Kingston comes from behind to topple Sunshine
By Lou Verga (@LouVerga)
Kingston City has bounced back from last week’s drubbing at the hands of Melbourne Victory with a 2-1 win over Sunshine George Cross at The Grange Reserve on Monday night.
The visitors took an early lead through Anthony Cassar, but Kingston came from behind with goals from Ben Osei-Safo and Sean McIllroy sending them back up to second spot.
Cassar opened the scoring just before the five-minute mark with the first sight at goal for either side.
The winger was allowed space to shoot from 18 yards and his low shot beat Fraser Maclaren at the near post with the goalkeeper’s view blocked.
After going behind early at home for the second week running, Kingston responded well.
Osei-Safo found himself through on goal when the visitors’ defence stopped, expecting an offside flag, but James Kapuranovski made a fantastic fingertip save as the shot looked to be curling into the far corner.
From the resulting corner, McIlroy poked a glancing shot over as he looked to put the finishing touch on Kemal Curan’s header.
Osei-Safo had the next shot on target ten minutes before half time, but Kapuranovski was again dived to parry the ball as it bounced towards the bottom corner.
Shortly after Cassar looked for his second, winning the ball high up the pitch and dribbling to the edge of the area, but this time the shot was straight at Maclaren.
After threatening all half, Osei-Safo found an equaliser five minutes before the break.
His initial shot was blocked but despite losing balance, the attacker improvised to swing his foot at the rebound whilst lying on the ground to make it 1-1.
Kingston took the lead three minutes into the second half courtesy of a neat finish from McIlroy.
The striker took down a high ball with one silky touch before placing his shot into the bottom corner to compete the turnaround.
The hosts pushed on in search of a third, with George Stavridis’ volley flying just wide of the post on the hour mark.
20 minutes from time Sunshine had a big penalty appeal waved away, as Bozidar Lojanica and his teammates were convinced that the attacker’s cross had struck a Kingston defender’s hand inside the area.
Substitute Gino Defeo looked most likely to add to the score in the final stages.
His best effort was an 89th minute curler that Kapuranovski reacted well to keep out as Kingston comfortably saw out the result.
Match details
Kingston City 2 (Osei-Safo 41, McIlroy 48’) defeated Sunshine George Cross 1 (Cassar 4’) at The Grange Reserve
Kingston City: 24. Fraser MACLAREN, 2. George STAVRIDIS, 3. Kemal CURAN (5. Nicholas Teichmann 74’), 4. James KARVELIS, 6. Nicholas MODAFFARI, 16. Nicholas STAMATIOU, 11. Stelios KONSTANTINIDIS, 19. Andrew DOIG, 9. Sean McILROY, 8. Deniz SABANOVSKI (18. Gino DEFEO 84’), 7. Ben OSEI-SAFO (22. Steve FERGADIOTIS 90+3’)
Unused substitutes: 13. Douglas LINDEBERG, 17. Laurent CORALIE
Yellow card(s): None
Red card (s): None
Sunshine George Cross: 21. James KAPURANOVSKI, 2. Eddie CETKIN 3. Martin MASON, 4. Brandon SCERRI, 5. Christopher DIB, 8. Slaven VRANESEVIC, 9. Bozidar LOJICANA, 10. Adrian LOGOZZO (15, Samuel McCALL 90+1’), 11. Anthony CASSAR, 12. Matthew OGHANNA(6. Damien RASTOCIC 53’), 17. Jacob ATTARD (13. Christopher ANTONIADIS 76’)
Unused substitutes: 1. Jonathon HARBOGLOU, 16. Nathan LIBERTO
Yellow card(s): Cassar 57’, Rastocic 89’
Red card (s): None
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