Heidelberg United have sent a clear message to the rest of the NPL Victoria, dismantling their “bogey ground” hoodoo with a clinical 3–2 victory over Oakleigh Cannons at Jack Edwards Reserve on Friday night.
Following up on last week’s hard-fought win against the Preston Lions, the “Bergers” produced a first-half masterclass that left the home side reeling and firmly established Heidelberg as early-season title contenders.
Heidelberg came out “blazing,” as coach George Anastasiadis’s side completely dominated the opening 45 minutes. The visitors effectively killed the contest within a frantic 10-minute window:
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21′ Goal: Left-back Fletcher Fulton opened the scoring, capping off a surging run to put the Bergers ahead.
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25′ Goal: New loan signing Nicholas Duarte doubled the lead with a clinical finish.
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31′ Goal: Duarte secured his brace just six minutes later, making it 3–0 before the half-hour mark.
The scoreline could have been even more lopsided if not for a resolute performance from the Oakleigh goalkeeper, who pulled off several key saves to keep the Cannons within touching distance at the break.
With a comfortable 3–0 lead, Heidelberg looked to control the tempo and frustrate the hosts. Anastasiadis utilized his bench late in the game to freshen up the side, and while Oakleigh managed a late flurry of goals from Joe Guest (88′) and Brodie Boyce (90+1′), the result never truly felt in doubt.
Heidelberg’s defensive structure held firm under the late pressure, ensuring they left Jack Edwards Reserve with all three points—a feat that has famously eluded them in recent seasons.
This victory marks Heidelberg’s fourth win from five matches in 2026. The result sees them stay neck-and-neck with South Melbourne at the summit of the NPL Victoria standings.
| Team | Played | Points | GD |
| South Melbourne | 5 | 12 | +4 |
| Heidelberg United | 5 | 12 | +3 |
| Hume City | 5 | 10 | +2 |
