By Bryce Clayton

Heidelberg United has given its goal difference a massive boost, thrashing bottom-placed Goulburn Valley Suns 5-0 at Olympic Village on Sunday night.

A brace to Dan Vasilevski and goals to Kosta Kanakaris, Mark McGough and Andrew Cartanos helped the home side to its ninth win of the season.

Heidelberg came into the game off the back of a brave 1-1 draw with second-placed Oakleigh Cannons, while the Suns had claimed just one win for the season from 15 games.

McGough was first to try his luck in the fourth minute but missed to the right from 30 yards.

It was an even game throughout the first 15 minutes, with no clear chances to either side.

Goulburn Valley defended well and looked promising in attack as Heidelberg struggled to penetrate the visitors’ defence in the first 25 minutes.

Heidelberg then switched formation and pushed another man into midfield, and it almost paid dividends immediately as Kanakaris had his shot deflected wide in the 29th minute as the home side continued to search for an opener.

The following corner saw John Lazaridis completely miss the ball with an air-swing and there were shouts for a penalty as Les Doumbalis was brought down in the box.

It took until the 33rd minute for Heidelberg to take the lead through an outstanding Dan Vasilevski free-kick, which was curled up and over the wall into the top left-hand corner.

In the 42nd minute, Kanakaris turned his man and found himself in behind, but a great save by Alfonso Cardinale denied him from doubling Heidelberg’s lead.

It became 2-0 late in first-half injury time, with a piece of individual brilliance from Kanakaris doubling Heidelberg’s lead.

Kanakaris found himself one-on-one with Cardinale, selling a dummy before turning back inside and curling from an impossible angle into the bottom right-hand corner.

Heidelberg started the second half as it finished the first to win an early free-kick.

Vasilevski stepped up and showed that his first wasn’t a fluke, placing another stunner into the top left-hand corner.

If you thought both of Vasilevski’s free-kicks were special, McGough conjured up another audacious strike, as he perfected a 45-yard lob which caught Cardinau off guard and sent Heidelberg 4-0 up for one of the goals of the season.

Kaine Sheppard had the chance to make it five but his shot from the six-yard box was well saved by Cardinale.

Sheppard was in the spotlight again as his through-ball found Cartanos, who finished well into the bottom left-hand corner.

In the end it was a huge win to Heidelberg United, seeing it close the gap on Oakleigh to seven points.

Its coach George Katsakis was very happy with the win.

“We always knew they’d come and try to get something out of the game,” Katsakis said.

“After having an ordinary month you’d take that result any day. We changed things around a little bit (at halftime) and it paid dividends for us.

“Mark McGough’s strike, I’d dare to say is the goal of the year.”

Goulburn Valley coach Peter Zois commented on the danger of conceding multiple set pieces.

“You lose 5-0 and there’s nothing really to sum up,” Zois said.

“We just concede goals that are very disappointing. We need to stop conceding set pieces and creating moments where we give away goals by individual errors.

“Two set pieces and two individual mistakes, that’s the game right there.”

Heidelberg plays away to Ballarat Red Devils next round while Goulburn Valley will visit fellow struggler Port Melbourne Sharks.

MATCH DETAILS

Heidelberg United 5 (Vasilevski 33’ 51’, Kanakaris 47’, McGough 63’, Cartanos 85’) defeated Goulburn Valley Suns 0 at Olympic Village [HT: 2-0]

Heidelberg United: Griffin MCMASTER (GK), John LAZARIDIS, Luke BYLES (Harris STAMBOULIDIS 78’), Steve PACE, Les DOUMBALIS, Jakob WILLIAMS (Jordan WILKES 74’), Jack PETRIE, Dan VASILEVSKI (Andrew CARTANOS 68’), Mark McGOUGH, Kaine SHEPPARD, Kosta KANAKARIS

Unused subs: Gianluca FANTACCI, James GOULOPOULOS

Yellow card: Jack PETRIE 23’

Red cards: Nil

Goulburn Valley Suns: Alfonso CARDINALE, Cody SELLWOOD, Naum SEKULOVSKI (Ardian VUNIQI 45’), Simon COLOSIMO, Benjamin CLARKE, Craig CARLEY (Brian VANEGA 45’), Zachary PARASKEVAS, Rossi LAGANA (Daniel CHAABANI 61’), Antonia BARBARO, Frank LAGANA, Zachary FOXHOVEN

Unused Subs: Phillip PETROVSKI, Thomas LANGMAN

Yellow card: Frank LAGANA 58’

Red cards: Nil