The 2025 NPLW Match of the Round Preview
Round 15: South Melbourne v Heidelberg United
Venue: Olympic Village, Heidelberg
Date/Time: Saturday 5 July 2025, 3:00pm
Round 15 of the NPLW is headlined by a top-of-the-table showdown, with first-placed Heidelberg United hosting second-placed South Melbourne at Olympic Village.
The Bergers boast the league’s most potent attack, netting 38 goals so far this season. Leading the charge is Golden Boot frontrunner Sawa Matsuda, who has scored 15 goals in just 14 games — averaging more than a goal per match.
South Melbourne aren’t far behind, with the second-highest goals tally in the competition. Nikki Furukawa leads their attack with six goals, closely followed by Meisha Westland on five. They'll also rely on the creativity and flair of Raquel Deralas, Olivia Bomford, and Francesca Iermano to break through Heidelberg’s equal-fifth ranked defence.
In Round 14, South Melbourne edged out fellow finals contender Alamein in a gritty 1-0 win, securing a valuable clean sheet against top opposition. Heidelberg also claimed three points, surviving a late scare from the FV Emerging squad with a 4-2 win sealed by a stoppage-time goal.
South continue to blend youth with experience, debuting former FV Academy U20's standout Alexis Pantazopoulos last week, joining fellow young guns Eva Kokotis and Ehva Gutszmit in a growing crop of emerging talent.
Heidelberg’s depth is also on full display, with stars Steph Galea and Keely Lockhart coming off the bench last round — a reminder of the firepower available at their disposal.
With just a handful of rounds remaining, this match could go a long way in shaping who finishes top of the table — and sends a serious message heading into finals
Head-to-Head Record
Played: 57
South Melbourne: 31
Heidelberg United: 20
Draws: 6
Last Time They Met
Round 4, Tuesday 5 April 2025, 4:15pm @ Olympic Village.
Heidelberg United 1 (Lockhart 62);
South Melbourne 5 (Furukawa 3, 52, Burn 12, Eliadis 16pk, Westland 48pk).
Referee: Caitlin Williams.
Heidelberg United: Mia Bailey, Maia Heysen, Rosie Wild (Emilia Ingles 78), Cameron Barreiro (Aeryn Tarrant 68), Sawa Matsuda, Keely Lockhart, Bronte Peel (Kathryn Vlahopoulos 53), Asuka Miyata, Molly Burke (Stephanie Galea 68), Samantha Curwood-Wagner, Judy Connolly (Heidi Draai 53); Coach: Dennis Georgakopoulos; Cautions: Vlahopoulos 81.
South Melbourne: Cristina Esposito (Ayana Aoyagi 87), Bridie Cooling, Francesca Iermano, Akeisha Sandhu (Jessica Sheehan 87), Olivia Bomford (Dragana Kljajic 66), Raquel Deralas, Meisha Westland, Nikki Furukawa, Mami Ambo (Gia Kapsimallis 59), Alana Burn, Tiffany Eliadis (Alannah Filipovic 87); Coach: Matthew Shepherd; Cautions: Nil
The Key Matchup: Sawa Matsuda v Grace Taranto
Sawa Matsuda continues to lead the league’s most dangerous forward line, with 15 goals in 14 matches — a serious threat South Melbourne will need to contain. It’ll take a top defensive performance to keep her quiet.
The mid-season addition of championship-winning midfielder Sarah O'Donoghue has added another dimension to Heidelberg’s attack. Her brace last week showed just how well she complements Matsuda in the final third.
But South Melbourne have their own defensive weapons. Junior Matilda Grace Taranto will relish the challenge — strong in the air and composed on the ball. She’ll be supported by the experienced TJ Vlanjic and Annabel Haffenden, forming a backline ready to rise to the occasion
The 2025 NPLW Round 14 Match of the Round will be broadcast live and free on the NPL Victoria YouTube Channel.
Commentator:
Oscar Rutherford
NPLW Round 15 Matches
Friday 4 July, 6:15pm: Bentleigh Greens vs Box Hill United @ Kingston Heath Soccer Complex
Friday 4 July, 8:30pm: Preston Lions vs Essendon Royals @ Genis Steel Stadium
Friday 4 July, 8:30pm: FV Academy vs Brunswick Juventus @ Home of the Matildas
Saturday 5 July, 3:00pm: Alamein vs Bulleen Lions @ Dorothy Laver West Reserve
Saturday 5 July, 3:00pm: South Melbourne vs Heidelberg United @ Lakeside Stadium
Saturday 5 July, 4:00pm: Boroondara Eagles vs Spring Hills @ Veneto Club