Welcome to Wonderkid Watch: A weekly piece that keeps you up to date with the players and stories emerging from A-Leagues clubs playing at NPL level in Australia.
Young gun stars in all-time classic at the Veneto Club
Whatever you were doing on Monday night, it was not as good as what transpired in Melbourne.
Melbourne Victory rallied from 3-0 down and 5-4 behind in stoppage time to salvage a chaotic 5-5 draw with Bulleen Lions in VPL1.
Adem Duratovic and Tommaso Minutoli starred for league-leading Victory, who escaped from the jaws of defeat after the former converted a 97th-minute penalty five minutes after hosts Bulleen had restored their lead in stoppage time.
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Victory had the chance to clinch promotion to NPLM VIC in Bulleen’s final home game of the season.
Bulleen left Victory shell-shocked as they took a 2-0 lead into half-time and they made it 3-0 early in the second half.
Minutoli gave Victory hope with a quick-fire brace – scoring twice in just four minutes.
The 19-year-old attacker, who boasts predatory instincts in front of goal, has now scored nine goals in 16 games (827 minutes) as a number nine in 2024, having missed most of pre-season through injury.
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A key part of the team’s promotion bid in Victoria’s second tier, he also scored for the Isuzu UTE A-League side on debut against Pascoe Vale in 2022.
A minute later, however, Bulleen restored their two-goal cushion at 4-2.
Marc Petheriotis, though, kept Victory in the hunt with a goal 21 minutes from the end.
Then, Duratovic stepped up and converted a stunning free-kick to restore parity in the final minute of regulation.
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Just as Victory thought they had salvaged a point, Bulleen hit the front again in the 92nd minute amid wild scenes.
But that was not the end of the drama as Victory won a penalty and Duratovic dispatched the spot-kick to make it 5-5 five minutes later.
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It continued Duratovic‘s fine season with Victory, where he has been captain of the VPL1 side following the elevation of Alex Menelaou into the Isuzu UTE A-League squad.
The 21-year-old – who is technically strong and can play either as a number nine or 10, debuted for Victory’s senior academy side in 2021 and has gone on to score 35 goals.
Of those goals, 13 have came in 23 matches this season to sit joint-third in the VPL1 Golden Boot standings.
Victory are top of VPL1 through 24 rounds, five points clear of Preston Lions – who have a game in hand.
Academy prospect grabbing his chance
Remember the name: Joseph De Los Santos Myles.
The Melbourne City prospect continued his fine form over the weekend with a game-winning double in a 2-1 triumph over Bentleigh Greens.
He scored twice in the first half as City won their third straight game while extending their unbeaten streak to four matches.
The 18-year-old midfielder – a creative number 10 – has now scored three goals in two matches.
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Having arrived from Green Gully as a 13-year-old, the teenager has been patient in the Under-23 team for most of the season – scoring six goals, before getting an opportunity with the seniors over the last few weeks and he has seized that chance.
He has also been spending a lot of time training with the Isuzu UTE A-League squad in the early stages of their pre-season.
City are sixth in the standings, 15 points off the pace.
Western United, meanwhile, are third and six points off the pace after their 2-1 win over Langwarrin.
Isuzu UTE A-League player Michael Ruhs and Nicolas Koek were on target for Western, who had Abel Walatee sent off away from home.
Koek has scored 11 goals this season, only five goals shy of the Golden Boot lead.
Formerly at Altona Magic, he joined Western United in 2022 and has continued to impress.
“With strong physical attributes typical of a traditional striker, Koek is also capable of playing in wide areas given his speed. He has an excellent eye for goal with technical quality to be clinical when chances arise,” said academy director Anthony Frost.
“We have seen good incremental progression from Nick during his time with us and looking forward to seeing him build on the opportunities given to him at senior level this season.”
In NPLW VIC, former Melbourne Victory striker Maja Markovski scored twice in Bulleen Lions’ 4-1 rout of Bentleigh Greens.
Susan Phonsongkham, on the books of Perth Glory since 2021, scored for Preston Lions in their 7-1 humbling of Alamein FC.
High-flying Jets win again!
Another week and another victory for the history-making Newcastle Jets.
Newcastle moved to within one win of securing the Football NSW League Two title after routing Granville Rage 4-1.
The unbeaten Jets are yet to lose after 24 rounds (W19 D5) and they could clinch the premiership-promotion double next week.
Xavier Bertoncello scored his 12th goal of the season in NSW’s third tier, while Wil Southcombe was at the double for the soaring Jets. Will Dobson also scored.
In League One, leaders Bulls FC Academy were stunned 4-0 by SD Raiders.
In NPLM NSW, relegation-threatened Central Coast Mariners drew 1-1 with St George City.
Nicholas Duarte opened the scoring for the Mariners inside a minute in a fiery showdown at Pluim Park.
“Every point counts at this stage in the competition. The boys were brave in competing but we just couldn’t capitalise on the chances created,” said Mariners head coach Lucas Vilela via NPL NSW.
“Today was more focused on the moment and to ride the wave because we knew it was going to be a tense match. We had the chance to change history and we nearly did but unfortunately the result didn’t come.”
“I believe the boys are ready for this battle against Sutherland as our performances and confidence continues to build and hopefully it’s going to be our day.”
Sydney FC’s survival hopes took a hit following a 5-1 loss at the hands of Wollongong Wolves, while Western Sydney Wanderers were beaten 3-0 by Blacktown City.
In NPLM SA, teenage prodigy Amlani Tatu scored for Adelaide United in their 4-2 loss to Adelaide Comets. Ryan White also found the back of the net for the Reds, who coughed up a two-goal lead.
Over in NPLM QLD, Brisbane Roar lost 1-0 to Gold Coast Knights.
Golazos in NPLW NSW!
There were some stunning goals scored in NPLW NSW over the weekend.
Bulls FC Academy were 4-2 winners against Northern Tigers at Northbridge Oval.
Avaani Prakash equalised for the Bulls before Golden Boot leader and Sydney FC-bound sensation Amber Luchtmeijer made it 2-1 in the 48th minute.
The Tigers equalised a minute later, however, Daniella Naeimi restored the Bulls’ lead two minutes later with an incredible individual goal.
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Luchtmeijer sealed the points approaching the hour mark – her 20th of the season.
A 94th-minute equaliser via Alexis Collins saw Emerging Jets salvage a 1-1 draw at Manly United.
Western Sydney Wanderers star Danika Matos, meanwhile, scored a stunning goal as Illawarra Stingrays upstaged league leaders APIA Leichhardt 3-0.
