Moreton City Excelsior are the latest team through to the Australian Championship Quarter-Finals after another thrilling score draw on Friday night against South Melbourne.
Moreton City Excelsior 3-3 South Melbourne
Moreton City Excelsior have confirmed their place in the next round as they played out a 3-3 draw with South Melbourne.
The hosts made a bright start to the match as they sought an early goal to boost their Quarter-Finals ambitions.
Just five minutes in, South Melbourne countered this positive play and grabbed the lead. Yuki Uchida showed great determination to race down the right and pick out Oliver Lavale who slid in to poke the ball home.
City almost responded three minutes later through Andy Pengelly as the striker fired an effort wide of the left post from the edge of the box.
The visitors came close to a second just after the 10-minute mark when Nahuel Bonada fiercely whipped a strike onto the bar.
Moments later, Bonada found his goal as he picked the ball up in the right of the box and drilled it into the near side of the goal.
South Melbourne’s two-goal buffer didn’t last long as Moreton City halved the deficit in the 15th minute. Kotaro Kojima shifted the ball inside from the left and sent a dipping shot into the far corner.
Five minutes later, City drew level. A left-sided corner flew through to the far post where Declan Smith made no mistake from close in.
After an exhilarating first 20 minutes, the teams went into the sheds unable to be separated.
South Melbourne came out for the second half, and created some good opportunities with Moreton City goalkeeper Nathan Foster called into action on a couple of occasions.
Six minutes in, this initiative provided a goal for the side as they re-established their lead. Jordon Lampard played an incisive pass into Charlie Leech’s path, who rolled the ball in with a smart finish.
The home side battled on in pursuit of a route back into the game and restored parity in the 75th minute. Luka Jankovic latched onto a ball into the right of the area and blasted a finish inside the near post.
David Anderson took the ball forward for Moreton City five minutes later, with his shot narrowly sailing over the bar.
Neither side could score a decisive goal in what remained in part due to some outstanding goalkeeping in both nets.
In addition to the result confirming Moreton City’s place in the Quarter-Finals, it also ended South Melbourne’s perfect start to the competition.