By Shaun Moran (@moranshaun)

Heidelberg United succumbed to a second-half Werribee City equaliser to come away with a solitary point in a 2-2 draw at Olympic Village on Sunday evening.

It was the visiting side that struck first, largely against the run of play.

A cleverly taken free-kick enabled Robbie Naumoski to cut the ball back in from the by-line for Steve Cudrig to tuck away stylishly.

The Bergers didn’t have to wait long to draw level. Andrew Cartanos went down under a strong challenge as he jinked inboard, which allowed Dan Heffernan to step up and convert the resultant penalty from the spot.

The comeback was complete minutes after the interval in bizarre circumstances.

Kaine Sheppard looked certain to put a cross in from near the corner flag. He instead opted to try his luck and it paid dividends as the ball curled in with the help of City ‘keeper Tommy Dunn.

Heidelberg’s inability to shut down the game came back to haunt it.

Matthew Cundari’s lavish ball picked out Domenico Marafioti at the back post, who snapped up the chance to put the ball away and ensure Werribee City would leave with a point.

It was the hosts who started on the front foot from the game’s inception.

Les Doumbalis was looking lively at left-back and threatened to net the Bergers’ first goal with attempts both before and after Werribee’s opener.

Heidelberg began the second half with a flurry and looked certain to score when the ball resembled a pinball in the six-yard box before being eventually cleared.

Doumbalis had a golden opportunity to put the game beyond reach shortly after his team’s second. He burst through the area, only be thwarted by the Werribee shot-stopper.

Jack Petrie forced a sharp save from Dunn immediately before Simon Zappia went down the other end and fired a left-foot drive that Heidelberg ‘keeper Ryan Norval managed to tip over the bar.

A looping ball over the top of the Werribee defence in the dying minutes almost caught them square.

Dunn came out off his line to swipe the ball away but only managed to pick out Yusuf Yusuf, who swung in a ball to Heffernan.

His header incredibly picked out the Werribee custodian in what was to be the final action of a very entertaining encounter.

Heidelberg coach George Katsakis was left to reflect on two points lost for the second successive week at home.

“It’s disappointing,” Katsakis said.

“We conceded some stupid goals. They’ve both come from our errors. In saying that we created so much. We have to start taking our chances again and I think that’s where we’ve been faltering lately.”

Werribee coach Nino Ragusa expressed his disenchantment over his side’s two concessions.

“I’m not happy because we gifted them the second goal,” Ragusa said.

“If you come here before the game and say would you take a point, I would probably have taken it.

“But then how we were tactically spot on all game and the fact that they didn’t do much against us all game, the second goal is unacceptable.”

Ragusa will be looking to go one better next week at home to an out-of-form Port Melbourne on Sunday afternoon, while Heidelberg will be on the road against Dandenong Thunder on Saturday night.

MATCH DETAILS

Heidelberg United 2 (Heffernan 30’, Dunn (OG) 52’) defeated Werribee City 2 (Cudrig 20’, Marafioti 60’) at Olympic Village [HT: 1-1]

Heidelberg United: 20. Ryan NORVAL (GK), 10. Jakob WILLIAMS, 17. Steven PACE, 4. Jordan WILKES, 3. Les DOUMBALIS, 6. Paul MILLER, 10. Jack PETRIE, 9. Kosta KANAKARIS, 23. Andrew CARTANOS (19. Yusuf YUSUF 79’), 14. Dan HEFFERNAN, 22. Kane SHEPARD.
Unused subs: 1. Griffin McMASTER (GK) 7. Stef BARICEVIC, 16. Harris STAMBOULIDIS, 8. James GOULOPOULOS

Yellow Cards: Miller (64’)

Red Cards: Nil

Werribee City: 1. Tommy DUNN (GK), 2. Oliver ROWLAND, 43. Steve CUDRIG, 5. Nemanja GOVEDARICA, 20. Daniel PETROV (10. Damir MARUSIC 43’), 13. Milan SAVIC, 19. Robbie NAUMOSKI, 14. Bobby VIDANOSKI, 7. Simon ZAPPIA (8. Daniel SWEENEY 84’), 11. Domenico MARAFIOTI (9. Zois GALANOPOULOS 77’), 17. Matthew CUNDARI.

Unused subs: 6. Anthony RAGUSA, 12. Roderick YOUSEF.

Yellow Cards: Rowland (27’), Marafioti (65’), Govedarica (82’)

Red cards:  Nil

Image credit: Charlie Lombardo