Avondale starting XI: Manos, Wellsmore, Reid, Brice, Edwards, Towns (captain), Tevere, Trajcevski, Ahmed, Aguek, Kur

Goals: Ott 78’, Valentini 112’

With a large crowd expected, it was the perfect setting for a high-stakes showdown. Adding to the occasion, it was also club legend Yitay Town’s 200th appearance for Avondale - an incredible milestone for a fantastic footballer and an even better human being.

The Avengers started brightly, asserting themselves early with fluid ball movement and aggressive forward play. Heidelberg, by contrast, sat deeper in their defensive structure, looking to strike on the counterattack in a strategy they’ve mastered throughout the season.

In the 34th minute, Avondale were caught out during an attack, and Heidelberg countered swiftly down the left. The move pulled Avondale’s defence out of shape, and the ball eventually found the league’s top goal scorer in a central position. From just inside the penalty box, he calmly slotted home his 18th goal of the season.

Just 45 seconds after the restart, Avondale thought they had drawn level. Midfielder Kristian Trajcevski rifled a shot from 25 metres out into the bottom corner, but the goal was controversially disallowed. The referee judged forward Manny Aguek to be in an offside position and obstructing the goalkeeper’s vision.

That decision lit the spark for an intense and dramatic second half.

In the 78th minute, after several chances went begging for the home side, Avondale were awarded a free kick just outside the box. Tevere slipped while striking it, and the ball rebounded off the wall into the path of Wellsmore, whose shot forced a save. The rebound fell to substitute George Ott, who squared it across the face of goal to Trajcevski. His shot was blocked by a Heidelberg defender using his hand.

The referee had no hesitation: penalty awarded, and a red card shown to the Heidelberg defender for deliberate handball. George Ott stepped up and calmly converted from the spot to level the score.

At the 90-minute mark, the fourth official signalled 10 minutes of additional time due to multiple stoppages.

Remarkably, in the 112th minute, Avondale carved out one last chance. Trajcevski clipped a cross into the box, finding George Ott, who glanced a header to the back post. Waiting was Stefan Valentini, perfectly positioned to volley home the winner and send the crowd at Avenger Park into absolute raptures!

The dramatic win puts Avondale back on top of the NPLVIC table by goal difference, with just two games remaining.

Next up, the Avengers shift their focus to their Australia Cup Round of 16 fixture against Apia Leichhardt (NSW) at Green Gully Reserve on Wednesday, August 13 at 7:30 p.m.

There will be no NPLVIC fixtures this weekend due to the Dockerty Cup Final, where South Melbourne FC will take on Heidelberg United.