A strong second half performance was enough for South Melbourne to grab an important 2-1 win over Heidelberg United in a game which could go a long way towards the structure of the WPL finals series.
An early goal to Heidelberg winger Christy Zwolski had the hosts reeling, before Brittany Dudley-Smith equalised before half-time.
Natalie Martineau scored what proved to be the winner in a good contest late in the second half with a tap in on the goal line.
American Christy Zwolski ensured that Heidelberg carried some momentum forward in the first half as she struck early to silence the home crowd.
Julia Nicolaci – at her creative best in the opening stanza – slipped through the winger on the left side of attack, who them capitalised with a great lofted finish across the face of goals.
Tiffany Eliadis tried her best to work the hosts back into the game but was twice thwarted by Christina Fonua in goals.
She attempted to round the keeper in the 15th minute to no avail before forcing a save with a first time powerful drive from inside the area just five minutes later.
Frances Land nearly saw a second past her on her South Melbourne debut as Elise Mamanu-Gray thundered a header onto the crossbar from a Nicolaci set-piece.
Nicolaci continued to create chances aplenty, as she first found Zwolski – who couldn’t beat Land at her near post – then Aneta Komijat who was only denied by a desperate block from the South Melbourne defence.
She nearly scored herself soon after, but yet another desperate lunge from a South body denied her.
It was then that South struck, as they grabbed a 35th minute equaliser courtesy of Dudley-Smith.
The Kiwi forward took the time to compose herself on the right wing before unleashing a strike across Fonua into the side netting to make it 1-1.
Mamanu-Gray nearly hit back just four minutes after, but despite some good off the ball work to free herself up on the right wing, couldn’t finish past an onrushing Land.
The South stopper was called on one last time in an action packed first half as she rose to deny a Demi Mihaloudis cross that nearly drifted into goals.
A triple change at the half saw South Melbourne bring some more senior members into their line-up, with youngsters Jasmine Arezolla, Emily Heijden and Caitlin Greiser making way for Jade Feakes, Sarah Sumner and Rhea Schreuder.
The latter in particular took the game on with the reckless abandon of youth and made a positive impact across the flanks of Lakeside.
With the extra movement across with wings, South began to assert themselves on the contest, with Eliadis and Dudley-Smith both working themselves into the play on a regular basis.
The pair combined expertly just before the hour mark as a barnstorming run from Dudley-Smith on the right allowed her to set up Eliadis with a low cross.
The Melbourne Victory representative was thwarted by a last ditch tackle from Heidelberg’s Laura Phillips.
Eliadis then burst through the middle with a purposeful run, before delicately flicking the ball on for Schreuder, who couldn’t hit the target from just inside the area.
With time fast running out for a winner, South won a corner via Schreuder, who burst down the left wing before seeing a shot deflected behind.
The deep ball eventually fell to an unmarked Carol Howes, who chipped an effort towards goal, which was helped over the line by a touch on from Nat Martineau.
Dudley-Smith nearly had a third for South, but was denied by Christine Fonua who had to tip a powerful effort over the crossbar.
Forward Belinda Panella was released off the bench in an attempt to find an equaliser and she nearly profited from some lax South Melbourne defence, winning possession in the final third before seeing a tame effort held by Land.
The Bergers continued to throw bodies forward in the dying embers of the match, and despite having 21 of the 22 players on the pitch in their attacking half for the entire stretch of injury time, they were unable to find the late goal they desperately craved.
The win meant plenty for South Melbourne, who shored up a finals position, while the loss for Heidelberg could mean they’ll sit a game and goal difference out of the top five come the end of the round.
***
South Melbourne 2 (Dudley-Smith 35’, Martineau 74’) defeated Heidelberg United 1 (Zwolski 8’) at Lakeside Stadium [HT: 1-1]
South Melbourne WSC: 1. Frances LAND (GK), 13. Marianna ANTHONY, 6. Alex CHEAL (c), 8. Carol HOWES, 32. Emily HEIJDEN (3. Jade FEAKES 46’), 16. Alison BAKER, 12. Natalie MARTINEAU, 31. Jasmine AREZZOLA (7. Rhea SCHREUDER 46’), 18. Caitlin GREISER (9 Sarah SUMNER 46’), 10. Tiff ELIADIS, 2. Brittany DUDLEY-SMITH
Unused Substitute(s): 11. Coco MAJSTOROVIC
Yellow Card(s): Nil
Red Card(s): Nil
Heidelberg United: 21. Christine FONUA (GK), 2. Demi MIHALOUDIS, 15. Lisa FONUA, 6. Laura PHILLIPS, 18. Sadie MURPHY, 4. Michelle VERZI, 8. Emma GUNN (14. Holly TSALIKIDIS 53’), 10. Julia NICOLACI, 45. Elise MAMANU-GRAY (13. Adelyn AYTON 72’), 11. Aneta KOMIJAT (9. Belinda PANELLA 66’), 38. Christy ZWOLSKI
Unused Substitute(s): 5. Elly TORRE, 22. Ellie GAVALAS
Yellow Card(s): Verzi 86’
Red Card(s): Nil