The 2025 NPLW Round 12 Match of the Round Preview
Round 12: Heidelberg United v Boroondara Eagles
Venue: Olympic Village, Heidelberg West
Date/Time: Saturday 14 June 2025, 4:15pm
It’s rare that the halfway point of the season delivers the perfect match-up to commence the reverse home-and-away rounds, but here we are, with Olympic Village set to host a top-of-the-table clash which offers a prelude of what we may expect come Finals time in August.
Fresh from a rollicking end to their 2024 campaign, which saw an unexpected win in the NPLW Grand Final, Heidelberg United have been the form team of the competition, their 5-1 loss to South Melbourne in Round 4 the only true blip in a season which has seen them pick up 26 of a possible 33 points. Sporting the recruit of the season in Sawa Matsuda (13 goals in 11 appearances), the Bergers are a picture of consistency, with eight players not having missed a match, and a further three having played 10 of the first 11.
After a disappointing 2024 campaign which saw Boroondara finish 6th and miss Finals, 2025 has brought a shift in fortune also built on a consistent starting eleven, with no fewer than ten players have played 10 of 11 matches in the opening leg of the home-and-away campaign. An experienced group is spearheaded by Hayley Guerts, Ellen Turner and former Gold Medal winner, Candela Ferreyra Bas.
Head-to-Head Record
Played: 10
Heidelberg United: 7
Boroondara Eagles: 1
Draws: 2
Last Time They Met
Round 1, Friday 15 March 2025, 8:30pm @ Veneto Club.
Boroondara Eagles 2 (Dempsey 17, Savarirayan 21);
Heidelberg United 3 (Matsuda 7, 89 Vlahopoulos 85).
Referee: Makis Loukeris.
Boroondara Eagles: Mia Mossman, Kanako Higuchi, Ellen Turner (Cicily Paraskevas 69), Rachel Stirton (Hayley Geurts 69), Priya Savarirayan, Candela Ferreyra Bas (Mikka Kolle 89), Angeliki Houndalas, Maria Patrikis, Saki Nagai, Drew Dempsey, Madeleine Rees; Coach: Luka Vah; Cautions: Nil.
Heidelberg United: Mia Bailey, Maia Heysen, Cameron Barreiro (Heidi Draai 77), Sawa Matsuda, Keely Lockhart (Daniella Galluccio 90), Bronte Peel (Stephanie Galea 63), Asuka Miyata, Molly Burke (Kathryn Vlahopoulos 63), Samantha Curwood-Wagner, Emilia Ingles, Judy Connolly (Holly Tancin 77); Coach: Dennis Georgakopoulos; Cautions: Barreiro 71, Connolly 71.
Watch the last time they me
Key Matchup: Matsuda v Higuchi
While this matchup may well be right at home in the upcoming Japanese WE League season, two of this season’s best Japanese imports are the key reason why both teams find themselves in positions 1 and 2 on the NPLW League Table.
Sawa Matsuda has been in stellar form from the opening whistle, scoring a brace in the corresponding fixture in the opening round to help seal the Bergers first win in their title defence. Matsuda’s 13 goals from 11 matches include that opening round brace, and hat-tricks against Preston Lions and Essendon Royals during the month of May. She’s has featured in the NPLW Team of the Week on five occasions.
At the other end of the pitch for the Eagles has been Kanako Higuchi, who hasn’t missed a beat in her debut NPLW campaign, playing every minute at the heart of s stubborn defence which has conceded just 12 goals in Season 2025. Quietly ticking along at the heart of defence, Higuchi could be the vital cog in the Eagles line that quells the Bergers attack.
The 2025 NPLW Round 12 Match of the Round will be broadcast live and free on the NPL Victoria YouTube Channel.
Commentators:
Stefan Djordjic and Emma Bourke.
NPLW Round 12 Matches
• Friday 13 June, 7:30pm: Box Hill United vs Bulleen Lions @ Wembley Park
• Friday 13 June, 8:30pm: Preston Lions vs Spring Hills @ Genis Steel Stadium
• Saturday 14 June, 3:00pm: Essendon Royals vs Brunswick Juventus @ Cross Keys Reserve
• Saturday 14 June, 3:00pm: Alamein vs FV Academy @ Dorothy Laver West
• Saturday 14 June, 4:15pm: Heidelberg United vs Boroondara Eagles @ Olympic Village
• Sunday 15 June, 2:00pm: South Melbourne vs Bentleigh Greens @ Lakeside Stadium