Western United was back in VPL 1 action against North Geelong Warriors while the Junior Academy sides enjoyed a local derby against Brimbank Stallions.
The NPLW Victoria season began for Calder United’s senior teams, as they and the junior teams all faced off against Football Victoria representative teams.
Western United VPL 1 Men
North Geelong Warriors 0-2 Western United
Goal scorer: A.Walatee (36’), N.Koek (82’)
Made to wait an extra week to back up the incredible 7-1 win over Bentleigh Greens, Western United’s Senior side returned to action with a trip to face North Geelong Warriors.
After last week’s match against Eastern Lions was postponed due to heat, Diogo Ferreira’s side returned and got straight back to work.
It took some time in coming but Abel Walatee gave United the lead before half-time, finishing a swift team move after Jake Najdovski picked him out with a lovely diagonal ball.
The Green and Black remained on the hunt for a second goal and eventually found it in the 82nd minute when Nicolas Koek finished coolly after Mark Leonard picked him out with a through ball.
The win moves United up to ninth place with a game in hand that could take the Green and Black into the top six.
Western United U23 VPL 1 Men
North Geelong Warriors 1-4 Western United
Goal scorer: C.Dovison (32’, 82’), O.Tanic (53’), J.Nasso (55’)
The Under 23’s made it a perfect day in Geelong for Western United’s Senior Academy, coasting to a 4-1 triumph.
Campbell Dovison set the tone, scoring the first of his two goals in glorious fashion as he brought the ball under his spell, wriggled away from pressure and bent a curler into the top corner.
The United young gun would later add his second to round out the game but Oscar Tanic and Jacob Nasso ensured Max Clarke’s men were already in a commanding position with two goals in two minutes soon after half-time.
With four wins and a draw through the opening five rounds, United’s Under 23’s are in second place on the table with an unbeaten record.
Western United Junior Academy teams
There was an even split of results for Western United’s Junior Academy teams as they took on Brimbank Stallions.
The Under 14’s and Under 15’s both suffered their first defeats of the season but each remain level on points at the top of their respective leagues.
The Under 16’s side had no such troubles holding onto its perfect record – Karl Leban and Christian Fruci both scored hat-tricks in a stunning 10-2 win.
There was an important victory for the Under 18’s to round out the day. After going into half-time level at 1-1, United took control with four goals in the second half, two of which came via Alex Marmura, to ultimately claim a 5-1 win.
Western United Junior Academy final results
Under 14’s
Brimbank Stallions 3-0 Western United
Under 15’s
Brimbank Stallions 2-0 Western United
Under 16’s
Brimbank Stallions 2-10 Western United
Goal scorer: C.Fruci (11’, 67’, 68’), Z.Imran (25’), W.Ashburner (28’), K.Leban (36’, 44’, 79’), J.Vonja (64’, 71’)
Under 18’s
Brimbank Stallions 1-5 Western United
Goal scorer: A.Islam (31’), A.Marmura (57’, p.83’), E.Robinson (75’), J.Hassan (90’)
Western United Futsal
It was just the women’s and youth sides in futsal action last week for Western United, with one heavy defeat and one huge win.
The women fell 9-0 but the youth side turned things around later in the week with a remarkable 12-4 scoreline.
As always, Elias Parthimos was the headline with six of the 12 goals in a player of the match display.
Western United Futsal Final Results
Women
Western United 0-9 Melbourne AKU FC
Youth
Western United 12-4 Pascoe Vale FC
Goal scorers: E.Parthimos (x6), M.El Sayegh (x3), Z.Abdalla (x2), R.Hassan
Calder United NPL Victoria Women
FV Emerging 4-2 Calder United
Goal scorers: A.Shimizu (x2)
A new-look Calder United side kicked off the NPLW Victoria season with a trip to the Home of the Matildas to take on FV Emerging.
While the result didn’t go Calder’s way in the end, new head coach Kogulan Sabaratnam will take the positives out of the opening round.
One of the obvious positives was the performance of Akane Shimizu, with the Japanese import scoring both goals in outstanding fashion – the first a long-range blast, and the second a delicate chip over the goalkeeper.
Calder will look to recover and take the learnings into a Round 2 meeting with newly-promoted Essendon Royals at home this weekend.
Calder United NPL Victoria Women Under 20’s
NTC U17 2-0 Calder United
It was a difficult opening round for Calder United with the Under 20’s falling just short against the NTC U17 side.
After getting into half-time with the deadlock still yet to be broken, Calder couldn’t keep the hosts out in the second half.
Brendan Curmi will take plenty of positives from his side’s performance in his Calder United debut and will hope for a first win of the season on home soil next week.
Calder United junior girls
Calder United’s junior sides also faced off against state representative opposition, although the Under 13’s enjoyed a bye week.
Just like the senior sides, Calder’s juniors couldn’t pick up the desired results with both the Under 15’s and Under 17’s tasting defeat.
Calder United will now look ahead to a huge weekend with all senior and junior teams playing at home at Keilor Park Recreation Reserve this Saturday.
Calder United junior girls final results
Under 13’s
BYE
Under 15’s
NTC U14 3-0 Calder United
Under 17’s
NTC U15 5-1 Calder United
Goal scorers: O.Lazarevska
