Report: Tempers fray in Olympic’s draw with Excelsior, South Melbourne perfect through five
The Super Saturday match-ups provided plenty of drama and thrills as Round 5 of the Australian Championship continued with two clashes in Group A.
Moreton City Excelsior grabbed a vital late equaliser to share the points with Sydney Olympic, while South Melbourne produced another steady performance in their win against Broadmeadow Magic.
Sydney Olympic 3-3 Moreton City Excelsior
Sydney Olympic and Moreton City Excelsior played out a heated six-goal thriller to share the points in the early kick-off.
Olympic made the best possible start to a feisty first half as they hit the front within four minutes. Cyrus Dehmie snatched the ball deep into Moreton City’s half as it rolled into Glorie Amanda’s path who sent a cool finish into the right of the goal.
Olympic’s blistering first half earned the side a second goal with 10 regular minutes to play. The hosts sprung forward on the counter as Amanda fired a right-wing cross towards Ali Auglah at the far post, where the free-scoring attacker slid in expertly to score from a tight angle.
A spectacular double save from Moreton City goalkeeper Nathan Foster in the final five regular minutes of the half ensured City remained with a chance of restoring parity.
The visitors fired their way back into the match just before the break through their top scorer. Joe Scott drifted inside from the right and blasted a superb curling effort that bounced off the left post and into the goal.
The second half got off to an exhilarating start as big chances went begging and tempers fraying for both teams.
The end-to-end tone of the second half left the game in the balance, but just after the hour mark, Olympic scored a crucial goal. Amanda played the ball into the left of the area for Adam Parkhouse to slam a deflected finish past Foster.
Moreton City were handed a lifeline in the 79th minute when they were awarded a penalty. Seita Murai stepped up and buried the ball into the top left corner to set up a tense finish to the game.
The visitors made a late surge for an equaliser, and created several opportunities. In the 92nd minute, Olympic goalkeeper Jack Gibson produced a phenomenal save to deny Murai from point-blank range.
With little over a minute remaining, Moreton City found their much-desired equaliser. Luka Jankovic attacked a left-sided corner to steer home a header that drew the side back into the battle for a Quarter-Finals football.
South Melbourne 2-0 Broadmeadow Magic
South Melbourne extended their perfect run in the Championship to five matches on a drizzly afternoon against Broadmeadow Magic.
South Melbourne put their opponents under some intense early pressure as striker Manny Aguek came close to scoring on a couple of occasions.
Aguek finally found the net just before the half-hour mark as he raced into the left of the box and slotted the ball into the far corner.
Broadmeadow had their chances in the first half, but 10 minutes into the second period, they found themselves two goals down. Jordan Lampard prodded home a right-wing cross, to double the hosts’ advantage.
South Melbourne nearly added a third goal just after the hour, when Yuki Uchida performed a neat turn in the left of the box before firing the ball onto the bar.
Broadmeadow continued to probe for a route back into the match and almost found it in the 89th minute when Jack Simmons sent a free-kick dipping narrowly over.
Magic could not find a goal and this defeat means they are now unable to qualify for the Quarter-Finals.