An first-half flurry of five goals has helped Heidelberg to a comfortable 6-0 win over Caulfield United Cobras at Knox Regional Football Centre on Sunday.
Julia Nicolaci scored a hat-trick – each time from a set-piece – while Aneta Komijat, Adelyn Ayton and Belinda Pannella all added to the scoresheet.
The hosts started the contest with intent, as a slick passing move on the left wing led to Amy Kane winning a corner following persistent hassling of the Bergers’ defence.
Yet it would be a decision up the other end that undid their good early work, with a seemingly innocuous challenge on Aneta Komijat leading to a penalty call that had both sides in stunned silence.
Despite the confusion, Nicolaci stepped up and dispatched the spot kick with aplomb.
The Cobras went about trying to restore parity, with Anita Les finding Irena Malliaras in the middle, who slipped Kane through on goal, but Christine Fonua continued her stellar season in goals with a solid save.
The Bergers struck once again as Caulfield proved their own undoing at the back, allowing an unmarked Komijat to tap in a cutback from the byline.
The visitors’ relentless early pressure led to a third goal in 10 minutes when Ayton scored from a scramble in the box, after Caulfield ‘keeper Cass Mayston – an outfielder filling in between the sticks due to an injury crisis – was unable to trap the ball.
It made up for Ayton’s miss moments earlier, heading over Guajardo’s cross from point blank range.
There was a sense of deja vu to the next two goals, as Nicolaci completed her hat-trick with a pair of inswinging corners that evaded everybody both times.
It could have been six when a slick transition starting with Sadie Murphy went through through Komijat and ended with Christy Zwolski, but the latter missed just wide.
Despite Nicolaci finding an overlapping Demi Mihaloudis for a saved effort just after the break, Caulfield managed to stem the flow thereafter.
A combination involving Les, Bree Gurr and Durston-Ryan in the middle of the pitch led to a chance up front for Kane.
While Quinn’s miskicked clearance landed at Les, the custodian composed herself to hold the midfielder’s subsequent shot on goal.
Bergers substitute Pannella was busy up front, finding Guajardo who flicked the ball in front of herself for a shot on goal that just missed wide.
For Caulfield, a passing move by Durston-Ryan and Les found Kane, whose touch in the box allowed Quinn to get to the ball first, but also led to a collision between the two.
The sixth goal eventually came before full time, with a piercing pass from Laura Phillips to Guajardo leading to an effort that was saved by the ‘keeper, but Pannella pounced on the rebound to tuck the ball in off the post and just over the line.
Sadie Murphy almost joined the party on the final whistle, rattling the woodwork from a corner.
Caulfield United Cobras 0 defeated by Heidelberg United 6 (Nicolaci 4′ 22′ 28′, Komijat 7′, Ayton 9′, Pannella 88′) at Knox Regional Football Centre
Caulfield United Cobras: 2. Cassandra Mayston, 23. Victoria Argyropoulos, 24. Hollie McDonald, 16. Irena Malliaras, 3. Amy Kane, 8. Anita Les, 12. Bree Gurr, 36. Ange Durston-Ryan, 6. Edita Mackaj, 34. Stephanie Wood
Unused Subs: 15. Pulli Gardiyawasam, 17. Zoe Haractsis, 31. Mandi Giannopoulos, 28. Lisa Oberbeck, 18. Grace Buchan
Heidelberg United: 21. Christine Fonua (GK) (1. Kelsey Quinn 65′), 2. Demi Mihaloudis (2. Chloe Cini 65′), 4. Michelle Verzi (45. Elise Mamanu-Gray 45′), 6. Laura Phillips, 10. Julia Nicolaci, 15. Lisa Fonua, 18. Sadie Murphy, 13. Adelyn Ayton (9. Belinda Pannella 65′), 38. Christy Zwolski, 11. Aneta Komijat (14. Holly Tsalikidis 57′), 50. Anisa Guajardo