in at the back post, sparking mayhem at Frank Holohan Reserve. The last-gasp goal could prove critical as City jumps to third on the NPL2 ladder and is now just one point outside the automatic promotion spot and two points behind ladder-leader Preston Lions. A blockbuster looms next week against fourth-placed Western United.

CITY AT THE DEATH II

Lucas Oliveira couldn’t have picked a better time to score his first goal of the NPL2 season. With scores level entering the final minutes of Saturday’s clash between Melbourne City and Brunswick City, Oliveira popped up to score the match-winner in the 93rd minute. Tobenna Obani had put Melbourne City in front before teammate Jordan Dellidis scored an own goal to send the teams to half-time level. It took until almost the final kick of the game but Brunswick snared an invaluable three points that goes a long way to ensuring its place in the competition for 2024. City jumps above City into ninth and moves four points clear of the relegation zone.

TITLE CONTENDERS ALL SQUARE

A heart-breaking own goal saw NPL premiership rivals Preston Lions and Western United share the points at BT Connor Reserve on Friday night. John Roberts likely thought he’d won the game for Preston when he scored in the 82nd minute but United surged forward and Marcus Dimanche put the ball in his own net just four minutes later to level the scores once again. Preston remains on top of the NPL2 ladder but is now just one point ahead of Kingston City and two clear of Dandenong City, while United and Eastern Lions are a further point back in a tight premiership and promotion fight.

NEW COACH WORKS WONDERS FOR BOX HILL

Sitting second last heading into the weekend, Box Hill United produced one of the upsets of the NPL3 season on Friday night. Koki Miyamoto scored a second-half brace to secure his team a stunning 2-0 victory over promotion contender North Sunshine at Wembley Park. It was the perfect start for new coach Tony Merakis, who has stepped up from the club’s under-21s. United parted ways with head coach Ricardo Martinez last week after a difficult start to the season. Miyamoto’s heroics ensured an invaluable three points, which sees the club move out of the relegation zone, one point clear of Essendon Royals.

Jamie England’s late equaliser for @GVSuns in R13 of NPL3 @nplvictoria. It came just five days on from his opener against Hume City in the @AustraliaCup#MMGSportpic.twitter.com/4pd8VkVzN4

— Liam Nash (@LiamNash77) June 12, 2023

SKIPPER RESCUES SUNS

After a history-making night last Tuesday in the Australia Cup, there was more drama for Goulburn Valley Suns on Saturday. With victory imminent, a blunder from Beaumaris goalkeeper Jarrod Hill, proved costly. Hill held onto the ball for too long, giving the Suns an indirect free kick inside the penalty box. Skipper Jamie England – who scored the opener in the Cup win over Hume City – then stepped up to thump the ball home and snatch an unlikely point for the visitors. The result keeps the Suns in the promotion race, just a point behind Nunawading in second spot.

ANOTHER BOS MAKING AN IMPACT

Having seen his older brother Jordan made a record-breaking move to Belgium, Kasey Bos is also making an impact for Melbourne Victory’s NPL side. Given his first start of the season, the younger Bos got his name on the scoresheet in the Victory’s 5-0 thumping of Doveton on Sunday. It’s the second game in a row he’s found the back of the net. Bos has made eight appearances for Victory this season with the club on track for the NPL3 premiership and promotion to the state’s second tier next year.