Bentleigh Greens 2 Kingston City 2
Kingston City came from behind to earn a 2-2 draw against Bentleigh Greens, in tough conditions for both at a cold & wet Kingston Heath Soccer Complex.
Bentleigh Greens were given an early penalty due to a Ali Sulemani challenge from behind. Matt Thurtell converted from the spot to make it 1-0 inside 15 minutes
Greens made it 2-0 in the 26th minute, Futa Nakamura laid it off to James Xydias who smashed it home with a quality finish from outside the box.
In the 87th minute, Kingston got their goal when defender Chris Irwin delivered a cross to super sub Hernan Inostroza, who’s effort found the top corner. Game on at 2-1.
Dramatically, Kingston City equalized in the 94th minute when a dangerous cross found Ajdin Fetahagic who hit the top corner to rescue a huge point for the visitors.
Bentleigh Greens sitting in 3rd spot on 42 points now three points behind 2nd place Heidelberg United, who have a game in hand, meanwhile for Kingston City still sit bottom of the NPL VIC table on 17 points, but only one point from the relegation playoff spot.
Dandenong City 2 v Heidelberg United 3
Heidelberg United’s NPL VIC premiers plate hopes were given a boost, after they had a 3-2 away win against Dandenong City at Frank Holohan Soccer Complex.
Bergers took the lead in the 21st minute, thru Sean Ellis thunderbolt of a strike Dandenong City keeper Stefan King absolute no chance to make it 1-0.
In the 29th minute, Heidelberg were awarded a penalty and midfielder Adrian Zahra doubled the lead, sending Dandenong City shot stopper Stefan King the wrong way for 2-0.
Then in the 34th minute, Bergers were awarded a second penalty, midfielder Adrian Zahra grabbing his second of the day and extended their lead 3-0.
With 11 minutes left, Dandenong City would get a lifeline back into the game as sub forward Shaun Filipovic took full advantage to make it 3-1.
And in the 90th minute, Dandenong would score a consolation goal to make it 3-2, As from a corner was whipped and it was thrashed home by Shaun Filipovic into the net grabbing his second off the bench
Heidelberg United now within two points of the NPL VIC leaders Avondale FC with a game in hand, as for Dandneong City however they remain 11th on the table eight points clear of safety.
Pascoe Vale 2 v Hume City 2
Pascoe Vale came from behind twice, to snatch a 2-2 draw against Hume City at CB Smith Reserve.
It took till the 2nd half for either to score as Matthew Lazaries drilled it home for his second of the season to give Hume City the lead.
Then in the 59th minute, Pascoe Vale would equalize the scores as a deflected shot fell to Nicholas Georgopoulos who slotted it home.
However in the 63rd minute, Hume City would regain the lead back after a pass sent James Brown through on goal, Brown’s composure saw his left footed shot give the visitors a 2-1 lead.
Beyond the 3 additional minutes of stoppage time, Pascoe Vale’s corner in the 95th minute saw defender Matt Hennessy level it up for a 2nd time, after heading the ball home for the home side to salvage a point.
Pascoe Vale remain 12th on the NPL VIC table with 18 points, meanwhile for Hume City it would remain in 5th on the NPL VIC table with 38 points.
Green Gully Cavaliers 1 v Melbourne Knights 1
Green Gully’s hopes of a home final took a minor blow, as it was forced to settle for a 1-1 home draw against Melbourne Knights at Green Gully Reserve.
Melbourne Knights took the lead in the 68th minute, after a back post finish by Anthony Duzel
Then in the 80th minute, Gully would rescue a point late on thru its striker Alex Salmon who smashed it home past Knights keeper Jordan Gifkins to make it 1-1.
The result leaves Gully 4th on the NPL VIC table with 38 points, as for Knights they’re currently 7th in the NPL VIC table on 31 points, four behind 6th place Oakleigh Cannons who have game in hand.
Port Melbourne Sharks 4 v Altona Magic 4
Altona Magic came back from 4-0 down halftime, to snatch a very unlikely 4-4 draw against Port Melbourne Sharks at JL Murphy Reserve on Saturday Night.
In the 16th minute, Port Melbourne took the lead 1-0, after midfielder Daniel Clarke slotted it home past Magic keeper Shane Viitakangas.
Then on 25 minutes, Port would double its lead thru Yuta Kongaya, after great work on the wing from Finn Beakhurst laid it off, into the feet Kongaya had a shot and found back of the net for a 2-0 lead for the Sharks.
Six minutes later, Port Melbourne centre back Maker Maker would give a 3 goal lead for the hosts. Then in the 40th minute, Port would make it number 4 with a goal from Sam Ford.
With half an hour to go, Altona would get a goal back from a corner whipped in by Hassan Jelloh and found right back Dane Milovanovic scored to make it 4-1.
Two minutes later, Magic were back in the game at 4-2, as Hassan Jalloah’s lovely looking cross found Daniel Kuczynski, Kuczynski on the turn scored in off the past two goals in 90 seconds it was game on.
In the 87th minute, Altona Magic would get a penalty. Troy Ruthven converted from the spot for his 7th of the season to make it 4-3.
Then deep into stoppage time, Altona Magic would complete the turnaround to make it 4-4 as forward Hassan Jelloh slotted home the equalizing goal for Magic to earn them a point in an instant classic.
The result drops Port Melbourne 9th in the NPL VIC table on 30 points, as for Altona Magic they’re currently 10th in the NPL VIC table on 29 points.
Oakleigh Cannons 4 v Avondale FC 3
Oakleigh Cannons took a huge step towards a NPL VIC finals spot, after it defeated the current league leaders Avondale FC 4-3 in a classic at Jack Edwards Reserve.
Cannons made a dream start in the 2nd minute going 1-0 ahead, as Harry White slotted it home past keeper Chris Oldfield.
Avondale FC however would back in the 12th minute as Stefan Zinni launched a stinging shot past Cannons keeper John Honos to make it 1-1, It was Zinni’s 11th league goal of the season.
Moments before halftime Oakleigh retook the lead as Joe Guest slotted it past Avondale shot stopper Chris Oldfield to make it 2-1 before the break.
In the 53rd minute, Oakleigh Cannons would take a two goal lead, as Harry White scored to finish it off for 3-1.
In the 82nd minute, Avondale FC got a foot back into the game, midfielder Yusef Ahmed had a crack from long range and found the top corner and made it 3-2
Three minutes later, Avondale FC pegged it back on level terms and a huge finish loomed, Liam Boland scored as his shot took a huge deflection on the way thru.
Then in the 93rd minute, Oakleigh would steal victory at the death, as midfielder Joe Guest thumped it home past Avondale shot stopper Chris Oldfield to make it 4-3.
The result means Oakleigh remain 6th in the NPL VIC table on 35 points, as for Avondale FC they’re currently remain top of the table on 47 points, but the gap is now two points ahead of Heidelberg United who have a game in hand.
South Melbourne 3 v Dandenong Thunder 0
South Melbourne returned back to winning ways, as their late bid for a NPL VIC finals spot remains alive with three games left, with a comfortable 3-0 win against lowly Dandenong Thunder at Lakeside Stadium
South Melbourne would get there in the 10th minute as Billy Konstantinidis was on hand to slot the ball into the net to make it 1-0
Then in the 72 minute, Dandenong Thunder thought that they had an equaliser, as striker Brandon Barnes put lovely cross over to defender Christian Cavallo who it hammered home, only for the linesman’s flag to go up for offside against Cavallo a big let off for South Melbourne.
In the 76th minute, South Melbourne doubled the lead 14 minutes from time, from a corner was whipped in by midfielder Gerry Syladios, and was headed home from close range by midfielder Kosta Stratomitros and in back of the net Thunder keeper Pierce Clark no chance.
And in the 80th minute, South would score again four minutes later, as Marcus Schroen hammered it home past Dandenong shot stopper Clark no chance, and it was shut the gate and good night.
The result puts South Melbourne to 8th on the NPL VIC table on 31 points, as for Dandenong Thunder that they remain 2nd from bottom on 18 points.
NPL VIC standings after round 23:
Avondale FC 47pts +30 GD
Heidelberg United 45pts +20 GD*
Bentleigh Greens 42pts +6 GD
Green Gully Cavaliers 38pts +12 GD
Hume City 38pts +9 GD
Oakleigh Cannons 35pts +6 GD*
Melbourne Knights 31pts -1 GD
South Melbourne 31pts -11 GD
Port Melbourne Sharks 30pts +6 GD
Altona Magic 29pts -3 GD
Dandenong City 26pts -9 GD
Pascoe Vale 18pts -19 GD
Dandenong Thunder 18pts -26 GD
Kingston City 17pts -20 GD
*game in hand to be played Friday August 9th 7.45pm.
Written by Brenton Ray and Kai Richardson.
