NPL Women Match Report: Pythagoras immense in 3-0 victory

Box Hill United fans at Wembley Park roared with delight on Friday night as their team, with their trademark resilience and fighting spirit, secured a strong 3-0 victory over Heidelberg United.

This win comes after a string of tough matches, showcasing the unwavering spirit that Box Hill United possesses.

The opening exchanges belonged to Heidelberg, as they carved out early chances – only to be denied by the offside flag. However, Box Hill United goalkeeper Natasha Stathopoulos proved to be a rock at the back, making crucial saves that steadied the ship.

Natasha Stathopoulos led the backline superbly against her former side.

The tide began to turn around the half-hour mark, thanks to the efforts of Aysha Du Plessis and Asuka Doi. They started testing Mia Bailey in the Bergers’ goal with Box Hill’s first real shots on target.

Then, in the 36th minute, the deadlock was broken in spectacular fashion by Chi Ting. She embarked on a tremendous solo run, nutmegging a defender before chipping the ball audaciously over Bailey. Wembley Park erupted as Box Hill United took a well-deserved lead after dominating the latter stages of the first half.

Chi Ting celebrates the opener.

The second half began brightly for Box Hill, with Chi Ting testing the Heidelberg keeper early on. Box Hill held their lead throughout the half, keeping Heidelberg at bay.

Finally, with just under 20 minutes left to play, Pythagoras doubled their advantage. Bridie Cooling’s shot from outside the box took a fortuitous deflection off Asuka Doi shoulder, finding its way past Ava Walters who needed to replace the injured Bailey in goal.

Asuka Doi embraced by her teammates.

The final 10 minutes saw Box Hill entirely in control. A scramble in the box following a corner awarded to Box Hill saw Asuka Doi pounce once again, securing her second goal of the night and extending Box Hill’s lead to a commanding 3-0. Doi even came close to completing a hat-trick in the dying seconds, but her close-range effort was carried away by the Heidelberg keeper.

Asuka Doi in the right spot for her second goal and the sealer.

The final whistle blew, sending the Box Hill faithful into a frenzy of celebration. This emphatic victory was a true team effort, a very much-needed boost for Box Hill United, coming after a challenging run of games.

The attackers may have grabbed the headlines, but the defenders played a crucial role in securing a clean sheet, making every player feel valued and integral to the victory.

Olivia Ellis put in another strong captain’s performance in defence.

This win will undoubtedly inject confidence back into the squad as they look to build momentum in the coming weeks.

Match details:

Box Hill United 3 (Ting 36, Doi 70′ 83′) – Heidelberg United 0

Written by Vedant Gavaskar

Images credit: Passion Creations