Report: Heidelberg and Avondale progress to Quarter-Finals
Heidelberg United and Avondale both confirmed their places in the Quarter-Finals as the penultimate round of the Australian Championship concluded on Sunday.
The games featured tight scorelines, with the final eight now starting to take shape.
Heidelberg United 2-2 Wollongong Wolves
Heidelberg United came from behind twice to hold Wollongong Wolves to a score draw and earn their place in the Quarter-Finals.
Wollongong made an early impression in the match, opening the scoring within four minutes. Alex Masciovecchio received the ball in the right of the box after some good pressing from the visitors and blasted a strike past Yaren Sozer in the United goal.
Heidelberg restored parity before the 10-minute mark. Angus Taylor clipped a left-wing cross from inside the area towards Marcus Humbert, who bundled the ball home.
The Wolves survived Heidelberg’s barrage for the rest of the half to go into the sheds level.
Wollongong caught a break on the hour mark as they re-established their lead through their captain. Lachlan Scott sprinted down the right and fired the ball into the far corner to re-ignite his team’s Quarter-Finals hopes.
The visitors were buoyed by this goal and pressed on in pursuit of more, but in the 74th minute, United drew level again. Max Bisetto raced into the left of the area and drilled the ball across Jay McGowan at the far post to tap home.
The Wolves could not find a decisive goal to give them a chance at knockout football, sharing the points with Heidelberg, who are now through to the final eight.
Preston Lions 0-0 Canberra Croatia
Preston Lions and Canberra Croatia played out a 0-0 stalemate, as they fought for a place in the top two of Group C.
With these teams separated by just two points in Group C, the game featured a tense tone with limited chances.
Giorgio Serdenes’ acrobatic effort just before the hour mark would have been a worthy way to break the deadlock for Lions, but the ball bounced harmlessly wide.
In the end, neither team could find a winner as they had to settle for a point each, with both still capable of making the Quarter-Finals.
South Hobart 0-2 Marconi Stallions
Marconi Stallions all but secured their place in the final eight of the Championship with a composed win against South Hobart.
The Stallions made the most of their bright start in the game and made the breakthrough 10 minutes in. Anton Mlinaric calmly caressed the ball into the bottom right corner from the edge of the box in the aftermath of a set piece.
Marconi doubled their advantage in the 73rd minute, courtesy of substitute Matej Busek. Marko Jesic lobbed the ball over to the right for Busek, who dribbled into the box before slotting a low finish into the goal.
The Stallions are now on the brink of the Quarter-Finals, following Wollongong’s draw with Heidelberg.
MetroStars 2-0 Bayswater City
MetroStars pushed their way back into the battle for a Quarter-Final place in Group D, with a crucial home victory against Bayswater City.
After a goalless first half, it took the hosts just seven minutes to open the scoring. Jackson Walls expertly brought down a switch pass into the right of the box, where his effort wickedly deflected off City defender Luke Palmateer, rolling into the goal.
In the 73rd minute, the hosts added a second goal with a screamer from Christian Sotira. The midfielder executed an outrageous looping volley from the edge of the area that nestled in the back of the net.
The NPL SA Premiers are now back in the hunt for a spot in the final eight of the Championship.
Avondale 1-0 NWS Spirit
Avondale ensured they would play knockout football with a slender win over NWS Spirit.
The hosts snatched the winning goal on the stroke of half-time with a well-worked move. The tricky Aamir Abdallah latched onto a ball in behind down the left before quickly squaring it to Bruno Fornaroli, who had the simple task of tapping it in to the vacant net.
The goal was the striker's fourth in the competition.
Despite several chances falling either way in the second half, Avondale held on to their lead and secured a Quarter-Finals spot.