Heidelberg 1 - 0 Casey

By Peter Anastassi

Heidelberg United scored a dramatic late winner to record a gritty   1-0 victory over Casey Comets at Olympic Park on Saturday.

The winning goal in the 88th minute came after Heidelberg striker Caitlin Friend dribbled on the right flank and centered the ball to Stacey Papadopoulos barely meters out from the goal with Papadopoulos slotting her shot into the net past stranded Casey keeper Alexandra Cuss.

Casey however, will feel aggrieved by not taking a point from a match in which they had more of the clear goal chances in the first half.

The visitors were dominating possession and their striker, Jessica Calder, and towering midfielder Aimee Benton, slid in a neat ball from the right wing that found Calder who struck her shot just over the cross bar. Again, it was Benton who was causing nightmares for the Heidelberg defense.

In the 18th minute Benton had a wonderful opportunity to put Casey in the lead after she out paced defender Jolene Miller and on a tight angle struck her shot straight at Heidelberg keeper Rebekha Morris.

Casey continued to attack and in the 21st minute a nice run on the left flank from Brittany Dudley Smith who directed her cross to the back post that found striker Jessica Calder who failed to connect her header on goal.

In the 25th minute forward Belinda Pannella had an open goal on the left wing and backed herself with a well struck shot outside the box that lacked direction and was well saved by Casey keeper Alexandra Cuss.

The visitors were still the dominate side and Aimee Benton made a well-timed dribble on the right wing which outpaced Heidelberg defender Michelle Verzi before crossing the ball to Jessica Calder who struck a thunderous shot that went just agonizingly over the cross bar.

Heidelberg began to gain confidence and it was largely through the efforts of forward Caitlin Friend who was starting to enter the game with some excellent touches in midfield. In the 30th minute Friend hit a shot that was heading for the top right hand corner of the goal only for a lunging save from Casey keeper, Alexandra Cuss preventing the opener. 

Heidelberg commenced the second half the more aggressive side and a corner for the home side in the 51st minute fell to Captain Rita Mankowska with her shot going marginally past the right post.

The second half then turned into a very scrappy encounter with both sides giving away possession and not able to make the most of the game.

In the 85th minute, Heidelberg should have scored the winner after Tahlia Tisocco dribbled along the right flank and slid in a neat assist for Stacey Papadopoulos whose strike in the penalty box was well blocked by keeper Alexandra Cuss.

They didn’t have to wait too long though, as barely minutes later Heidelberg pounced on some slack defending from Casey and Friend set up Papadopoulos to score the winning goal.

Speaking after the game, Heidelberg Assistant Coach John Kyrgios was delighted with his sides late winner to steal the points over Casey.

“We are very happy with the 1-0 result, we played quite well,” said Kyrgios.

“Early on in the first half Casey did pressure us but we did very well in the that first 10 or 15 minutes and I think we got on top of them in terms of possession.

“Other than the first 10 minutes I believe we were the better side.”

The win was critical for Heidelberg’s season and they now momentarily overtake Casey to be within reach of the top four on the table.

Casey Comets coach Ian Williamson was extremely disappointed in his side’s experienced attacking players who failed to make the most of their goal scoring opportunities.

“I thought my back four were outstanding, my midfield mediocre and my forward line pathetic,” said Williamson.

“We don’t take our chances; we have those opportunities week in week out and batter sides every week but the longer we go without scoring, the more we have to rely on our back four and the less effort we get in our forward line and that’s not good enough.

“We have girls in our team who have played numerous games in the Women’s Premier League and they are not putting in the effort that’s conducive with the experience that they have and that’s the bottom line.”

In the next round Heidelberg will look to build on this win when it travels to Sandringham while Casey is away to Ashburton.

HEIDELBERG UNITED: Rebekha MORRIS, Rita MANKOWSKA, Eleni FAKOS, Jolene MILLER, Michelle VERZI, Julia NICOLACI, Elise KYRGIOS, Kate FOTOPOULOS (Tahlia TISOCCO 67`), Talia SILIVESTROS (Stacey PAPADOPOULOS 53`), Caitlin FRIEND, Belinda PANNELLA

Unused Subs: Demi MIHALOUDIS, Alice RYAN

Goals: PAPADOPOULOS (88`)

Yellow Cards: Nil 

CASEY COMETS: Alexandra CUSS, Elsie HIBBERT, Rebecca SHERRY, Laura CROFT, Naomi EATON, Aimee BENTON (Taryn BROWNE 60`), Jaylan MARTIN (Emily HEIJDEN 71`), Alexandra GUMMER, Brittany DUDLEY SMITH (Jaymee DUDLEY 62`), Jessica CALDER, Nicola PRINS.

Unused Subs: Natalie GRUBIL, Danielle LAWRENCE

Yellow Cards: Nil