By Mark Gojszyk (@hahahamark)

Sunshine George Cross continued its winning start to the NPL 1 season, defeating Avondale Heights 1-0 at Chaplin Reserve on Saturday afternoon.

After initially scheduled as Avondale’s home game, the match had to be moved to Sunshine, and George Cross made the most of its unexpected home advantage, keeping its second clean sheet in a row.

Bozidar Lojanica scored the solitary goal for Sunshine, converting a penalty after Delfin Mosibe was felled in the box.

Despite Avondale dominating possession and territory, it could not find the elusive equaliser as the home side’s defence stood tall.

The game began in scrappy fashion, with the pitch at Chaplin Reserve making it difficult to play possession football.

Sunshine adapted to the conditions better, looking to dominate the visitors early, but continually struggled to spring Avondale’s offside trap.

The early minutes had more cards distributed than shots on target. A brawl in the 30th minute after suspicions of a stray elbow saw Sunshine’s Jacob Attard and Avondale’s Jason Principato both go into the referee’s book.

In the 38th minute, Mosibe’s individual effort earned the home side the crucial penalty.

The midfielder blocked a defensive clearance in Avondale’s box and pounced on the loose ball, drawing a foul from the visitor’s keeper Anthony Saric.

Tall striker Lojanica made no mistake from the box, earning the home side a 1-0 lead, which it took into the break.

Coach Anthony Barbieri’s halftime spray had an immediate effect on the away side, as the visitors began the second half in positive fashion, threatening Sunshine’s goal with a flurry of chances.

However, Nedjet Singh was intent on denying an equaliser. Sunshine’s nippy defender first cut off a threatening ball into the box, and then headed a goal bound shot, that had beaten keeper Robert Santilli, over the bar.

Avondale’s striker Anthony Fallone had arguably the best chance to get one back for the visitors, flashing his header just wide after being left unmarked on a set piece.

Minutes later he scuffed another opportunity, driving a low shot just wide of the keeper’s right post.

After the 65th minute, Avondale was looking increasingly desperate as its chances came and went without yielding a goal.

Instead, it was Sunshine which nearly doubled its lead against the run of play, when Ross Wallis’s free kick was tipped over the crossbar, and the following corner kick led to a goal line scrap that nearly resulted in a goal.
 
In the 85th minute, substitute Same Nour almost put the game beyond doubt when he connected with a cross, but his close-range volley landed wide.

Despite huffing and puffing, Avondale never found the elusive equaliser, as Sunshine’s defenders stood tall right until the final whistle.

Sunshine coach Tony Ciantar was unhappy with his side’s attacking structure, but praised its defensive effort.

“We just got sucked into the battle and didn’t stick to our game plan,” Ciantar said.

“[Avondale Heights] came into the game with a lot of confidence after winning their first two games, but we were solid as a rock.”

Avondale Heights coach Anthony Barbieri was unhappy with the game, lamenting the penalty decision and his team’s efforts on goal.

“The penalty was very soft, it seemed a 50-50 challenge,” Barbieri said.

“It’s a game of chances. If you don’t take your chances, you lose.

“They had one shot, one goal, the game ends 1-0 and it looked like we didn’t play much. But in truth, there was only one team out there today.”

Sunshine turns its attention to another home game against Whittlesea next week, while Avondale Heights also plays at home against Brunswick City.

MATCH DETAILS

FT: Sunshine George Cross 1 (Lojanica pen. 38’) defeated Avondale Heights 0

Sunshine George Cross: 1. Robert SANTILLI (GK), 2. Eddie CETKIN, 17. Jacob ATTARD, 3. Nejdel SAHIN, 5. Christopher DIB, 4. Ross WALLISS, 8. Delfin MOSIBE, 10. Adrian LOGOZZO, 9. Bozidar LOJANICA (6. Serdar PIR 87’), 14. Athony CASSAR (13. Sami NOUR 65’), 19. Manuell SADIK (18. Jordan BROWN 78’)

Unused Subs: 12. Mohamed MOHAMED, 21. Nabi TUNA

Yellow Cards: ATTARD (30’), MOSIBE (41’), DIB (65’)

Red Cards: None

Avondale Heights: 1. Anthony SARIC (GK), 27. Julien CANNIZZARO, 33. Dean CAMPELJ, 6. Anthony STRANO, 9. Anthony FALLONE (14. Daniel SLOVACEK 83’), 24. Resit CULCULOGLU, 8. Bosin GEORGEVSKI, 10. Burakhan KOCA (7. Andrew LE PAGE 65’), 15. Zoran PAJIC, 34. Opeksij KHRAPKO, 19. Jason PRINCIPATO

Unused Subs: 5. Andrew SACCHETTA, 20. John SCOLLO (GK), 17. Radom FUSCA

Yellow Cards: GEORGEVSKI (8’), PRINCIPATO (30’), SARIC (39’), KHRAPKO (42’), KOCA (61’)

Red Cards: None