NPL Victoria Double Header A Success As Heidelberg and Oakleigh Leave Victorious

Football Victoria's decision to combine the NPL women and men's Grand Finals into one day proved to be a roaring success, as Heidelberg United's women and Oakleigh Cannons' men left as champions of their respective leagues.

An excited crowd filled up the Home of the Matildas in time for the 3:30 kickoff between Heidelberg United and Preston Lions to determine the champion of the Women's NPL Victoria, and they were treated to a classic.

The underdogs Heidelberg, who already proved themselves to be a giant killer after their preliminary final victory against premiers Bulleen, continued to shock their doubters as Alana Jancevski scored from the penalty spot, after Jade Feakes fouled Keely Lockhart in the box.

Following Jancevski's goal, Preston woke up and began to attack. They would continue to get closer and would eventually equalize in the 28th minute, as Haley Johnson spun and backheeled it to Rasamee Phonsongkham, who scored from long range, leaving fans wondering if the assist or the goal was better.

And when Johnson rounded the keeper and scored eight minutes later, Preston deservedly went into the half time break up 2-1.

Despite manager Daniel Foden getting a red card and having to watch the majority of the second half from the stands, Preston still remained on top, though they couldn't score a third.

It's why it came as a surprise to many when, in the 88th minute, Lockhart once again got the better of Feakes, dribbling around her and scoring to tie the game up.

Extra time looked like a certainty, until Cameron Barreiro took a long range strike from out of nowhere. Charlotte Hrehoresin tipped the effort over the bar, but it did win Heidelberg a corner.

And when Preston failed to clear the ball despite two attempts at doing so, Mami Ambo punished them, heading the ball home in the 96th minute and winning Heidelberg United the Grand Final in the most dramatic of fashions.

“I don’t know what minute (the last goal) was, I don’t want to know, but I’m just so glad we kept fighting.”

- Steph Galea, Heidelberg captain.

Asuka Miyata was named player of the match for Heidelberg, while Steph Galea hoisted the trophy up for Heidelberg.

Meanwhile, the Oakleigh and South Melbourne players warmed up, preparing for their 6:15 kickoff.

When the game got underway, it immediately proved to be a marathon, rather than a sprint. Both teams defended hard, and neither had any clear cut chances.

But when Stefan Valentini's cross was clipped out the back to Emlyn Wellsmore, the 24 year old took his chance and wrote himself into the history books, with the only goal of the game, as Oakleigh upset South Melbourne to win 1-0.

The win confirmed Oakleigh's second championship in three years, while South Melbourne had to suffer their third consecutive Grand Final loss, losing to Oakleigh in both 2022 and 2024 and Avondale in 2023.

“I want to say a big congratulations and thank you to everyone at the Club, right to the top. The boys have been absolutely immense this season and I’m so proud to share the pitch with them every single week."

- Joe Guest, Oakleigh captain.

Ultimately, the double header proved to be a huge success, as 5,000 fans showed up for what proved to be one of the most memorable days in Football Victoria history.