Western United NPL Weekly Wrap: Strong starts continue

Western United’s Senior Academy teams were out to make it two wins from two in NPL 2 against Brunswick City on the weekend, while the junior sides faced off against Avondale FC.

Western United NPL 2 Men’s Under 21’s

Western United 6-0 Brunswick City

Goal scorers: G.Greer (5’), T.Alisandratos (42’, p.63’, 82’), Y.Nassis (43’), N.Koek (60’)

Western United’s Under 21’s looked to back up from a commanding 9-2 victory over Eastern Lions in Round 1 when it travelled to face Brunswick City.

Gus Greer got the team off to the perfect start with the opening goal inside five minutes, but Brunswick stayed in the game until a late double salvo from United at the end of the first half.

Thomas Alisandratos and Yani Nassis scored within a minute of each other just before the break, the latter adding to his brace on the opening day of the season.

United then set about killing the game off and did so around the hour mark when Nicolas Koek opened his account before Alisandratos got a second from the penalty spot.

Alisandratos was a breakout player for the Under 21’s last season, earning a debut in the Under 23’s and even participation in pre-season with the first team. He will be looking to take another big step in his career this season and has got himself off on the right foot, completing a hat-trick before the final whistle and helping United to another dominant victory.

Western United NPL 2 Men’s Under 23’s

Brunswick City 1-2 Western United

Goal scorer: O.Eze (34’), M.Bisetto (84’)

Diogo Ferreira’s senior side also had a strong start to build on and met a difficult opposition in Brunswick City on Saturday afternoon.

The Green and Black finally broke the deadlock just after the half hour mark when Obiora Eze found the back of the net, scoring his first ever goal for the Western United Under 23’s.

Brunswick remained well in the game and didn’t allow the visitors to take control of proceedings, eventually equalising through Thomas Biss with under 20 minutes to play.

But United responded to that setback strongly and kept on the front foot in search of a late winner which substitute Max Bisetto provided, placing United as one of only three teams in NPL 2 Victoria that remain undefeated through two rounds.

Western United Junior Academy teams

Western United’s Junior Academy teams headed to Avenger Park to take on Avondale FC on Sunday with each team looking to continue fighting for top spot in their respective leagues.

The day got off to a brilliant start when John Woldegiorgis and Lukas Nikoloski struck early to guide the Under 14’s to a 2-0 win.

The Under 15’s looked set follow suit when they went 2-0 ahead thanks to Noah Grieve and Nick Emtsis, but Avondale hit back with two late goals to come away with a 2-2 draw.

United’s Under 16’s had no such troubles with a routine 3-0 victory. Christian Dermentzoglou scored the second goal, taking his season tally to four in as many matches.

Max Clarke’s Under 18’s suffered the Academy’s first defeat of the season in the final game of the day, falling 1-0.

All four teams remain in the top three positions of their respective competitions, with the Under 14’s and Under 16’s level on points at the top.