By Lucas Pavlidis (@LucasPavlidis)

A goal to Steven Topalovic in injury time has earned Dandenong City a hard-fought 1-1 draw away to FC Bulleen Lions on Monday night.

The Lions began the brightest with Joseph Katebian finding space early on the right wing, his raking cross just missing the head of striker Paul Harvey.

Bulleen almost went ahead in the first five minutes with Katebian pouncing on a poorly-controlled pass by Halil Gur, in what was a shaky half for the visitors.

Dandenong had its first chance through Damien Miskulin on 25 minutes. The midfielder did well to carry the ball, but his shot from 20 yards was just high of Fraser Maclaren’s top right-hand corner.

Katebian was eventually rewarded for his hard work in the 37th minute. A wonderful weighted pass from the left wing found the striding attacker at the back post, who controlled his volley well and saw it fly across Dandenong’s goal keeper and into the back of the net.

Dandenong’s quick finish to the first half suggested that an equaliser was on the cards, and the away side started the second half the brightest after Dario Matkovic’s clever cross was cleared at the last moment by Alex Romas, with another City striker breathing down his neck.

Miskulin and Matkovic then combined well with the latter’s shot deflected, and Sean Seavill was unable to get a touch before Maclaren gathered easily.

John Carrol came agonisingly close to an equaliser halfway through the second period. A cross whipped in from the left by Seavill was met with a free header at the far post, which flashed wide.

Bulleen had a great chance to grab a two-goal advantage via Ross Harvey, but his attempt from close range was denied by a brilliant reflex save.

Both sides had their share of chances in the final 10 minutes full of regulation time.

Topalovic was called on to support his strikers, and his run was stopped by Dao at the top of the box with only injury time left to play.

Katebian had one last chance and found himself in a one-on-one position with Dandenong’s last defender, who did well to see off the attack and effectively help construct his side’s equaliser.

Topalovic was rewarded for his overall efforts during the game after his persistence found him in on goal and made no mistake in the second minute of injury time. His cool finish past Maclaren condemned Bulleen to its second late goal conceded in as many games.

Topalovic was happy with his equaliser and felt that Dandenong had the upper hand in the closing stages.

“I think we deserved it overall in the game. First thirty minutes we were the better side and a mistake cost us a goal. In the second half it was the same, trying to retain possession. Our persistence paid off in the end,” Topalovic said.

The midfielder was unhappy though with his side’s inability to capitalise on its chances.

“Just poor finishing on our behalf. We do it every week, we have had heaps of chances against every team we’ve played. If we get that right, we’ll have a good run this season,” he said.

Bulleen coach Fabrizio Soncin believed that despite the late goal, his team created sufficient chances to put away City.

“They’re disappointed. There’s 90 minutes in the game, 90 minutes to score goals. Our job is to create chances and finish them,” Soncin said.

Despite not finishing chances, Soncin spoke of his players returning from injury and a week off between games as reasons for not grabbing the three points.

“For us it feels like it’s been three weeks, we’ve had a couple boys come back from injury who are still struggling, but we had to be disciplined,” he said.

MATCH DETAILS

FC Bulleen Lions 1 (Katebian 37’) drew Dandenong City 1 (Topalovic 90’+2) at David Barro Stadium

FC Bulleen Lions: 43. Maclaren (GK), 2. Romas, 4. Borghesi, 5. Waddel, 6. Dao, 9. Hysolli (Sabidussi 84’), 10. Nishimoto (Ponari 90’+3), 12. Dimech, 20. Cardamone, 21. Harvey, 33. Katebian.

Unused subs: 13. Lorenzi, 16. Gow, 44. Tapia

Yellow cards: None

Red cards: None

Dandenong City: 1. Martin (GK), 6. Carrol, 3. Gur, 10. Seavill, 7. Ziada, 9. Miskulin, 10. Matkovic, 19. Glavan, 4. Topalovic, 11. Lay (Rojas 60’), 23. Jozeljic (Filipovic 78’)

Unused subs: 15. Baha, 21. Bultic, 31. Stevanja

Yellow cards: 3. Gur 66’

Red cards: None