Report: Goals galore as groups take shape
There was a series of exhilarating clashes on Sunday, with plenty of goal action across the final matchday of Round 4 of the Australian Championship.
Several teams earned vital points in their bids to claim a place in the Quarter-Finals.
Wollongong Wolves 3 South Hobart 2
Wollongong secured a much-needed three points in a five-goal thriller against South Hobart to move within a point of a top-two place in Group B.
The Wolves could not have dreamed of a better start to the match as they hit the front within two minutes. Nicholas Olsen worked the ball down the right purposely before it bounced around in the box, where Flynn Madden got the decisive touch from point-blank range.
Wollongong soon doubled their lead from a set piece. A left-sided delivery was flicked on at the near post by Dylan Ryan before Lachlan Scott prodded the ball over the line.
South Hobart kicked into action a few minutes later as they profited from a raid down the right. Nicholas Morton responded fastest to a loose ball, finding the left side of the goal from inside the area.
The visitors continued their fightback and equalised in first-half stoppage time. Harrison Oates raced down the right and drilled an effort into the bottom left corner.
After a four-goal first half, the second half featured a more tense tone, as both sides probed for a crucial goal in the context of the group.
Set pieces once again proved the difference for the hosts. Kazuya Yamamura’s header following a right-sided corner found Scott in the box, who nodded home to seal the victory.
Moreton City Excelsior 5 Broadmeadow Magic 1
Moreton City powered to a comprehensive victory against Broadmeadow Magic, which pushed the side ahead of their opponents in the battle for a Quarter-Finals spot.
The match had a frenetic first 20 minutes, with three goals, starting with Magic, who opened the scoring five minutes in. A persistent Jarred Baker chased down a mis-cleared ball and curled an effort from range into the left side of the goal.
Moreton City quickly responded via a fantastic free kick from Joe Scott that nestled in the bottom right corner. The side took the lead not long after when Keitatsu Kojima jinked inside in the left of the box and picked out the far right corner with another superb strike.
Magic’s task got much harder just before the break when James Cresnar received his marking orders.
The hosts ran away with the game in the second half, scoring a further three goals to lift the side three points clear in second position in Group A.
In the 57th minute, Seita Murai sprinted down the right wing following a well-timed run and slotted a calm finish into the far corner.
In the final 10 minutes, Andy Pengelly grabbed a well-taken brace. His first strike was a snapshot taken quickly on the edge of the box that hit the top corner. This was followed by another neat turn and finish to conclude an excellent afternoon for Moreton City.
Wests APIA 1 MetroStars 1
APIA fought back from a goal down to draw with MetroStars and stay in a Quarter-Finals spot in Group D.
The visitors made the breakthrough with 10 first-half minutes to play. Christian Sotira picked off an errant pass and sprinted forward before finding Michael Cittadini, who steered the ball into the left of the goal.
It looked as if MetroStars would earn back-to-back wins and shoot up the group, but deep into stoppage time, APIA snatched an equaliser. Dom Costanzo’s in-swinging corner met the head of Dredon Kelly at the far post, who sent a bullet header in for his second of the Championship season.
The draw leaves APIA three points ahead of MetroStars in third position.
NWS Spirit 1-3 Preston Lions
Lions secured their first win of the season, courtesy of two first-half goals against NWS Spirit.
Preston Lions leapt into a top-two place in Group C, as they downed NWS Spirit.
Lions took the lead in the 18th minute in spectacular fashion. Jason Romero turned well outside the area and blasted a strike that flew into the left of the goal.
Midway through the half, Lions survived a Spirit barrage. They had Ryan Scott to thank for their lead remaining intact, as the goalkeeper produced two magnificent stops in quick succession, before Spirit rattled the bar.
The visitors soaked up this pressure and struck with their second goal 33 minutes in. Romero was at it again - this time executing a low volley from the middle of the box that went under Spirit goalkeeper Christopher Marques.
Not long after, there was a significant delay following a serious leg injury to Lions player Luc Jeggo. Everyone at Football Australia wishes Luc a swift recovery.
Spirit came out firing for the second half and put Lions under substantial pressure, but Brandon Lauton rifled the ball into the roof of the net late on to seal victory for the away side.
Simon Nicholas unleashed a phenomenal curling effort in stoppage time to get Spirit on the board in spectacular fashion, but there was not enough time to mount another comeback.
Bayswater City 3-2 Sydney United 58
Bayswater City maintained their unbeaten start to the Australian Championship with a dramatic win against Sydney United 58.
United 58 endured a tough start to the match as they were reduced to 10 players within five minutes, following Jordan Ivancic’s red card.
City capitalised on their player advantage in the 25th minute when Gyles Davies battled to get into a shooting position before blasting the ball into the right of the net.
The side doubled this lead five minutes later as the ball fortunately fell to Christopher Jackson in the right of the area, who calmly slid the ball under United 58 goalkeeper Vedran Janjetovic.
City weathered a spirited response from their opponents at the start of the second period to add a third goal. Jackson Stephens whipped in a cross from the right towards Luke Palmateer at the far post; the defender rose highest and nodded the ball into the goal.
United 58 quickly pulled a goal back through Kyle Cimenti, with the attacker firing home a volley from the middle of the box following a post-free-kick scramble.
The 10 players of United 58 struck again in the 65th minute as lively substitute Ayouk Mow burst his way into the box, forcing the ball to fall into Aiden Milicevic's path, where the attacker fired into the goal.
Bayswater survived the resurgent run from their opponents and extended their lead at the top of Group D.
