By Ahmed Yussuf (@ahmedyussuf10)

Heidelberg United played out an entertaining 2-2 draw at home against Bentleigh Greens on Saturday afternoon at Olympic Village.

The hosts hit the lead early courtesy of a lovely long-range strike by midfield playmaker Andrew Cartanos, which eluded the diving Bentleigh shot-stopper Alistair Bray. 

Bentleigh’s attacking lynchpin, Ryan De Vries, pegged the home side minutes prior to half time.  

The New Zealander’s rifling shot into the roof of the net levelled the scores before the end of the interval. 

With the game leveled one apiece, De Vries doubled his total in the second half.  

The Bentleigh number 14 came up with an audacious chip from the left wing to catch Heidelberg custodian Griffin McMaster off his line. 

With little time left to play Heidelberg attacker Kaine Sheppard came up with the goods.  

The Heidelberg man pulled off a lovely strike inside the area to level the scoring, despite Bentleigh goalkeeper Bray’s best attempts to save the strike.

Early into the first half Heidelberg began to pass the ball around with ease, but lacking end product. 

However, Andrew Cartanos’ strike outside the box six minutes in made the early possession count. 

After breaking the deadlock, in a matter of minutes Heidelberg top goal-scorer Dan Heffernan was put through on goal.  

The front man was off balance and his awkwardly hit shot sailed just over the crossbar. 

Bentleigh’s resurgence continued as the half progressed while Heidelberg played dangerously in their hands. 

A cheap giveaway in the Heidelberg backline allowed David Stirton to find Liam McCormick in space to shoot. 

The Bentleigh attacker’s shot went close as it going inches wide of the goalmouth. 

Benleigh then levelled the scoring late in the half when a low cross found De Vries who had space and the wherewithal to rocket his shot into the roof of the net, in a crowded penalty box. 

Into the second half Bentleigh continued their dominance on proceedings and Luke Gallo was a key figure as the game went on. 

The youngster whipped in a cross into the path of Nicholas Teichman but the ball in proved too high for Teichman.  

Gallo then dribbled his way to the left wing, finding a sea of bodies in his way.  

A pass to Teichman freed up some space, but the first half substitute had only the option to shoot, and his effort was deflected to cause a penalty box scramble. 

Bentleigh’s attacks became more frequent, and having scored the side’s first, De Vries was on hand to double his total.  

The attacker decided to come up with the sublime from the left wing, as he lofted a shot over the head of Heidelberg goalkeeper McMaster. 

Heidelberg continued to search for an equaliser to get back into the game, and Kaine Sheppard proved to be most likely to find the leveler with a number of shots testing Bentleigh goalkeeper Bray.

And 84 minutes in, Sheppard did just that with a lovely strike inside the area to level the game. 

Bentleigh were gifted one last chance to bury the game, but man of the match contender De Vries missed the target ever so narrowly. 

Heidelberg United coach George Katsakis was pleased with his side start but after half time lost a bit early competitiveness.

“The way we (Heidelberg) started I thought we were in for a good weekend,” Katsakis said.

“We were very competitive until half time, after half time I thought they (Bentleigh) started to get more involved.”

Bentleigh Greens coach John Anastasiadis is looking forward the FFA Cup tie on Tuesday after a hard fought point against Heidelberg United.

“Draw is probably a fair result, we (Bentleigh) probably had the ascendency,” Anastasiadis said.

“We could’ve pinched it in the end. But for us these past two games have been dress rehearsals for the big [FFA Cup game] on Tuesday.  

“We go into the game on Tuesday pretty confident, and the players feel pretty good about.”

MATCH DETAILS

Heidelberg United 2 (Cartanos 8’, Sheppard 83’) drew against Bentleigh Greens 2 (DeVries 39’ 70’) at Olympic Village. [HT 1-1] 

Bentleigh Greens: 21. Alistair Bray (GK), 2. Tom Matthews, 3. James Cummings, 5. Jack Webster, 8. Wayne Wallace (16. Nicholas Teichman, 18’, 22. Lewis Foster 81’), 10. David Stirton, 12. Luke Gallo, 14. Ryan De Vries, 15. Christian Carvallo, 19. Liam McCormick (4. Patrick Avice 68′)

Unused sub(s): 1. Lajos Hun, 7. Jamie Deabreu

Yellow card(s): Nil

Red card(s): Nil 

Heidelberg United: 1. Griffin McMaster, 2. John Lazaridis, 4. Jordan Wilkes, 13. Luke Byles, 19. Jacob Williams (8. Zane Sole, 81), 9. Kosta Karnakaris (6. Paul Miller, 60’), 10. Jack Petrie, 11. Mark McGough, 23. Andrew Cartanos (17. Steve Pace, 60’), 14. Dan Heffernan, 22. Kaine Sheppard

Unused Sub(s): 32. Ryan Norval, 5. Milos Illic 

Yellow Cards: 9. Kostas Kanakaris 26’

Red Cards: Nil