NPL Victoria wrap: emotional wins, cracking goals and weird celebrations in Round 5

Heidelberg United secured a stunning upset win, Pascoe Vale pulled off a miracle and we name our Round 5 Goal of the Week in NPL Talking Points.

Kaine Sheppard in action for Heidelberg United. Picture: Sally Tsalikidis

There’s plenty to talk about after Round 5 of the NPL.

There was an emotional breakthrough win for Heidelberg United, dominant wins for Avondale, Hume City and Dandenong Thunder.

We name our Goal of the Week and highlight some of the crazier celebrations you’ll see.

Meanwhile, Pascoe Vale scored one of the all-time comeback wins in NPL2.

And the NPL3 and NPLW seasons kicked off with some spectacular results.

All that and more in this week’s talking points.

Heidelberg United coach George Katsakis coached his 350th match. Picture: Sally Tsalikidis

BERGERS DO IT FOR THE GAFFER

In its rich history, Heidelberg United produced one of its finest victories on Friday night.

Winless in the first four rounds, facing ladder-leader and reigning champion South Melbourne at Lakeside Stadium, the Warriors rose to the occasion to secure a memorable 2-nil win.

The victory marked coach George Katsakis’ 350th match in charge and skipper Adrian Zahra’s 150th for the club.

Star striker and reigning Gold Medallist Kaine Sheppard opened the scoring in the seventh minute and Sean Ellis secured the three points 11 minutes from the siren.

The stunning upset snapped South Melbourne’s four-game win streak to start the season and was the first time the club had been kept goalless.

Katsakis marvelled at his side’s performance.

“I’ve loved every moment of it, it’s moments like this that keep me going,” he said.

“I’m overwhelmed, there was a little gesture before the game from the players, which was very touching, and it really got me going.

“I knew what needed to be done today and to come out and play the football that we did, to protect the goal and not concede and enjoy the milestone and Adrian Zahra’s, it was amazing.

“We thought last week’s effort was not up to scratch and we had to change our mentality.

“We’re going to use it as a turning point, we haven’t got off to a great start.

“We were lucky to have AJ back and Adrian Zahra starred of course, Sean was still feeling it a bit but we took the risk and it paid off.

“Each week from here we get boys back, it’s going to make competition quite fierce, and that’s what it’s about and as long as we’ve got that on the pitch I’m sure the boys will deliver.”

22:52: GOAL! Melbourne Knights FC scores to make it PMSC 0 : MKFC 1

Watch live and free on https://t.co/bOA3JNp71S#NPLVIC#PMSCMKFCpic.twitter.com/YMITI6QD4l

— NPL Victoria (@nplvictoria) March 18, 2023

GOAL OF THE WEEK

There were a few contenders this week but Mitch Hore’s stunning long-range strike for Melbourne Knights takes the cake. Hore takes the ball with his back to goal, lulling the Port Melbourne defenders into a false sense of security. A lightning quick turn and he unleashes an unstoppable shot in the bottom left corner to opening the scoring at Murphy Reserve. Not a bad way to opening your personal account for the season.

THUNDER ROAD

After a three-game home stand delivered two defeats and a 4-all draw, travel seems to suit Dandenong Thunder. The club’s two wins have both come on the road with the latest a 3-nil victory over Bentleigh Greens at Kingston Heath. Skipper Harry Ascroft opened the scoring in the 13th minute, while Geoffry Lino and Muamet Selimovski also found the back of the net. The Thunder return to George Andrews Reserve on Saturday night, hosting Port Melbourne Sharks hopeful of securing their first win in front of home fans.

SAINTS REMAIN UNDEFEATED

After being saved from relegation two years ago by a COVID-shortened season, the Saints are flying again. They have drawn four and won one match with the side sitting seventh on the ladder after the first five games. There are only two other undefeated teams in the competition in Avondale and Oakleigh. And the Saints drew with the Cannons on Sunday. Playing one-man down for the last hour of the game, the Saints scored the leveller in the 76th minute through Chris Dib. It was Shaun Timmins who put in a fine ball to the back post where Dib knocked a glorious header home, sending the home fans wild. It was the more unlikely of results considering the Cannons had won 5-0 the week before and were strengthening their case as the team to beat this season. The Saints will return to Churchill Reserve on Sunday to take on South Melbourne.

MARKOVSKI STAYS HOT

Altona Magic young gun Jonas Markovski continued his goalscoring form but couldn’t stop the Magic suffering defeat on Saturday. Markovski netted his fourth goal of the campaign and has only missed out in one of the club’s first five games. He sits equal second on the NPL goalscoring charts behind St Albans’ George Ott, who has five. Markovski will look to keep his strong start going against Melbourne Knights on Friday night.

SUMARORO SENDS KNIGHTS FLYING

Mohammed Sumaroro came on and scored the match winner for Melbourne Knights in a rollercoaster game which saw the visitors lead 2-0 against Port Melbourne for much of the game. Mitchell Hore scored the first goal in the 23rd minute before an own goal put the Knights 2-0 up. But then, Sharks forwards Luca Tevere and Chris Duggan levelled the scoreline within 10 minutes in the second half, which set up a grandstand finish for the final 15 minutes. It was Knights substitute Sumaroro who was the hero as he latched onto a long ball on the break and scored clinically off the left post. Following the win, Knights have two straight wins and are fifth on the NPL Victoria ladder. Saturday’s result saw them find their groove in the attacking half as they scored three goals and almost doubled their goal scoring tally for the season from four to seven.

AVONDALE HUMBLE CITY

We mentioned last week that Avondale was scoring goals at a record pace but the Avengers took it up a notch on Saturday against Moreland City. Zoran Markovski’s men piled on seven goals at Avengers Park to claim top spot on the NPL ladder with an extraordinary goal difference of +14 after five games. Avondale has 19 goals this season with 10 different players getting on the scoresheet.

81:39: GOAL! Green Gully SC scores to make it AM 1 : GG 2

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

— NPL Victoria (@nplvictoria) March 18, 2023

WEEKEND OF WILD CELEBRATIONS

The goals were flying in this weekend and with that came some celebrations which caught the eye. Green Gully forward Nahuel Bonada scored the winner against Altona Magic and decided to charge into the fence before teammates got around him. In the St Albans game, Troy Ruthven ran through Oakleigh midfielder Oliver Hasan Kubilay, NFL style, after he helped set up the equaliser for his side which resulted in a goal. The move was worthy of a yellow card.

HUME PICK UP FIRST WIN IN STYLE

A 4-0 win over North Geelong Warriors away from home was a brilliant way for City to claim their first win of the season. Three first-half goals, including a brace to midfielder Brandon Lauton, set City up for a convincing win. The first goal came in the second minute from an error which Lauton latched onto and finished superbly, with a bullet shot into the bottom left corner.

GREENS UNDER THE PUMP

A 3-0 loss to Dandenong Thunder away from home has put Bentleigh Greens under serious pressure heading into Round 6 against Heidelberg United. The Greens sit on the bottom of the ladder and are yet to claim a point this season. They have scored twice and conceded 11 goals. A strong performance this week at Olympic Village is a must if they are to begin rescuing their season.

CAVALIERS WIN THIRD IN A ROW

Green Gully are flying at the moment with a third-straight win after defeating Altona Magic 2-1 on Saturday at Paisley Park. Cavaliers forward Pierce Waring put Magic under pressure early after scoring from a scramble. Cavaliers were made to work for their win however after Jonas Markovski nailed a shot into the bottom left corner to level the scoreline. However, Nahuel Bonada miraculously found his way past multiple Magic defenders to score the winner 20 minutes later. Cavaliers sit fourth on the table after the win.

PASCOE VALE MIRACLE

It was a win you likely had to see to believe. Trailing for much of the game, the Rams produced one of the most extraordinary wins in NPL, Victorian, Australian football history. Substitute Will Roberts scored in the 97th and 101st minute to snatch a 2-1 victory from the jaws of defeat and take all three points from Melbourne City. Taylan Unal had given City the lead in the 37th minute and the home side was just seconds away from victory before Roberts’ late show. The result saw Pascoe Vale jumps back to the top of the NPL2 ladder and must surely be a catalyst for the club’s promotion hopes.

LIONS LATE SHOW

On the cusp of defeat to Manningham United, Preston Lions rescued a point thanks to Bradie Smith’s 96th minute strike. The Blues looked to have wrapped up the three points in the 74th minute through Emmanuel Peters but Smith saved the Lions’ bacon. The yellow cards got thrown around thick and fast in the final minutes with six shown in injury time, including a straight red card for Manningham United’s Jacob Herbert in the dying seconds.

NPL3 KICKS OFF

There were plenty of goals in the opening round of the NPL3 season as Melbourne Victory, Geelong, Caroline Springs, Goulburn Valley, Nunawading and North Sunshine secured wins. Goulburn Valley secured the most comprehensive win of the weekend with a 4-nil result against Boroondara-Carey. Russell Currie scored a hat-trick in the win, scoring a two-minute brace in the first half before finishing off the rout with his third in the 86th minute.

BOX HILL SCORE LATE EQUALISER IN SIX-GOAL THRILLER

A penalty goal in the dying stages from Box Hill United’s Asuka Doi has given her side the 3-3 draw against reigning champions Calder United. In a six-goal showcase which saw both sides lead at one stage, United would have been pleased to come away with the point at Wembley Park on Saturday. The home side led 1-0 within the first two minutes of the game through Anais Josefski. But Calder bounced back with two goals through skipper Isabella Sewards and Sienna Cappola. Then Box Hill’s Sienna Elena Techera got the 2-2 equaliser in the 69th minute. Calder’s Montanna Mathews hit what everyone thought was the match winner until Doi went bang with an important penalty on the last kick of the game to secure the draw. It was an exciting opening round of the Women’s NPL campaign with last year’s grand finalists Bulleen Lions also drawing in their game against Boroondara-Carey Eagles.