Image: Mark Avellino
Calder United are the first team into the NPLW grand final after defeating Alamein FC 2-1, who will now face Galaxy United in their second chance match after the latter romped past Bulleen Lions 6-0.
At Keilor Park the hosts had to do it the hard way, coming back from a one-goal deficit at half time following Harriet Cordner’s 20th minute goal to seal the 2-1 result courtesy of Enza Barilla and Cindy Lay’s quickfire efforts just after the break.
Alamein started the brighter early, and Hannah Keane forced a top save from Calder custodian Beth Mason Jones to fire the first warning shot.
It didn’t matter as from the resulting corner it was Cordner who bundled the ball home to give her side the lead.
Calder had a number of corners of their own as they grew into the contest, otherwise repelling most of Alamein’s efforts going forward.
However it was still 1-0 at the break with the visitors looking comfortable.
That scoreline wouldn’t stay the same for long after the restart, as in the 51st minute Enza Barilla was allowed space and made the most of it with a shot past Melissa Maizels in goal.
It was two goals not long later when Cindy Lay was allowed to tap in a loose ball that Maizels couldn’t trap.
With Alamein all of a sudden chasing the game, a number of attacking subs from Sinisa Cohadzic saw Cristina Cardaci and Emma Runnalls on to change the balance of the game.
But most impressively from Mark Torcaso’s side, they were able to contain any later attacks, including stopping the deadly duo of Melina Ayres and Keane from getting on the scoresheet, and had chances to add to their tally later on.
However that’s the way the game stayed as the final whistle blew on the 2-1 scoreline.
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Meanwhile, a Laura Spiranovic double and singles to Aneta Komijat, Britt Elsen, Selin Kuralay and Lulu Al-Huneidi saw a convincing day out for Vinnie Ierardo’s side.
Spiranovic opened the scoring from a corner in the 16th minute with a tap in on the line.
It was two just moments later as Spiranovic, who has had an injury-interrupted season so far, showed her quality by finishing past Lauren Farrugia when Kariah White pounced on an errant pass in the backline to tee up the striker.
Bulleen were their own worst enemies at times as Aneta Komijat took advantage of a similar errant backpass, tapping into an empty net for 3-0.
Keely Lockhart and Lia Privitelli had shots soon after as the Lions tried to get back into the game, but any chances of a comeback were effectively killed off just before the break as Britt Elsen tapped home after a goalmouth scramble to make it 4-0.
The barrage didn’t end there as Kuralay struck a shot from outside the box to make it five.
The final nail in the coffin came in stoppage time when Al-Huneidi’s effort was spilled in by Farrugia for six.
