By Jordan Lim

A last-gasp equaliser from defender Will Abbott earned FC Bulleen Lions a share of the spoils, in a 1-1 draw with Dandenong City at Frank Holohan Reserve.

Chris Antoniadis grabbed the first for the hosts with a calm finish only for Bulleen to strike back with an 89th minute effort.

A skewed long-range effort from midfielder Bardhi Hysoli in the dying embers of the clash was inexplicably allowed to bounce in the 18-yard box by a stagnant Dandy defence, with Abbott showing a poacher's instinct to poke home the late equaliser.

Bulleen controlled the tempo of the contest in the early stages, with its midfield contributing in equal measure. 

The side created the first opening via a 25-yard free-kick, which saw Matteo Ballan chip a delivery into the box for Dean Lorenzi; the winger unable to keep his header down.

A swift counter attack from City down the right flank resulted in the games first goal against the run of play. 

Antoniadis was on hand to profit from a Keegan Ziada cross in the 20th minute, with a slip from Bulleen’s Eli Luttmer allowing the Dandy man time and space to pick out the bottom left corner.

Some dogged work in midfield from Ballan saw the ball eventually played wide to Takanori Nishimoto, who took on his marker to play a cross in from the byline, which Lorenzi placed wide.

A free kick soon after gave Ballan another chance to weight a pass into the area; this time Sayeed Reza Hussaini was on the end of the ball, putting a diving effort just wide of the left post.

City soon had an attack of its own as a delicate ball over the top from Sean Seavill opened the left flank up for Antoniadis, who whipped in a dangerous delivery, only to see the ball fizz past the run of Ziada.

Dandenong applied the stops on Bulleen in the second half, and worked itself into some decent positions. 

The side pressed higher up the ground and monopolised possession in its attacking half, but found it hard to turn that pressure into opportunities.

At the other end, Ballan’s delivery from set-pieces continued to give Dandenong nightmares, as he once again laid off a perfect ball from Hussaini. 

The unmarked striker however once again headed wide, despite the lack of pressure from the City defence.

A turn and volley from City skipper John Carroll on the hour mark failed to catch Sardelic off guard as the former Pascoe Vale stopper held the audacious strike comfortably. 

He got the chance to redeem himself soon after, but his header from an Andy Jerez free-kick was put wide from the penalty spot.

Antoniadis looked a menace across the front third and after several cries to shoot, he finally obliged; his volleyed effort in the 73rd minute however sailed across the face of goals and wide.

Bulleen dictated the final 15 minutes of a see-sawing contest, and created a number of openings in search of its equaliser.

City ‘keeper Damir Salcin was forced into the first of a string of saves to deny Abbott, who snuck up the pitch to strike a venomous drive from 20-yards.

He was called in to action just a minute later to deny substitute Sami Nour, rushing from his line and smothering his shot from the angle.

But his goal was eventually breached by Abbott, to set up an interesting conclusion to the contest.

Dandenong substitute Chris Sanita was sent off late into the piece for a last ditch tackle, which saw Bulleen get one last crack at a winner via a free-kick from a dangerous area. 

Had Ballan nestled the net with his shot, it would’ve been fitting reward for his set-piece expertise throughout the contest, but cruelly Bulleen was denied a 92nd minute winner by the crossbar.

Match Details 

Dandenong City 1 (Antoniadis 20’) defeated FC Bulleen Lions 0 (Abbott 89’) at Frank Holohan Reservee [HT: 1-0]

Dandenong City: 1. Damir SALCIN (GK), 3. Chris ROSS, 4. Robbie WYNNE (18. Chris SANITA 53’), 6. John CARROLL, 2. Brad CLARKE, 11. Andy JEREZ (8. Dario MATKOVIC 81’), 12. Shaun FILIPOVIC, 9. Ashley CATTERMOLE, 14. Chris ANTONIADIS, 10. Sean SEAVILL, 7. Keegan ZIADA (15. David DI LORIO 67’)

Unused Substitute(s): 9. Alex Rojas, 42. Anthony Casset

Yellow Card(s): Salcin 22’, Carroll 68’, Ross 80’ Clarke 86’

Red Card(s): Sanita 90+2’ 

FC Bulleen Lions: 21. Stefaan SARDELIC (GK), 12. Eli LUTTMER, 3. Will ABBOTT, 18. Felix ROSMAN, 16. Matt DIMECH, 6. Bardhi HYSOLI, 8. Matteo BALLAN, 10. Takanori NISHIMOTO (31. Dylan BRESOLIN 90+3’), 13. Dean LORENZI (14. Sami NOUR 56’), 9. Sayeed Reza HUSSAINI, 11. Gianni DE NITTIS (15. Billy ROMAS 87’)

Unused Substitute(s): 14. Luke GALLO, 4. Sam BORGHESI

Yellow Card(s): Dimech 19’, De Nittis 83’, Hussaini 92’

Red Card(s): Nil