Heidelberg United will meet Bundoora United in a WPL Elimination Final for the third straight season after a 2-2 draw against South Melbourne on Saturday locked the Warriors in fifth place.
South Melbourne fell to third with the result but still has a finals double chance as it prepares to take on Ashburton United in a qualifying final next week.
On a couple of occasions it looked like Heidelberg would defeat South and drag them into fourth, setting up a re-match a week later.
But Tiffany Eliadis’ penalty mid-way through the second half would earn South a point, and a finals double-chance.
Heidelberg led for 22 minutes in the second half before Eliadis’ goal, while Belinda Pannella had a close offside call deny her what could have been the match-winner in the 82nd minute.
The game was marked by momentum swings, with South Melbourne deserving their opener when Jamie Pollock tapped in Eliadis’ cross from the right on 12 minutes.
Heidelberg hit back with an irresistible spell, which would yield two goals in six minutes and send the Warriors to half-time with the lead.
Christy Zwolski bought Heidelberg level in the 36th minute, wheeling onto a high-bouncing ball and floating a volley from the left side of the area into the right side netting, leaving South goalkeeper Frances Land stranded.
Anisa Guajardo put Heidelberg in front in the 42nd minute when she headed in a cross from Elise Mamanu-Gray.
Land was caught out of position for Mamanu-Gray’s header after leaving her line to chase Guajardo out to the left of the penalty box.
South Melbourne started the second half with more purpose and soon had the game back on their terms.
Natalie Martineau had a shot blocked off the line, while Brittany Dudley-Smith nearly scored from an impossible angle on the left as South ramped up the pressure.
South would ultimately draw level via a penalty, with Jamie Pollock winning the spot kick before Tiff Eliadis netted in the bottom left corner.
The game opened up as both teams went for a winner, but only Pannella’s disallowed strike stood out among the half chances.
“There was some inconsistency in our defensive third,” South Melbourne coach Socrates Nicolaidis said.
“In terms of our build-up play, attacking play and combination play, I’ve got to be happy for the girls but we’ve got to put our chances away.”
Nicolaidis will miss next week’s match against Ashburton United due to a personal commitment overseas. Assistants Jorge Leon and Stuart Smith will coach the team.
“We’re going to put a plan in place to counteract a very deadly forward line,” Nicolaidis said.
Heidelberg eliminated Bundoora in the fourth-versus-fifth final both last year and in 2013, while the teams split their head-to-head meetings this season one win each.
“I thought we were flat today, to walk away with a draw in that environment, we’ll take it,” Heidelberg United coach Bill Mihaloudis said.
“Our team has played Bundoora well (in the past) but what it boils down too, against any opponent, is how badly they want it.”
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Heidelberg United 2 (Zwolski 36′, Guajardo 42′) drew with South Melbourne WFC 2 (Pollock 12′, Eliadis [P] 67′) at Olympic Village [HT: 2-1]
Heidelberg United: 21. FONUA Christine (GK), 2. MIHALOUDIS Demi (5. TORRE Elle 74′), 4. VERZI Michelle, 6. PHILLIPS Laura, 10. NICOLACI Julia, 14. TSALIKIDIS Holly (22. GAVALAS Ellie 62′), 15. FONUA Lisa, 18. MURPHY Sadie, 38. ZWOLSKI Christy (9. PANNELLA Belinda 77′), 45. MAMANU-GRAY Elise (11. KOMIJAT Aneta 65′), 50. GUAJARDO Anisa
Unused Substitute(s): 7. EUDES Marguerite
South Melbourne WFC: 1. LAND Frances (GK), 2. DUDLEY-SMITH Brittany, 4. PRICHARD Jessie, 5. MARTINEAU Natalie, 6. CHEAL Alex, 8. HOWES Carol, 10. ELIADIS Tiffany, 11. LINES Saphri (18. GREISER Caitlin, 87′), 12. POLLOCK Jamie, 16. FARQUHAR Lisa, 17. BAKER Ali (7. SCHREUDER Rhea 73′)
Unused Substitute(s): 3. FEAKES Jade, 14. BRAJANOVSKI Natalie, 21. MAJSTOROVIC Coco