Bulls FC Academy crowned 2025 NPL Women’s NSW Champions
Bulls FC Academy have won the National Premier Leagues Women’s NSW Championship with a thrilling, electric 4-3 victory over APIA Leichhardt at Jubilee Stadium.
It was a game that truly had it all – goals, comebacks, red cards and a late saved penalty to clinch the Championship, in one of the greatest Grand Finals in NPL NSW history.
In the 7th minute, it was APIA Leichhardt who struck first, netting a clinical goal to take the lead in the 2025 Grand Final.
After a loose ball was mopped up by Estelle Fragale, the combative midfielder played a pass down the line to Ashlie Crofts, who quickly touched possession onto Charlotte Lancaster.
From wide, the APIA forward picked out the run of Sophie Hoban in behind, who thundered towards goal, with Jasmine Meli chasing.
Hoban was under heavy pressure from the Bulls defender, but she was unstoppable, taking a touch towards goal before squaring up Mio Nemoto.
In the one-on-one, Hoban remained remarkably composed, passing the ball elegantly through the legs of the goalkeeper to open the scoring for her side in the biggest match of the season.
Three minutes after going behind, Bulls had a chance to draw level, with Jynaya Dos Santos forcing a strong save from Sophie Magnus with a stinging effort inside the box.
But in the 20th minute, APIA doubled their lead, with an Alyssa Rose stunner shocking Bulls Academy.
It was another run from Hoban in behind that created the threat, with the midfield star being found efficiently by Charlotte Lancaster before winning a free kick for her side.
From the left flank, a metre outside the box, APIA had a perfect opportunity to create havoc with a cross, and it was Rose who stepped up to fire the ball into the box.
But the classy midfielder had other ideas, curling a sensational shot above everyone – including goalkeeper Nemoto – and into the very top-right corner of the net.
It was a goal worthy of any Grand Final and came at a crucial time, giving her side an invaluable two-goal lead.
In the 33rd minute, Bulls went agonisingly close to halving the deficit and finding a way back into this match.
A good ball from Dos Santos off a corner created chaos inside the box, and Tamires Souza was first to pounce on the loose ball.
The midfielder unleashed a clean strike off her left foot, beyond the heavy numbers inside the six-yard box and goalkeeper Magus, but an unsuspecting new enemy prevented her – the post.
In stoppage time of the first half, Souza went close once more for the Premiers, after connecting with a lofted cross into the box.
From the edge of the six-yard box, the crafty midfielder made something out of nothing, and – once more – was just centimetres away from finding the back of her net, seeing her shot flash just past the post.
But in the 55th minute, Souza found her goal, as Bulls halved the deficit at Jubilee Stadium.
The chance came off a penalty won by substitute Avaani Prakash, who showed tremendous trickery inside the box to bait a foul and get her side an opportunity from 12 yards.
To no surprise, it was Souza who stepped up, and she thundered the ball past Magnus and into the side netting with a perfect penalty.
An already fired-up Bulls crowd had finally found reason to cheer, with the tremendous atmosphere setting up an exhilarating last half an hour at Jubilee Stadium.
Shortly after their goal, Bulls hit the woodwork for the second time in the match, with Prakash striking the near-post off a powerful effort inside the box.
It was a devastating denial, but momentum was now firmly in the Premiers’ favour, with every positive action from the Bulls players bringing cheers and vigorous applause from a fabulously active, engaged fanbase.
Following the chance, APIA did well to hold their own, keeping the ball while providing a threat, showing why they held the lead in this crucial match.
But in the 75th minute, Bulls found their moment, earning their second penalty of the match after substitute Jade Guichon was brought down in the box just moments after stepping on the field.
With Souza off the field, Claudia Valletta promptly stepped up and made no mistake, placing her shot into the bottom-right corner to draw the scores level.
After a slow start, this match was becoming increasingly chaotic, but this was just a glimpse of what was to come.
Near the end of the 90 minutes, the match took a sudden turn, with Guichon receiving a red card after pulling Jordan Jasnos’ hair to deny her from dribbling forward.
But Jasnos was quickly sent off herself, after pushing Guichon to the ground in retaliation, and, suddenly, it was 10 v 10 in the Grand Final.
Following the player reduction, it was the Premiers who were continuing to look more threatening, and in the 90th minute, were denied a late winner by a fantastic save from Magus.
After finding herself free at the far post off a corner, Gemma Ferris struck a well-placed shot towards goal.
But Magus was quick to react, making a critical stop to prevent an exhilarating last-minute goal.
With the match heading into extra time, APIA took an opportunity to reset, and came out looking far more reassured and prepared for the challenge ahead.
And 12 minutes in, they took the lead once more, with Ashlee Brodigan emerging as the hero off the bench.
After Estelle Fragale played Lancaster wide, the forward, playing at left-back, launched a menacing cross into the box.
Nemoto came to claim the lofted pass, a miscommunication with Valletta left the ball bouncing in the box.
Brodigan was quick to pounce and made no mistake in passing the ball into an empty net, putting APIA once more in pole position to emerge as Champions.
However, Bulls just couldn’t be beat, with Jyanna Dos Santos striking home in stoppage time to make it 3-3 in the most sensational of Grand Finals.
Striding forward, Elizabeth Grey played a brilliant pass in behind, which found Dos Santos running off the shoulder of her defender.
The striker lived up to her title, steadying herself while letting the ball bounce, before finding the far corner with a brilliant effort, once more levelling the scores at Jubilee Stadium.
And in the second-half of extra time, 111 minutes into the match, Bulls FC finally took the lead, with captain Elizabeth Grey netting the crucial goal.
After Dos Santos won a tackle, Jasmine Meli produced a brilliant cross into the box, finding the far post, where Grey was positioned.
Bulls’ captain rose highest in the box, and with a sensational leap, found the back of the net to put her beloved side in the driving seat.
But just moments after Grey’s goal, APIA were presented with a golden chance to – somehow – bring the scores level once again, with Ashlie Crofts winning a penalty for her side.
However, from 12 yards, Crofts couldn’t convert, with Mio Nemoto making a sensational save to keep her side ahead.
And finally, the match looked to be settled, as Bulls FC held on to finish 2025 as NPL Women’s NSW Premiers and Champions.
“It was crazy, but what a final,” said Bulls FC coach Marty Garces.
“It’s the pinnacle, and it was an enjoyable and entertaining match.
“It’s surreal (to be Champions).
“We worked pretty hard, with a lot of challenges, and it means a lot for us and the club.”
It was a huge moment for Elizabeth Grey post match as the inspirational skipper also took home the Player of the Match accolade in what was a captain’s performance.
Match Stats
Bulls Academy FC 4 (Souza 55’, Valletta 75’, Dos Santos 105+1’, 111’)
APIA Leichhardt FC 3 (Hoban 7’, Rose 20’, Brodigan 102’)
Saturday 13 September, 2025
Jubilee Stadium
Referee: Charlotte Flynn
Assistant Referees: Amber Morris and Lara Hogan
Fourth Official: Mia Velarde
Bulls Academy FC: 1. Mio Nemoto, 5. Elizabeth Grey (C), 6. Arna Hogarth-Scott (7. Avaani Prakash 45’), 8. Claudia Valletta, 10. Tamires Souza (2. Mya Calil 73’), 11. Daniella Naeimi (33. Jade Guichon 73’), 12. Jasmine Meli, 14. Petria Phillips, 16. Isabella Coco-Di Sipio, 17. Jynaya Dos Santos, 18. Gemma Ferris (4. Ruby Davies 118’)
Substitutes Not Used: 13. Grace Johns, 31. Lily Taylor
Yellow Cards: Souza 41’
Red Cards: Guichon 84’
APIA Leichhardt FC: 1. Sophie Magus, 2. Claudia Cicco, 4. Jessica Seaman (3. Natasha Prior 45’), 5. Teal Kilbride (39. Ashlee Brodigan 97’), 6. Te Reremoana Walker, 7. Charlotte Lancaster, 11. Ashlie Crofts (15. Gisella Pipino 116’), 13. Jordan Jasnos, 16. Estelle Fragale (19. Imogen Lane 118’), 18. Sophie Hoban, 38. Alyssa Rose (8. Hannah McNulty 77’)
Substitutes Not Used: 30. Paige Cuthill
Yellow Cards: Rose 60’, Jasnos 72’
Red Cards: Jasnos 84’
By Jack George (@JackGeorge0004)
