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Heidelberg coach John Anastasiadis says gaps between A-League and NPL is shrinking
Triumphant Heidelberg United coach John Anastasiadis says the gap between the A-League and the second-tier NPL is closing as his Victorian club continues its dream Australia Cup run.
Heidelberg, second on the NPL Victoria ladder, has reached the Cup semi-finals for the first time after thrashing A-League outfit Wellington Phoenix 4-0 at Olympic Village on Tuesday night.
It was the second week in succession that the Bergers had knocked a top-flight team out of the Cup after beating Western Sydney Wanderers 3-0 in the round-of-16 at the same venue.
Heidelberg's opponents in next month's semi-finals will be another A-League club – either Sydney FC or Auckland FC, who meet on Saturday – but that doesn't faze Anastasiadis or his semi-professional players.
'We know it's going to get harder and harder, but I don't know where the ceiling is with these boys,' he said.
'They're so resilient, they want it, and when you've got that mentality, you'll get success.'
ðŸ'¬ "I don't think anyone thinks we can't go all the way!"
Max Bisetto believes @HUAlexanderFC can win the Hahn #AustraliaCup � #MagicOfTheCup
— Hahn Australia Cup (@AustraliaCup) August 19, 2025
Anastasiadis, 57, took charge of Heidelberg in late 2023 after four years as an assistant coach at A-League club Western United.
'We all want a good A-League. That's good for the game, but we also want a good NPL system,' he said.
'It (the gap between the two competitions) is getting smaller and smaller.
'That's no disrespect to the A-League, (but) there are a lot of players that have left the A-League, there are a lot of young boys coming in, so obviously the gap gets smaller.
'The powers that be have to eventually look down below them, see the NPL ... and get that better because that only helps the A-League and only helps the game of football in this country.
'It's pleasing to see that a team like ours can do what we did (against the Phoenix), and hopefully it gives someone in the top offices to say 'maybe it's about time we give a bit of air to people in the NPL'.'
Anastasiadis said Heidelberg's Cup run had been built on hard work.
'The (players) never whinged once. I'm so proud of them,' he said.
'They're getting their rewards. They put on a masterclass (against Wellington), and I'm super proud of them.'
A second non-A-League club will also reach the Australia Cup semi-finals, with Avondale hosting Brisbane City in an all-NPL quarter-final on Wednesday night at Green Gully Reserve.
