Bulleen Lions FC have put the rest of the National Premier League on notice after a stunning 4-2 win over Heidelberg United FC in tonight's 2025 Women's Community Shield at The Home of The Matildas.
Bulleen's Denella Butrus was the standout player of the match, wreaking havoc on the Heidelberg defence with her pace down the wing before being substituted off in the 60th minute.
Despite the final scoreline, it was Heidelberg who opened the scoring, when Bronte Peel made Bulleen pay for some sloppy defending, guiding one past the helpless goalkeeper.
But the Lions struck back hard, levelling the scores at the 30-minute mark thanks to a perfect free kick from Butrus on the edge of the box that eluded the wall and left the keeper stunned.
Bulleen grabbed the lead from another set piece just minutes later, this time from a corner. Heidelberg couldn't clear the deep cross and Grace Cagnina smashed it through the traffic and into the back of the net from close range.
It didn't take long for Bulleen to double their lead after a perfect through-ball sprung Anais Josefski in on goal, who made no mistake with just the keeper to beat.
After the scintillating first half, things tightened up significantly in the second, with neither side able to add to their tally for much of the final 45.
That is until Bulleen's Rosie Rodger's perfect pinpoint accurate strike from the edge of the box sealed the match, and the 2025 Women's Community Shield, for the reigning Nike FC Cup Champions.
But it wasn't all doom and gloom for the Heidelberg fans, as Asuka Miyata blasted one home from distance in the 90th minute to finish the evening with a bang.
From here, both sides will spend the week preparing for their NPLW 2025 Round 1 matches - a double-header next Saturday night at David Barro Stadium - with Bulleen hosting Box Hill United FC before Heidelberg begin their title defence against Boroondara-Carey Eagles FC in the evening.