Calder United secured the 2022 Senol NPLW Victoria Championship on Sunday, September 11 with a 2-0 victory over FC Bulleen Lions.
A passionate crowd witnessed Calder clinch its third piece of silverware in as many months, claiming the 2022 Nike F.C. Cup, Premier’s Plate, and Senol NPLW Championship.
In a rematch of the 2019 NPLW Final, Calder once again reigned supreme over Bulleen with right-back Julia Sardo winning the Player of the Match medal.
Both sides came out of the blocks searching for the early ascendancy before FV Media Player of the Year Alana Cerne who has made a habit of stepping up in big games opened the scoring in the 16th minute as she sent the ball soaring into the top left corner from a tough angle on the right side.
Calder continued to control possession until the half-hour mark when Bulleen regained their rhythm and nearly scored an equaliser from an Alana Jancevski stoppage time free kick following an awkward challenge from Calder’s Alana Cerne which resulted in a yellow card.
Bulleen looked likely early in the second half before Calder kicked into action, nearly doubling their lead when defender Alexis Rossi picked up the ball on the right-hand corner of the box and delivered a powerful strike into the crossbar before Melissa Taranto’s follow-up was saved by Bulleen goalkeeper Emily Shields.
Moments later, Taranto would then strike the woodwork when she was picked out wonderfully by Cerne, leaving another chance beckoning,
Alana Cerne then almost scored her second goal for the match when she managed to get her head on the end of a Julia Sardo cross and forced Bulleen goalkeeper Emily Shields to make a terrific diving save.
As the game neared its conclusion, Calder left the door ajar for a Bulleen comeback, and in the 70th minute Lia Privitelli flicked a corner towards goal, but the strike hit Rossi and gave NPLW Goalkeeper of the Year Alyssa Dall’Oste the chance to trap the ball and dismiss any chance of an equaliser.
Calder's defending proved pivotal as they iced the match only five minutes later. Stacey Papadopoulos who was at her evasive best pulled the ball across goal for Taranto to slam home, Calder a two-goal buffer.
With their season on the line, Bulleen continued to press, however, Calder’s rock-solid defence prevailed ensuring its 17th clean sheet for the season.
The Final was a fitting conclusion to the 2022 Senol Finals Series - the first time in three years that an NPLW VIC season has been played to completion. Congratulations to all the NPLW teams, who provided a competitive and entertaining competition throughout 2022.