Heidelberg United Alexandros: Crowned champions of Victorian football

Heidelberg United Alexandros painted Victorian shot yellow and black, claiming the NPL crown with a hard-fought 2-1 victory implicit Dandenong City successful the expansive final.

The clash astatine Lakeside Stadium was a due spectacle—brilliant goals, fierce passion, and a buzzing assemblage from extremity to end. It was the cleanable stage for the season’s biggest match.

The crippled was a choky affair. Dandenong City, led by Nick Tolios, went toe-to-toe with United successful the aboriginal stages, creating the much unsafe chances successful the archetypal fractional of the opening period. But arsenic the minutes ticked by, the Yellow and Blacks recovered their rhythm, gradually taking control.

Their breakthrough came conscionable earlier the break, with Bul Juach coolly slotting location a punishment to springiness Alexandros the lead.

The Dandenong City fans created an astonishing atmosphere. Photo: James Deliyannis

After the interval, Anastasiadis’ broadside came retired with a spring successful their step. They moved the shot with confidence, upped the tempo, and the 2nd extremity felt inevitable. It arrived successful the 53rd minute, courtesy of a stunning idiosyncratic effort from Max Bisseto, who finished with a belter that nestled into the Dandenong City net. From there, the lucifer shifted. Alexandros sat back, ceding possession and focusing connected their antiaircraft duties. The Croat Australian outfit pulled 1 backmost done Bozinovski successful the 83rd minute, but contempt a precocious surge for an equaliser, their legs were gone, and the scoreline held.

When the last whistle blew, the Alexandros players, coaching staff, board, and fans erupted into a joyous pile-on, celebrating a monumental infinitesimal for the club. Heidelberg United Alexandros are backmost connected top of Victorian football, and present they’re gearing up for their biggest situation yet: the Australia Cup last against Newcastle United. A accidental to bash the treble and etch their sanction successful past awaits—an almighty task for an bonzer team that’s proving they tin execute anything.

Under John Anastasiadis, the Yellow and Blacks conquered the NPL summit. Photo: Heidelberg United

VPL1

Brunswick City’s Leonidas gave it their each but fell agonisingly abbreviated successful their promotion play-off against Melbourne City, losing connected penalties. The 90 minutes were axenic magic, delivering a thrilling spectacle that had fans of some sides connected the borderline of their seats. Melbourne City struck archetypal done Kalms successful the 7th minute, but Leonidas battled back, with Timms levelling the people successful the 79th minute. Kalms restored City’s pb from the spot successful the 83rd minute, lone for Sione Faapoi to equalise for the Greek Australian broadside successful the 88th minute, sending the lucifer to other time. The people remained locked, and successful the punishment shootout, Melbourne City held their nervus to unafraid promotion to the NPL.

It’s a bitter pill for Brunswick City to swallow, but they should clasp their heads high. Their effort passim the play brought them within a whisker of the NPL’s large stage—a singular achievement.

Results

Heidelberg United 2 – 1 Dandenong City (43′ B. Juach [pen], 53′ M. Bisseto – 83′ M. Bozinovski)

Melbourne City 2 – 2 Brunswick City (3-2 connected penalties) (7′, 83′ R. Kalms – 79′ K. Timms, 88′ S. Faapoi)