By Alex Bagdasarian
Heidelberg United travelled to Gardiners Creek Reserve on Sunday afternoon to play against Eastern Lions in the final game of the regular season.
With attention on the Bentleigh and Avondale game, for the ‘Bergers it was a matter of how many they would score against a side that had already been relegated, to secure a spot in the finals playoffs.
The match started off in entertaining fashion including a chance for Anthony Theodoropoulos, whose venomous strike having some dip towards goal but hit the cross bar.
The goal eventually arrived with Kosta Petratos mounting pressure on the home side causing a slip up in defence, recovering the ball and putting it away to give the Warriors the advantage.
With unfortunate results in the cup competitions, the ‘Bergers were determined to finish in the top six to be involved in the playoffs this weekend, the ball finding Kaine Sheppard from the corner who turns provider for Ajdin Fetahagic to tap it away to extend the lead.
Heidelberg were in their dominating best – with some nice fluid play in the build-up, Ivan Franjic easily found Makis Petratos in the penalty area who smashed it past the keeper to give his side their third of the afternoon.
It was evident that the home side was only playing for pride, with Sheppard grabbing another assist to his name to give it off to Joshua Pin whose deflected shot found its way past the keeper.
The home side managed to get one back through Carter Ramsay poking it away for a mere consolation goal.
Makis Petratos got his brace to increase the lead for the Warriors, with his shot deflected to loop over the keeper for a huge morale boost win for his side.
Heidelberg United will travel away to play Oakleigh Cannons in the Elimination Final on Friday (August 26) at 8pm at Jack Edwards Reserve.
Match Details:
Eastern Lions 1 (Carter Ramsay 60’) – Heidelberg United 5 (Kosta Petratos 23’, Ajdin Fetahagic 32’, Makis Petratos 42’, 73’, Joshua Pin 55’)
Line up:
63 – GK – Nicholas Eres
5 – Ajdin Fetahagic
7 – Reuben Way (c) (22 – Kazuki Okada 78’)
8 – Dominic Falla (38 – Mathew Tsalkidis 87’)
10 – Ivan Franjic
11 – Makis Petratos
12 – Deion Nikolaidis
13 – Kosta Petratos (15 – Brian Summerskill 78’)
14 – Kaine Sheppard
17 – Joshua Pin
18 – Anthony Theodoropoulos
Subs not used:
1 – GK – Alex Golikidis
4 – Mallan Roberts
