By Tomasz Ng @tomaszng07

Dandenong City has recorded a solid 2-0 win over Springvale White Eagles at White Eagles Stadium, but the result has come at a cost with two key players going off with injury.

Keegan Ziada was stretchered off after just four minutes with a suspected torn hamstring, before Simon Storey and Dario Matkovic scored for the visitors.

Left back Joseph Sieh also went off with a hamstring injury in the second half, but Dandenong was too resolute and stood firm to collect the points on the day.

Things could’ve been very different had Springvale White Eagles converted their first chance straight from the kickoff. 

After working the ball down the right, Joshua Bowen crossed back towards a waiting Slaven Vranesevic, whose hooked volley clipped the crossbar on it’s way out.

Springvale had most of the early running, as Dandenong were forced to re-shape after losing Ziada in the opening minutes.

But despite the home side having all the attempts on goal, it was City who took the lead in the 19th minute.

The impressive Matkovic swung in a teasing free-kick that was thumped in by Storey with the head, which left Springvale momentarily deflated. 

That feeling was compounded moments later as Dandenong doubled their lead through Matkovic himself, clinically dispatching a cool finish into the bottom corner.

It came from some fine work by Sieh, as the full back won the ball in midfield before attempting to square it for Filipovic, but the ball instead rolled fortuitously into Matkovic’s path.

Springvale were finding it tough to get through Dandenong’s unyielding defence, but Vojislav Milojevic managed to do just that on the half hour, as he chested a long ball past Marko Stevanja before shooting over the bar on a tight angle.

Dandenong then should have had a third just before half-time after Matkovic burst past defender Slavisa Saric on the counter attack.

But despite being all by himself and even rounding the goalkeeper, Matkovic was foiled at the finish by a brilliant recovery by Saric.

The White Eagles failed to find much joy in the second half as well, with a series of efforts from Vranesevic the only real threats on the City goal. 

In the end Dandenong’s defence stood firm as it collected its first win in five attempts, which coach Ivan Duzel was delighted with.

“The structure that we got and the counter attack today, look that was a brilliant performance after three draws, and another clean sheet, the boys deserved it today,”Duzel said.

“I believe the people that paid their money today, they saw a good performance from both teams.”

Springvale White Eagles assistant coach Petar Veljovic was less complimentary about his side, and felt disappointed that they couldn’t do better with their start.

“They seemed to be in good spirits for the game but again what’s cost us is us starting the game slowly,”Veljovic said.

“We had a couple of good chances in the first five or ten minutes and probably should have taken the lead and been 1-0 up.

“It’s a bit deflating having such a young squad, you have a few chances to go 1-0 and then you concede then you just see that their heads drop.

“It’s onwards and upwards and we’ve just got to try and get them up for next week and go again.” 

Springvale White Eagles host Box Hill United next week, while Dandenong City will face FC Bulleen Lions in a confident mood.

MATCH DETAILS:

Springvale White Eagles 0 defeated by Dandenong City 2 (Storey 19’, Matkovic 27’) at White Eagles Stadium. [HT: 0-2]

Springvale White Eagles: 12. Bojan TOMIC (GK), 18. Ryan DON PAUL, 4. Simo JOVANOVIC (5. Scott MILLAR 64’), 6. Slavisa SARIC, 3. Milan CALDERONE, 22. Milan JOVANOVIC (16. Jamie DE SMITH 64’), 8. Marcus HOLMES, 19. Vojislav MILOJEVIC, 21. Dejan ERAKOVIC, 17. Slaven VRANESEVIC, 14. Joshua BOWEN (13. Hamish MILLAR 42’)

Unused subs: 30. Anthony CASSETT, 11. Sanni DAUDA

Yellow cards: Saric 18’

Dandenong City: 1. Marko STEVANJA (GK), 3. Simon STOREY, 5. Alex ROJAS, 6. John CARROLL, 7. Keegan ZIADA (14. Karim EL HILALI 5’), 8. Dario MATKOVIC, 9. Damien MISKULIN, 10. Sean SEAVILL (21. Anthony MIJAC 90’), 11. Joseph SIEH (17. Danijel BUHIC 71’), 12. Shaun FILIPOVIC, 15. Nicholas GLAVAN

Unused subs: 13. Adrian RISCHATELLI, 31. Martin DERRYS

Yellow Cards: Nil