By John Fotinos
The mantra for Heidelberg in 2024 has been to continue to play “our way” in the words of coach John Anastasiadis. A famous 3-1 win over A League, AFC and reigning Australia Cup Champion Central Coast Mariners has provided vindication of that approach.
Heidelberg became the third Victorian NPL club within a week to bundle out a more fancied A League opponent within a week during the Round of 32 phase – providing a performance that was arguably the most impressive of the three.
Heidelberg led courtesy of a Josh Pin penalty late in the first half, only to be pegged back via Doka’s deflected shot for the Mariners early in the second half. The stalemate meant 30 minutes extra time, and another glorious chapter written in the history of the club.
The Bergers’ superior fitness became apparent, and it was Josh Pin again to restore the lead, and as if scripted, Sean Ellis with the coda right on the cusp of the finish to stamp an emphatic win. Gorman with the great chase down and assist; Aidara with the outrageous and selfless dummy & Ellis, a Heidelberg legend already, providing yet another highlight special.
Ultimately, as amazing as the result was, it was the quality of the performance of the Bergers that captured the imagination. At no stage did the Bergers appear overawed – in fact, at times, they were well on top of the Mariners.
On to the Round of 16 & a meeting with Oakleigh at the Home of the Matildas. But before then the matter of the final two NPL matches and Finals, with a fixture versus a Manningham United outfit striving to avoid the drop this Saturday.
However, as one pundit mentioned, no matter what else transpires this season, the win over the treble winning Mariners will live long in the memory, not just for the stunning result, but for it was achieved playing “our way” of football.
Match Details – Australia Cup Round of 32:
Heidelberg United FC 3 (Pin 43’ pen; 104’; Ellis 120’) – 1 Central Coast Mariners (Asoka 52’)
