By Jullian Sardana (@JullianSardana)
Bentleigh Greens SC (0) vs Green Gully SC (2):
Bentleigh extended their losing streak to three after their loss against Green Gully at Kingston Heath Soccer Complex on Friday night.
The first goal of the game was scored in the 76th minute by Josh Hope after some nice build-up play from the back which saw Pierce Warine receives a through ball where he crossed it from the right wing in which the Bentleigh captain Ben Carrigan fails to clear it and lands in front of Hope who strikes it into the top right corner of the net.
Just six minutes later, Green Gully were awarded a penalty after Bentleigh’s Scott Hilliar pulled down Adolph Koudakpo in the box and it was Pierce Waring to take the penalty where he sent the keeper the wrong way to score Bentleigh’s second.
St Albans SC (1) vs Heidelberg United FC (0):
After two draws in their first two games, St Albans finally get their first win of the new season after defeating Heidelberg at home on Friday night.
The goal which gave St Albans their first win was scored by their inform striker Greg Ott after Brian Summerskill took the ball off Heidelberg’s Daniel Dixon who crosses into the path of Ott who finishes it off with a back-heel.
Ott has scored five goals in three games this season which includes a hat trick he scored against Dandenong Thunder last week.
Although winning, St Albans will be without Christopher Dib in their next game against Hume City after he saw red in the 83rd minute of the game.
Avondale FC (3) vs Hume City FC (2):
Avondale extend their unbeaten streak this season after defeating Hume City at Avenger Park on Saturday afternoon.
Avondale’s Stefan Zinni won a penalty three minutes into the game after dribbling past two Hume City defenders and was met with Hayden Tennant’s lunging tackle in the penalty box and was awarded a yellow card for it.
It was not unitl the sixth minute of the game where Joseph Katebian stepped up to take the penalty in which he sent the keeper the wrong way to score Avondale’s first of the game.
Just over 30 minutes later, a well-worked team goal by Hume City levelled the scores which saw Yagoub Mustafa receive a pass from the defence where he links up with teammate and captain Josh Bingham and receives it back to lob it over the keeper to get Hume back in the game.
In the last few minutes of extra time in the first half, Avondale were able to regain the lead after Zander Guy’s cross from the right side turned into a goal as the ball skips pass all the players in the box and lands in the back of the net.
In the 68th minute of the game, Hume City levelled the scores once again after another Josh Bingham assist to substitute Jawad Rezai who receives a through ball from him who then strikes it straight into Thomas Manos and richocets off Rezai and falls into the back of the net.
In the 74th minute, susbtitute Yusuf Ahmed wins another penalty for Avondale as Rory Brian knocks him off-balance in the box and is awarded a yellow card for his actions.
However, it was Liam Boland’s turn to take the penalty and he did ever so calmly sending Brian the wrong way and giving Avondale the win.
Port Melbourne Sharks SC (1) vs Moreland City FC (1):
The Port Melbourne Sharks remain unbeaten in their first three games after their draw against Moreland City at JL Murphy Reserve on Saturday evening.
Port Melbourne’s Chris Duggan was the first to get on the scoresheet after some nice link-up play with teammate Valli Cesnik, he lobs it over Moreland goalkeeper Alex Kondoleon to finish off the move.
In the 72nd minute, a long through ball was given to Fletcher Fulton on the left wing where he was able to control it into the Port Melbourne penalty box and fell to the ground after colliding with Sharks’ goalkeeper Andrew Withers.
Although in real time Withers seem to gain contact with the ball first, the referee awarded Moreland City a penalty after the collision causing some controversy among the players and coaches.
Christos Theodorakopoulos was the man to take the spot kick and although scoring the first penalty, the referee called it back to be retaken. Even though the pressure grew, Theodorakopoulos was able to score it again and level the scores.
Red cards were shown to both teams as Moreland’s Fletcher Fulton and Port Melbourne’s Ross Archibald were both sent off due to their physical interactions after the penalty was taken.
Altona Magic SC (1) vs North Geelong Warriors FC (0):
The Altona Magic claim their first three points of the season after winning against the North Geelong Warrios at Paisley Park on Saturday evening.
The only goal of the game was socred by Jonas Markovski in the 29th minute after Tommy Semmy was able to dribble pass two North Geelong defenders but his shot was blocked by a third which fell in front of Markovski who slots in to give Altona the win.
North Geelong will be without Aden Gardner next week as he saw red in the 76th minute of the game.
Dandenong Thunder FC (1) vs Oakleigh Cannons FC (2):
Oakleigh were able to secure a comeback win after defeating Dandenong Thunder away from home on Saturday night.
It was the home side who scored the first goal of the game after Mamadi Kamara won the penalty and it was him to take the spot kick in which he slots it into the bottom right corner.
Despite being down one at half time, Oakleigh were able to level the scores in the 54th minute through Alex Fiechtner who received a cross from Stefan Valentini on the right hand side and heading it into the back of the net.
In the dying moments of the game, Oakleigh were able to complete the comeback through a Connor Hampson header.
South Melbourne FC (2) vs Melbourne Knights FC (1):
South Melbourne remain unbeaten after defeating the Melbourne Knights at Lakeside Stadium on Monday night.
The first goal of the original Melbourne Derby was scored by South Melbourne in the seventh minute of the game by the returning Marco Jankovic.
After a long throw in by Max Mikkola into the box, Jankovic was able to get his head onto it to score South’s first of the night.
Two minutes after the half time break, Marcus Schroen’s shot was saved by Melbourne Knight’s keeper Chris Oldfield and landed on the head of Pat Langlois who places it in the back of the net to score South’s second goal.
Although, the Knights were able to close the lead to one after a penalty was awarded to them in the 57th minute after South Melbourne keeper Javi Lopez tripped Ciaran Bramwell in the box and it was Gian Albano to take the kick in which he sent Lopez the wrong way.
However, it wasn’t enough as South Melboure came away with the three points to remain unbeaten this season.
