Western United hosted a huge VPL 1 Men’s double header this weekend, welcoming Preston Lions to Ironbark Fields.
The Junior Academy teams all hit the road in Round 5 of their JBNPL competitions while the futsal squads approach the business end of their campaigns with a piece of silverware being claimed.
Western United VPL 1 Men
Western United 4-2 Preston Lions
Goal scorers: M.Bisetto (11’), A.Walatee (59’, 75’), R.Bozinovski (87’)
Western United has an unbeaten run to protect and a hoodoo against Preston Lions to break in a huge clash at Ironbark Fields on Sunday.
In front of a strong crowd in Tarneit, the Green and Black burst out of the blocks as Max Bisetto thumped a brilliant strike into the roof of the net from a tight angle.
Preston hit back, though, and moved into a 2-1 lead before the half-time interval, leaving Diogo Ferreira with a big task in the second period.
And it was a task that the boss and his players rose to with aplomb with a devastating second-half display, thanks in large part to Abel Walatee and Rhys Bozinovski.
The two contracted Isuzu UTE A-League Men players took over after the break, the latter setting up the former for the equaliser with a delicate through ball after a storming run through midfield before Walatee finished expertly in front of the goalkeeper.
That goal was superb, but it was about to get even better. With 15 minutes to play, the Green and Black put together an outstanding move with the ball going from Dylan Leonard’s goal-kick to the back of the net in just 18 seconds.
Michael Vonja picked out Bozinovski who controlled and found Lachlan Grundy for a mesmerising long switch to Walatee, which the No.7 killed on his thigh.
Walatee then sized up his defender, opened up on his left foot and bent an absolute peach into the top corner from outside the box, leaving everyone in the stadium with mouths wide open and hands on their head in amazement.
That was the all-important go-ahead goal and Bozinovski iced it himself in the closing stages, picking up a deflected pass, shimmying in the box and tucking his left-footed shot into the bottom corner.
The win slashed the gap to Preston in second place to just one point, while Melbourne Victory’s draw with Bentleigh Greens leaves United only four points off the top with 10 games to play.
Western United U23 VPL 1 Men
Western United 4-1 Preston Lions
Goal scorers: A.Didulica (43’), C.Dovison (p.63’, 70’), A.Marmura (66’)
The Western United Under 23’s scored four fantastic goals of their own, navigating a difficult test against Preston with a similarly electric second-half showing.
The Green and Black had to come from behind and it took until just before the half-time whistle to find the net, but it was well worth the wait as Anthony Didulica toe-tapped his way through traffic and rifled a left-footed strike across the goal and into the net.
A dazzling seven-minute spell ultimately sealed the game just after the hour mark with Campbell Dovison kick-starting the run to give United the lead from the penalty spot.
Harry Casci set up the third minutes later with a brilliant run through midfield, feeding Alex Marmura who danced into the box from the right wing and swept his left-footed finish into the bottom left corner.
Dovison finished what he started in the 70th minute with a precise header from close-range, ensuring Western United maintained its four-point lead ahead of FC Bulleen Lions at the top f the league.
Western United Junior Academy teams
Western United’s Junior Academy teams were all away from home in what was a successful weekend of action for the Green and Black.
The Under 14’s left it late but won it in special circ*mstances against Brimbank Stallions with Alexander Karaiskos popping up with the winner. The team dedicated the victory to their teammate Santiago Brown, who suffered a devastating long-term injury last week.
The Under 15’s side bounced back from their first defeat of the season with a 1-0 win of its own against Altona Magic. Christian Lykopoulos’ solitary goal just before half-time kept the Green and Black at the top of the table after five rounds.
It was a narrow 1-0 defeat for the Under 16’s against North Geelong Warriors and after a long trip to the state border to face Murray United, the Under 18’s were pegged back twice in a 2-2 draw – Ethan Robinson and Johnathon Hassan the goal scorers.
Western United Junior Academy scores
Under 14’s
Brimbank Stallions 0-1 Western United
Goal scorer: A.Karaiskos (55’)
Under 15’s
Altona Magic 0-1 Western United
Goal scorer: C.Lykopoulos (35’)
Under 16’s
North Geelong Warriors 1-0 Western United
Under 18’s
Murray United 2-2 Western United
Goal scorers: E.Robinson (15’), J.Hassan (30’)
Western United Futsal
It’s been a momentous week for the Western United futsal squads with a league title and cup final appearance secured this week.
It started on Sunday with an incredible 11-1 win to the Youth team over FC Carlton Heart, a victory which wrapped up the league title in the squad’s first-ever season together.
Elias Parthimos continued his domination of that competition with four goals in the game, taking his overall tally for the season to an absurd 39 in 17 matches. Felipe Evangelista scored twice and the remaining five goals were split between five different scorers.
Western United has been a force to be reckoned with in the Youth competition all season long with 15 wins and four defeats, 137 goals scored and a 12-point lead on the rest of the competition.
On Tuesday night, the Men’s team followed that up with another piece of Western United futsal history, advancing to the Clubs Cup final for the first time.
It was a nail-biter that required a penalty shootout to decide the final outcome. Parthimos was again decisive, dispatching his penalty before St George Bulls FC missed their final effort to confirm United’s ecstasy.
Moreland Blues FC await United in the final as Gui Costa chases his second piece of silverware in charge of the team.
Elsewhere, the Women’s season has come to an end with Western United finishing in sixth place in its first season in that competition.
Amanda Eoraha, Laila Abdullatif and Balqis Waljairin finished as joint top scorers with 15 goals each – amounting to 45 of the side’s 72 total goals.
Western United Futsal Final Results
Women
Western United 11-0 Noble Park United FC
Goal scorers: L.Abdullatif (x4), B.Waljairin (x3), A.Caro (x3), A.Eoraha
Men
Western United 9–0 Carlton Heart FC
Goal scorers: E.Parthimos (x5), E.Simsek (x2), F.De Moraes, A.Barreto
Youth
Western United 2-4 Hume FC
Goal scorers: M.El Sayegh, E.Parthimos
Calder United NPL VIC Women
The NPLW Victoria season rolled on with Calder United playing host to old foes FC Bulleen Lions in the senior competitions.
Trailing at the break, Calder couldn’t provide the lift that was needed in the second 45 minutes as Bulleen ran out eventual 3-0 winners.
The Under 20’s secured a fantastic result, though, defeating Bulleen 3-1 to leapfrog their opponents and move into third place on the table.
Mia Daskalovska and Tuana Kul continued their superb seasons with a goal each while Lidya Atsbaha provided the other to shoot Calder up the table.
Calder United NPL VIC Women scores
Senior Women
Calder United 0-3 FC Bulleen Lions
Under 20’s
Calder United 3-1 FC Bulleen Lions
Goal scorers: M.Daskalovska, T.Kul, L.Atsbaha
Calder United NPL VIC Girls
Calder United’s three junior teams also faced FC Bulleen Lions this weekend but made the trip east to play at the Veneto Club.
It was a difficult day in the end with three defeats against strong opposition, but the Under 17’s and Under 15’s both remain in third place on their respective league tables, with the Under 13’s performing well and developing in seventh place.
Calder United NPL VIC Girls scores
Under 13’s
FC Bulleen Lions 2-1 Calder United
Goal scorer: Z.Redzepovic
Under 15’s
FC Bulleen Lions 3-1 Calder United
Goal scorer: O.McLachlan
Under 17’s
FC Bulleen Lions 3-0 Calder United
