by John Fotinos
Two fierce old soccer NSL days rivals clash on Friday at Green Gully Reserve when a suddenly more confident Heidelberg United wanders out west to meet Green Gully.
On the back of a six-day break after a dominant 6-0 away thrashing of Dandenong City, the ‘Bergers face a Gully side that defeated Hume City 1-0 last round, followed up by a 3-0 Cup win over Fitzroy City.
In what could be deemed another ‘six pointer’, the Warriors start in tenth spot, five points behind seventh placed Gully, who are just a point outside the top six as we approach the half way juncture of a fascinating season.
If recent history is any guide, the game should provide plenty of spectacular action. Who could forget Ninkovic’s late winner last season to give the ‘Bergers a come from behind win, or Salmon’s double in 2019 to give Gully a 4-2 win. Then there was the truly remarkable 8-2 win to Heidelberg in 2015, with Govas on the scoresheet four times that day for the ‘Bergers, including a worldy from near the middle of the park that went viral.
Going back to the VPL days of 2005, the controversial penalty shoot out in the finals which went the way of Gully, and in 2009, a crazy 5-4 home win by Gully in which their keeper was subbed out.
Most ‘Berger fans can recall the genesis of the “Cardiac Kids’ game in 2017, with the Warriors seemingly down and out, having been outplayed for three quarters of a game they trailed badly 2-0, only to score twice in the last five minutes to draw level, before current skipper Reuben Way hit a long range thunderbolt deep into stoppage time to set alight not just a season, but an unprecedented era for Heidelberg United over the next three seasons.
Expect the unexpected at Green Gully Reserve, this Friday April 29, with kick off time at 8:00pm.
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