By Andrew Bishara (@_andrewbishara)

Moreland Zebras recorded a tough 2-0 win over Bendigo FC in the two sides’ catch-up fixture at De Chene Reserve on Saturday.

Second-half goals by Danilo Bonilla-Ospina and Daniel Sweeney were enough to see the hosts secure the three points in a rescheduled match.

The majority of the game was bogged down in the centre of the park with both sides struggling to take a commanding presence in the game.

Bendigo had the best of the early chances with Josh Romein finding himself free during a corner, but his header went wide.

It was then Trent Waterson’s turn, when during a scramble in the box, the ball bounced out to the back post and came right to the midfielder.

But he could only scope the ball over the goals.

Moreland’s best chance in the first period came when James Papadimitriou met a cross at the back post, but he could only fire his shot over the bar.

The second half looked like following the trend of the first period, as both sides struggled to break each other down.

Finally, the goal the game so desperately needed came when some nice build-up play saw Sweeney release Bonilla-Ospina into the box.

With a bouncing ball and tight angle, the winger smashed in a half-volley that ricocheted off the crossbar before bouncing into the goals.

The goal seemed to spur on the hosts, as they began to take control of the game and push higher up the pitch.

Ironically, it was during a counter-attack that the Zebras nabbed a second and secured the points.

Some crisp, one-touch football saw the ball pushed out to the wing for Bonilla-Ospina, who raced into the box before cutting it back to the unmarked Jack Turner.

The substitute could only strike his ball directly at Bendigo ‘keeper Sebastian Mattei, but Sweeney was there to blast home the rebound.

The hosts continued to press forward in a bid for a third but it mattered little as they secured the points.

Moreland coach Danny Gnjidic said that his side’s win was a reward for effort over the past few weeks.

“We haven’t been playing that badly, so it’s just a bit of a reward. Not just for today, but for the last couple of games,” Gnjidic said.

“I’m happy for the players because things haven’t gone their way the last two, three weeks and today it did.”

Bendigo player-coach Steve Martin was “disappointed” with how his side conceded the goals.

“They had a couple of opportunities out of nothing really, and scored from them. It was disappointing,” Martin said.

“We were in the game the whole time and had opportunities.

“But the lapse of concentration - it’s been a problem for us all year - but it’s no excuse and we have to keep working on it.”

MATCH DETAILS
 
Moreland Zebras 2 (Bonilla-Ospina 57’, Daniel Sweeney 76’) defeated FC Bendigo 0 at De Chene Reserve [HT: 0-0]

Moreland Zebras: 21. Nikola KOSTADINOVSKI (GK), 3. Johnny CRIVELLI, 2. Simon SYMEOY, 5. Nick SYMEOY, 9. Joel NIKOLIC, 7. Scott ROBSON, 8. Daniel SWEENEY (12. Josh MCMONAGLE-IHASZ 76’), 10. Danilo BONILLA-OSPINA (20. Christopher TRIANTAFILOR 83’), 14. James PAPADIMITRIOU (17. Jack TURNER 68’), 16. Mile MEDJEDOVIC, 19. Bradley MURRAY

Unused subs: 1: FRANCESCO GRECO, 22. William NUTTALL

Yellow cards: Nil.

Red cards: Nil

FC Bendigo: 1. Sebastian MATTEI (GK), 2.Ben SHAPER (13. Finn HUZZEY 83’), 15. Aaron COHEN (12. Eshoo SHE 83’), 5. Josh ROMEIN, 6. Alon BLUMGART, 8. Victor RODRIGUEZ, 7. Trent WATERSON, 10. Mathew BREEZE, 11. Josh DWYER (18. Daniel PURDY 76’), 16. Steve MARTIN, 14. Ryan DAVIDSON

Unused subs: 22. Christopher XERRI, 32. Alier ALIER

Yellow cards: MATTEI 6’, ROMEIN 33, BREEZE 72’

Red Cards: Nil

Image credit: Bruno Silverii