The 2025 NPLW Match of the Round Preview
Round 21: Heidelberg United v FC Bulleen Lions
Heidelberg United v Bulleen Lions
Saturday August 23, 4:15pm, Olympic Village
In the penultimate round of the NPLW season, it doesn’t get much bigger than this: 2025 Premiers Heidelberg United host second-placed Bulleen Lions in a finals-preview clash worthy of Match of the Round status.
In Round 20, Heidelberg secured the Premiers Plate after Bulleen failed to claim all three points against Nike FC Cup winners South Melbourne, adding extra spice to this week’s encounter.
Caitlin Friend’s side showed plenty of fight last week, coming back from 3-0 down to claim a point, and will be eager to make a statement now that the Premiers Plate is out of reach. Heidelberg, meanwhile, had their match with Preston rescheduled due to rain, giving them a week off - but will the extra rest prove a blessing or a curse heading into this crucial matchup?
Head-to-Head Record
Played: 34
Heidelberg United: 12
Bulleen: 17
Draws: 5
Last Time They Met
Saturday May 24 2025, 4:00pm Veneto Club, Bulleen
Bulleen 1 (Massey 53) - 2 Heidelberg United (Barreiro 13, Matsuda 45)
Referee: Shab Saban Assistant Referees: Lauren White and Natali Finlay Fourth Official: Zachariah Abdo
Bulleen Lions: Emily Shields, Catherine Renehan, Danella Butrus, Sarah Cain, Maddison Rakic, Anais Josefski, Mary Brown (Eva Papaleo 68), Grace Cagnina, Nia Salleh, Sascha Kozomara, Hollie Massey Coach: Caitlin Friend
Heidelberg United: Mia Bailey, Maia Heysen, Rosie Wild, Cameron Barreiro, Sawa Matsuda, Stephanie Galea (Bronte Peel 62), Kathryn Vlahopoulos (Samantha Curwood-Wagner 62), Nicole Cooper, Asuka Miyata, Molly Burke, Heidi Draai (Aeryn Tarrant 62) Coach: Dennis Georgakopoulos
The Key Matchup: Sawa Matsuda v Isabel Dehakiz
Sawa Matsuda has been unstoppable this season, netting 17 goals to lead the Golden Boot race with two rounds remaining. She will be a key player in this clash, but Bulleen may have the perfect counter in returning centre-back Isabel Dehakiz. The 2024 Players’ Player earned an A-League contract with Western United off the back of her standout 2024 NPLW campaign and has returned to the lineup at exactly the right time.
Dehakiz will be supported by talented juniors Annie Yates and Mila Bulic, but Heidelberg’s attacking threat remains potent with Matsuda combining with midfield stars Sarah O’Donoghue and Tamar Levin.
Commentator: Adem Saricaoglu
The 2025 NPLW Round 21 Match of the Round will be broadcast live and free on the NPL Victoria YouTube Channel.
NPLW Round 21 Matches
- Friday 22 August, 7:30pm: Box Hill United v Spring Hills @ Wembley Park
- Saturday 23 August, 3:00pm: Brunswick Juventus v Preston Lions @ CB Smith Reserve
- Saturday 23 August, 3:00pm: Alamein v Bentleigh Greens @ Dorothy Laver Reserve
- Saturday 23 August, 3:00pm: South Melbourne v Essendon Royals @ Lakeside Stadium
- Saturday 23 August, 4:15pm: Heidelberg United v Bulleen Lions @ Olympic Village
- Saturday 23 August, 3:00pm: FV Academy v Boroondara Eagles @ HoTM