Picture: Graeme Furlong

By Teo Pellizzeri

An heroic performance from goalkeeper Alex Pavlidis lifted Pascoe Vale into the semi-finals of PS4 NPL Victoria after a 2-2 draw against Heidelberg United at Olympic Village on Sunday.

Pascoe Vale now has a semi-final against South Melbourne to prepare for after winning 3-0 on penalty kicks.

Pavlidis saved two out of three Heidelberg United penalties to win the shoot-out and cap a day where both he and counterpart Griffin McMaster had made a string of quality saves.

A first-half red card for Heidelberg United's Jamie Cumming left the third-placed team at a significant disadvantage, albeit rarely curtailing the Warriors' initiative in taking on the game.

Pascoe Vale had the better of the early running, with Davey van 't Schip and Michael Ferrante testing McMaster and forcing sharp saves.

Heidelberg was arguably shading the run of play when Cumming was sent off, for what appeared to be a kick-out at van 't Schip as the striker was floored, having just been fouled.

Pascoe Vale made the man advantage count just moments into the second half when Joseph Youssef fired in a cut-back from the left by Luca Santilli.

But Heidelberg hit back immediately, with Andreas Govas scoring with a long shot just seconds after the kick-off to re-start play.

Youssef had a gilt-edged chance from close range that he skied in the 54th minute, then a header that required a tipped save from McMaster two minutes later.

Dan Heffernan nearly won the game for Heidelberg within the 90, forcing a close-range save from Pavlidis when he shot from the right side of the penalty area.

Energetic substitute Kostas Kanakaris got 10-man Heidelberg going in extra time, playing the ball to Kaine Sheppard whose through the area from the right bounced perfectly into the path of Reuben Way.

Way executed a powerful diving header to give Heidelberg a 2-1 lead in the 95th minute.

But Pascoe Vale would hit back to equalise, albeit nearly having the goal chalked off for an offside call not by the assistant referee, but the central ref.

Jake Nakic thought he had tapped in a cross from Santilli, only for central referee Shaun Evans to insist on a consultation with his assistant referee, who had not raised her flag, before paying the goal.

In the shoot-out, Pavlidis went the right way on Dan Heffernan's kick to reach to his left and tip away.

He then held his ground to block away a penalty down the middle from Reuben Way.

With the pressure on Kenny Athiu at 0-3 on Heidelberg's third kick, the striker blazed his penalty into the crossbar to spark wild celebrations from Pavlidis and his Pascoe Vale teammates.

MATCH DETAILS

Heidelberg United 2 (Govas 48" Way 95") Pascoe Vale 2 (Youssef 47" J. Nakic 105+2") Pascoe Vale won 3-0 on penalty kicks

HEIDELBERG UNITED: 23 McMASTER Griffin, 2. CUMMING Jamie, 3. DOUMBALIS Les, 7. WAY Reuben, 10. PETRIE Jack, 13. BYLES Luke, 17. PACE Steven, 20. KOLMAN Necj (9. KANAKARIS Kostas 46"), 21. GOVAS Andreas, 22. SHEPPARD Kaine (12. ATHIU Kenny 90")

Unused substitutes: 1. KOUTSODONTIS Jason, 5. VASILEVSKI Daniel, 24. CARTANOS Andrew
Yellow cards: Way 34" Pace 45" Heffernan 63" Petrie 81" Athiu 111"

Red cards: Cumming 43"

PASCOE VALE: 35. PAVLIDIS Alexander, 2. TALARICO Adrian (9. NAKIC Jake 76"), 4. NAKIC Adam, 7. SANTILLI Luca, 8. YOUSSEF Joseph, 10. VAN 't SCHIP Davey, 13. LAZARIDES Matthew (RECCHIA Carl 120+1"), 16. MILARDOVIC Tomislav, 17. TURNER Aaron, 21. FERRANTE Michael, 23. HALLIDAY Jake (3. MEGIC Nathan 91")

Unused substitutes: 1. MARTIN Dennys, 15. PISTININZI Mark

Yellow cards: Turner 97" Megic 120"

PENALTIES:
Milardovic scored - Pascoe Vale 1-0
Heffernan saved - Pascoe Vale 1-0
van 't Schip scored - Pascoe Vale 2-0
Way saved - Pascoe Vale 2-0
Recchia scored - Pascoe Vale 3-0
Athiu missed - Pascoe Vale 3-0