Using its second chance after going down to Green Gully last week, Hume produced a dominant first half and held a two-goal buffer at the break.

 

Despite the gallant efforts of Heidelberg, City keeper and captain Lupce Acevski denied it any chance of pulling off a remarkable comeback with a string of strong saves.

 

Dynamic midfielder Alfonso Opazo opened the scoring on 28 minutes before young striker Turhan Sumbul scored three minutes before the break.

 

Hume made four changes to the team that went down to Gully.

 

Sumbul was up front in place of Richard Cardozo while Andy Vlahos and Dusko Delic took the spots of Ross Thompson and Brendan Beni.

 

It appeared to be a reshuffle to a back four for City with Steven Pace taking a role in the centre of defence and Michael Bosevski dropping out of the side.

 

United made two unforced changes to the team that dispatched of Northcote City last week.

 

Midfielder Josip Kosic and striker Saso Alexovski took the spots of Les Doumbalis and Yared Hailemelkot.

 

It almost started on the worst note for the Bergers after a defensive mix up from the kick off.

 

The half-clearance from defence fell for Vlahos, but his attempt at a lob from 30 yards with Steve Tilovski off his line went just wide.

 

Alexovski missed a decent chance on seven minutes.

 

George Slefendorfas cushioned down a long throw from Yanni Galanos, but Alexovski scuffed his shot wide.

 

After dominant performances from Galanos and Osagie Ederaro last week, both were being forced to track deep into defence.

 

United had the better of the early exchanges, but with Pace dominating Slefendorfas in the air, the Bergers struggled to create anything clear-cut.

 

A decent chance fell for Galanos before Opazo's opener.

 

Alexovski twisted and turned Isiyan Erdogan just outside the area, forcing Acevski to parry his shot into the path of Galanos who sprayed his volley wide.

 

Hume went ahead three minutes later after some fluent build up play.

 

Vlahos struck a long switch to hard working striker Zoran Petrevski on the right, before he held up play, allowing Opazo's midfield partner Tansel Baser to make a dummy run.

 

Opazo made the second run through the middle of the penalty area, took a touch and squeezed a shot inside Tilovski's right post.

 

Heidelberg continued to push before being denied by Acevski on 37 minutes.

 

A corner from Kosic fell for Slefendorfas at the back post, but Acevski saved down low and held the ball at his near upright.

 

City made it two on 42 minutes after another fine attacking move.

 

After a number of passes, the ball found right back Serdar Pir who put a nice cross into the area.

 

Tilovski came but was left stranded as Sumbul met the cross and headed into an empty net.

 

Alexovski had a penalty shout turned down before the half time whistle, ending a frustrating half for the Bergers.

 

United came out firing in the second half with Galanos freed up in a more attacking role.

 

Antonio La Verde put a dangerous ball in from the left but Galanos failed to connect cleanly in what was arguably his side's best chance.

 

Heidelberg had another chance with its high intensity beginning to cause Hume problems.

 

Alexovski put a ball in from the left leading to a scramble, but Galanos' scuffed shot was pushed away by Acevski.

 

United continued to be denied by the City custodian and his stunning performance was summed up on 57 minutes.

 

Kosic whipped in a quickly taken free kick and after parrying, he dived at the feet of Alexovski inside six yards to make the double save.

 

Hume began to control the tempo and regain possession to end Heidelberg's momentum.

 

Alexovski had another chance, but he headed a corner from Galanos over on 73 minutes.

 

City should have sealed its progress through substitute Jake Nakic on 87 minutes.

 

Delic played him behind with a fine through ball but after rounding Tilovski, Nakic's shot was cleared off the line.

 

Heidelberg kept attacking and went even closer with two minutes of normal time remaining.

 

A Galanos long throw was cleared but United substitute Doumbalis struck a venomous volley into the crossbar from 25 yards.

 

United's missed chances saw its season come to an end while Hume will meet Richmond at Knights Stadium for a spot in the Grand Final.