October 27, 2025
2025 AUSTRALIAN CHAMPIONSHIP
ROUND 2
WOLLONGONG WOLVES V HEIDELBERG UNITED
WOLVES SUFFER BERGERS DEFEAT
MATCH REPORT
The Wollongong Wolves suffered their first defeat in the 2025 Australian Championship going down to Heidelberg United, the 2025 Australian Cup runners up. The first time that the two teams played each other was in 1981 and it was a 3-0 win to the Wolves. However, in this 2025 meeting, the score line was reversed with Jamal Ali, Anthony Lesiotis and Angus Taylor scoring the Bergers’ goals for a comprehensive victory. From the Wolves’ viewpoint, two of these goals were from set pieces and all three were probably preventable. However, with all things considered, that is a moot point. Two further efforts struck the goal frame with each team being denied through the shots of Sebastian Hernandez (WW) and Chok Dau (HU).
The Wolves, by playing in these 2025 Championships , are on the national stage and this is the first time in this type of competition since the 2019 FFA NPL Australian Championship (Identical premise but different format) when the Wolves indeed were victorious. Other appearances in the 2021, 2016 and 2014 FFA Australian Cup Rounds of 32 and 16 were featured nationally.
The Wolves, in this initial time playing at this Collegians Ground venue , ran towards the southern end as Heidelberg kicked off before a crowd listed as 3,077. Dylan Ryan intercepted a pass early on and then the Wolves began to keep possession to work the ball around, though Heidelberg made some inroads. Harrison Buesnell cleared as Heidelberg’s Jay McGowan put the ball in. The Wolves’ Tate Russell got forward down the right and put a cross intended for Alex Masciovecchio. However, the ball went behind him and the chance went begging. Thomas James put the ball in on target from the right and a fingertip save from custodian, Yaren Sozer thwarted him. Three minutes later, a Nicholas Olsen chip ball went to Scott, but Sozer reacted quickly to scupper. The Wolves were enterprising but had nothing to show for their endeavours. Fourteen minutes in, Masciovecchio placed a cross and Scott, fully stretched tried to get on to it but could not make it count. The Wolves were keeping tabs on the Bergers with their pressing play.
However, against the run of play Jamal Ali pushed the ball into the net in a crowded goal area on seventeen minutes. A corner kick was swung in from the left by the left footed Marcus Humbert. The ball was not cleared properly by the Wolves, and they suffered the consequences.
Olsen made a good run down the right-side eluding players on the way to respond to the Bergers goal, but no joy was to be had. At the other end, Humbert, who was having an impressive game, crossed from the right side, but the Wolves’ central defender, Banri Kanaizumi was there to head away to safety. A minute later, Juach tried a shot that traversed to the right of Daniel Solsky’s domain. A Fletcher Fulton header was over and by this stage the Wolves were giving away too many set pieces. A minute after the half hour , right defender Tate Russell, who was causing consternation down the right side, put his effort wide, being tackled as he shot. Buesnell kept Max Bisset under wraps though a corner kick emanated, and Kazuya Yamamura, headed out the threat. Later, an Isaac Danzo shot did not bring up the desired outcome.
Prior to the break, a cross from the right by McGowan and a free header by former Wolf, Bul Juach was headed wide as he stole forward. It nearly brought the Wolves undone once again.
At half time, the Bergers held a slender 1-0 lead.
The Wolves kept looking for an equaliser as the second stanza began, as a James drive was taken by Sozer.
Minutes later, the Bergers went further ahead. From outside the box, following a corner kick from the left, Solsky pushed the ball out, only for Anthony Lesiotis to gain possession and immediately delivered a strong shot from the periphery of the goal area. The ball zoomed forward and traversed under a diving custodian.
On the hour, Fulton made a run into the Wolves’ box, but his effort was over the target. By now the Bergers were controlling a mammoth amount of possession and control of the proceedings.
James, who never stop running, made an inroad five minutes later, but the tall timber of central defenders, substitute Michael Collins and Ryan Lethlean, combined to halt his progress. Asahi Yokokawa and substitute Angus Taylor provided efforts that were over and wide respectively. Humbert chanced but Solsky was equal to the task.
Heidelberg sealed the victory with the Wolves defence being breached a third time with six minutes to go. Tayler after receiving the ball from a teammate, worked his way to his right, looking for an opening to shoot. He found what he was angling for , and his subsequent right footed effort slipped through Solsky’s hands to lodge over the line.
Around the eighty minute mark, Heidelberg had an opportunity for a fourth goal. A free kick by substitute Chok Dau struck the crossbar on the left side near the junction of the left post and cross bar.
Six minutes later substitute Sebastian Hermandez rattled the cross bar as he stormed in before a defender to shoot. Substitute Flynn Madden attempted to get onto the rebound but could get his effort under full control and was unfortunately off target.
Heidelberg United had finished the match with three goals and a clean sheet, while the Wolves now need to regroup. As a result of this loss, the Wolves are now in third position in the group and need to defeat Marconi, a feat accomplished 3-0 in the NPL season. However, that stands for little when they come up against the Stallions next week in a different competition.
The Wolves and the Bergers have six players who have played for both clubs, and they are Dean Anastasiadis, Osagie Ederaro, Bul Juach, Takeru Okada, Nick Sabljak and Charlie Yankos.
Coach Luke Wilkshire –‘ disappointing result. We started well, we had some great moments but did not capitalize and then you get punished from a set piece. It changes the momentum . We were not clinical up top. … They are a top side and there are no easy games …They have been together for a while, and you can see that but as I said we had our moments… we caused them some problems and started brightly, and we could have had a couple of goals in the first ten minutes. . Goals win games and goals, change games and we saw what happened today and it is disappointing that some were from a set piece.’
Striker Thomas James –‘ we started off very well in the first fifteen, twenty minutes and created opportunities. We conceded sloppy goals…. They are well scripted and well drilled and they have been together for a long time. …We took the game to them got good opportunities and the keeper pulled off some good saves. We know what we are up for when we play them again. …We need to be better prepared …. we have a big game next week against Marconi. We will put this out of minds and win all the next games in our group.’
MATCH STATISTICS
WOLLONGONG WOLVES…….0
HEIDELBERG UNITED ………..3
Jamal Ali 17’ Anthony Lesiotis 50’ Angus Taylor 84’
@ Collegians Sports Centre, Figtree.
Saturday 18th October 2025
3..pm Kick off
WOLLONGONG WOLVES
Coach : Luke Wilkshire
- Daniel Solsky 13. Tate Russell, 9. Thomas James, 14. Banri Kanaizumi, 25. Alex Masciovecchio (11 Sebastian Hernandez,57’), 6. Isaac Danzo, 11. Harrison Buesnell, 24. Lachlan Scott (23 Flynn Madden 77’), 21. Nicolas Olsen (10, Obren Klajic 72) , 4. Dylan Ryan, 18, Kazuya Yamamura (Marcus Beattie 72),
Substitutes 15. Dax Kelly, 19. Max Cunial, RGK, 16. Lucas Trajcevski
Yellow cards : Isaac Danzo 28’, Banri Kanaizumi 78’ Obren Klajic 90+
HEIDELBERG UNITED
Coach –: John Anastasiadis
- Yaren Sozer, 4. Jamal Ali, 16. Marcus Humbert, 10. Asahi Yokokawa, (27 Akeil Raffie 75’) 17. Jay McGowan, 20. Max Bisetto, 18. Anthony Theodorpoulos (3. Benjamin Collins 57’), 14. Ryan Lethlean, 7. Fletcher Fulton (23. Ciaran Bramwell) , 9. Bul Juach (11.Angus Taylor 57’) , 6. Anthony Lesiotis (21 Ethan Sardellis 81’)
Substitutes not used, 22. Ryan Govan
Yellow Cards : Max Bisetto 39’
Referee : Declan Woods
Assistant Referee : Sam Stewart and Patrick Telecki
Fourth Official : Blake Sanchez -Cruz
By Malcolm Rowney
