Western United hosted a huge VPL 1 Men’s double header this weekend, welcoming Bentleigh Greens to Ironbark Fields. Meanwhile the Junior Academy teams took on a double match week.
Western United VPL 1 Men
Western United 4-1 Bentleigh Greens
Goal scorers: M.Leonard (7’), M.Bisetto (50’), A.Walatee (54’), O.Tanic (90’)
With a 7-1 away win against Bentleigh Greens earlier in the season still firmly in the memory bank, Western United’s senior academy side looked forward to welcoming Bentleigh to Tarneit on Saturday night.
Mark Leonard kicked things off strongly just minutes into the encounter, getting on the end of a scooping ball over the top of Bentleigh’s defence from Jordan Lauton to open the scoring.
With a 1-0 lead into the half time break, Mark Leonard was in the action again, squaring a ball for Max Bisetto who beat the keeper from close range at the end of a well-taken free kick by Abel Walatee.
Just minutes later, the Green and Black would expand on their lead even further as Bisetto set up Walatee with a long diagonal ball, with the recent Isuzu UTE A-League Men debutant sliding it home for a third.
Some late pressure from the visitors saw them get a goal back, but Diogo Ferreira’s side put the result beyond doubt as Oscar Tanic scored his first senior goal, beating the keeper into the bottom right corner. Western climbed to 2nd on the VPL 1 league table following the win, leapfrogging both Northcote and Preston who drew 1-1 earlier in the weekend.
You can rewatch the match in full on Football Victoria’s YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhbAxnZbSs4
Western United U23 VPL 1 Men
Western United 2-1 Bentleigh Greens
Goal scorers: A.Didulica (72’ PEN), A.Marmura (87’)
The Under 23s had to come back from being 1-0 down at half time to keep their brilliant winning form going as the only undefeated team in the division.
After a week where he was named in the Subway Joeys squad for the ASEAN U-16 Boys’ Championship, Anthony Didulica converted a penalty after being fouled in the penalty box by the Bentleigh goalkeeper.
The winning goal came from an incisive cross by Ethan Robinson, with teammate Alex Marmura coolly slotting the ball in from a metre out. Western remain top of the U23 VPL 1 league table after 17 matches, four points clear of second-placed Bulleen.
Western United Junior Academy teams
It was a busy weekend for our Junior teams with each age group playing at home on the Saturday, and then hitting the road for a second game on the long weekend.
The Under 14s couldn’t be separated in their battle with South Melbourne, drawing 3-3 in an end-to-end clash at Ironbark Fields. Then on Monday, they got back on the winner’s list with a tight 1-0 win away at Essendon Royals, with Alazar Demissie scoring in both games.
The Under 15s had a perfect weekend and held onto their two point lead at the top of the league. It was started with a 2-1 win against South Melbourne before some brilliant individual goals helped set up a 4-1 win over Essendon.
Chelsea Noonan led her Under 16 side to a dramatic 2-1 comeback win over Oakleigh on Saturday, with a late penalty from Matthew Di Lorenzo sealing the win. They weren’t as successful unfortunately on the Monday as Essendon secured a 4-1 win, despite a second goal for the weekend from Noah Grieve.
It was a high scoring weekend for the Under 18s at both ends of the pitch. A 4-4 draw on Saturday against Essendon Royals was then followed up with an unfortunate 4-2 defeat away to Bentleigh the following day, with Joseph Lettieri scoring in both games to take his tally to 11 goals this season.
Western United Junior Academy results
Under 14s
Western United 3-3 South Melbourne
Goal scorers: A.Demissie (28’), B.Aras (40’), J.Pavlinusic (44’)
Essendon Royals 0-1 Western United
Goal scorer: A.Demissie (17’)
Under 15s
Western United 2-1 South Melbourne
Goal scorers: J.Vonja (2’), M.Catalano (21’)
Essendon Royals 1-4 Western United
Goal scorers: T.Cauchi (8’, 12’), Z.Meilak (51’), M.Catalano (55’)
Under 16s
Western United 2-1 Oakleigh Cannons
Goal scorers: N.Grieve (76’), M.Di Lorenzo (78’ PEN)
Essendon Royals 4-1 Western United
Goal scorer: N.Grieve (36’)
Under 18s
Western United 4-4 Essendon Royals
Goal scorers: M.Tongzon (13’), T.Servin (29’), J.Lettieri (66’), A.Marmura (82’)
Bentleigh Greens 4-2 Western United
Goal scorers: J.Lettieri (41’), A.Savva (64’)
