By Daniel Campos (@francisfields)

Moreland City has taken three points from Springvale White Eagles at the death on a Saturday afternoon at Campbell Reserve.

A Lisandro Paz goal in injury time was enough for the hosts to take the win in a heated encounter in Round 16.

Both sides came out looking positive, but despite stating their intentions early, both sides had just a shot on goal in the first 20 minutes.

Springvale winger Keletso Mthembu looked most likely for the visitors and kept Yang Tou-Yeng busy with his pace.

Moreland almost struck first after a mistake from Nebojsa Vujic left Ossie Kosie with a simple finish, but he put it over the bar.

On 36 minutes, Springvale was reduced to 10 men as Dejan Erakovic lost his temper with an off-the-ball challenge, with the referee deeming his reaction enough to warrant a red card.

But despite the man advantage, Moreland struggled to make the most of it.

It was Mthembu who looked most likely again, switching wings and beating two markers, only to be denied by the quick feet of Moreland City goalkeeper Brandon Galgano.

That save proved vital for Moreland, lifting the home side’s morale.

Moreland City came out the stronger in the second half with an early Corey Thomas chance via a curling shot - deflected out by a Springvale defender.

But after that early chance, both sides struggled to find that final ball with Galgano and Vujic largely left to just pick up loose balls and restart play.

Nej Sahin had the clearest chance of the match after a brilliant one-two with Kose, only to put his shot wide of Vujic’s near post.

In the end, it was substitute Lisandro Paz to come up with the goods in injury time, as a neat cross found Paz to break the deadlock, and send the visitors home empty handed.

Match Details:

Moreland City 1 (Lisandro Paz 90+1) defeated Springvale White City 0 at Campbell Reserve.

Moreland City: 1. Brandon GALGANO, 2. Yang TOU-YENG, 12. Shane CARR, 5. Ioannis AVRAMIDIS, 21. Nej SAHIN, 20. Rob BASSANO (23. Moe KURUCU 72'), 17. Liam BRIAN (9. Lisandro PAZ 55'), 4. Quinn MCDONALD, 8. Corey THOMAS, 11. Kam SIMSEK (10. Liam FRANCIS '78), 7. Ossie KOSE.

Unused Subs: 3. Finn HUZZEY, 16. Nathan GOURZELAS

Yellow Cards: Nil.

Red Cards: Nil.

Springvale White Eagles: 1. Nebojsa VUJIC, 2, Jordan BELLERINI, 3. Vedran TOMIC, 4. Simo JOVANOVIC, 15. Milan JOVANOVIC (16. Ryan BABARE 51'), 7. Keletso MTHEMBU (11. Ricardo TEIXEIRA 83'), 21. Dejan ERAKOVIC, 10. Stojan MILOJEVIC, 33. Zarko MILOJEVIC (6. Slavisa SARIC 67'), 22. Anthony SELEMIDIS, 17. Sebastian LECAROS.

Unused Subs: 30. Jeremy SANDOVAL.

Yellow Cards: 7. Keletso MTHEMBU 73'.

Red Card: 21. Dejan ERAKOVIC 37'.