Shepparton United's Riki Koyanagi.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
Down to 10 men in the League Cup semi-final tie against Shepparton South at McEwen Reserve and half an hour still on the clock, Shepparton United needed a strong response to break the nil-all deadlock.
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It found it in the form of Riki Koyanagi, who produced a timely second-half brace, including a swivelling pearler from outside the box, to punch United’s ticket to the final at Howley Reserve in August.
His heroics, deservedly, earned praise from coach Roven Shaholli and ensured United and South avoided a second draw for the 2025 Bendigo Amateur Soccer League season.
“(Riki) stepped it up to a different level, he had an awesome game,” Shaholli said.
“Like I’ve said previously, you have a look at our scoring line-up, and nearly 80 per cent of our team has scored.
“There’s a bit of attacking power there.”
Attack and defence on both sides were tested in equal measure in the frenetic opening half, with the Blues’ best chance to score via Hassan Alhilfi’s penalty denied with an inspiring double save from South goalkeeper Ryan Hopping on the eve of half-time.
Disaster struck for United 15 minutes into the second half, with Joseph Alshawaf banished from the pitch, reducing the boys in blue to 10 men.
Undermanned and needing a response, United found an extra gear.
“We were knocking on the door and, credit to the guys, they lifted for each other,” Shaholli said.
“From then on, we didn’t look like we were going to lose the way the boys were fighting.
“Just to find that belief at half-time ... we touched on a few things and regrouped.”
Shepparton South's Jaxan McDonald prepares to throw the ball back into play.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
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Greg Nash dribbles the ball.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
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Shepparton South's Trey De Palma is pursued by Shepparton United's Noor Baqiri.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
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Joseph Sepe moves the ball.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
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Willie Sauiluma brings United into attack.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
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Samip Magar passes.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
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Shepparton South's Trey De Palma and Shepparton United's Rumesh Bartaula contest.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
Howley Oval has been picked to host the final on August 3, with United set to face Eaglehawk, which was a 9-0 winner over Swan Hill in their semi-final.
The senior men of Shepparton United won’t be alone in their bid for early Bendigo Amateur Soccer League silverware.
The United women booked their ticket to a third consecutive League Cup final after clinching a 1-0 victory over Tatura.
United’s young brigade stood up with Ella Loverso picking the perfect time for her first senior goal, setting up a rematch of the 2023 final against Spring Gully.
Loverso’s looping free kick found the top corner of the net in the 65th minute to break the deadlock against the Ibises, much to the delight of coach Sheridan Fairless.
“It was a cracker. She scored it off a free kick and it hit perfectly into the top corner,” Fairless said.
“Pretty great time to score your first goal.
“It’s good to see a couple of the younger girls stepping up; Bek Lawson typically plays up top for us, but she’s hard to slot into a centre-back role.
“She’s playing like she’s been there forever and she was awesome on the weekend.”
Winners in 2023 and narrowly missing on penalties in the 2024 edition, Fairless said her side was hopeful of returning the title to McEwen Reserve.
“Hopefully, we can go one better than last year and bring home some silverware,” she said.
“We’ve had a challenging start to the season with a couple of key players missing from our starting XI.
“We’ve tried a few different things and I’m really proud of the way the girls have gone about it."
In the Reserves Cup, Shepparton ensured its representation in the last game with a 4-1 victory against Eaglehawk.
The visiting Eaglehawk scored first before an own-goal undid that good work, opening the door for Shepparton’s Hussain Algazali to carry that momentum forward.
Algazali scored in the 41st, 62nd, and 89th minute to seal victory with an emphatic hat-trick, sending Shepparton to a final showdown against Strathdale.
