By Brandon Galgano (@bgalgano94)

Photo: Mark Avellino

A late winner from substitute Erhan Yalaz was enough for Port Melbourne to snatch victory at the death despite North Geelong Warriors deserving at least a draw at a windy JL Murphy Reserve on Friday night. 

With the hosts coming off a gallant draw at home to Bentleigh last weekend and North Geelong losing heavily to Oakleigh, it was Port who started stronger, forcing North 'keeper Daniel Zilic into action inside the first five minutes. 

The visitors had the first real opportunity of the match in the 20th minute as Mark Paleka burst into the area only to be denied by a good save from Michael Stark, who stood strong to keep the game scoreless. 

Port Melbourne then took the lead just three minutes later through Ryan Opperman, although credit must go to Adrian Zahra for his work in the build-up. 

Bursting through the middle, the former Melbourne Heart midfielder beat two players before sliding the ball across to Opperman, who smashed home past Zilic to make it 1-0. 

The visitors kept on fighting and almost equalised in the 37th minute as Michael Anderson had a free header on goal at the back post tipped over the bar by Stark. 

Port Melbourne continued to push forward though and thought they had equalised when Zahra broke through past the Warriors' defence and goalkeeper, but was unable to bundle the ball over the line under a challenge from the visiting defence. 

And just as it seemed that Port would go into the break with the advantage it was North Geelong who scored an equaliser in first-half stoppage time through the ever lively Anderson. 

The former Green Gully winger struck the ball low through a pack of players which deceived Stark, who let the ball squeeze underneath him to make it 1-1. 

The young 'keeper made amends early in the second period though with a brave dive to parry the ball off the goal line following a goalmouth scramble to keep the scores level. 

With North Geelong beginning to get on top of the hosts it seemed only a matter of time before it took the lead and the side had the perfect opportunity to do so when awarded a penalty in the 73rd minute for a clumsy challenge inside the area. 

Matt Townley made no mistake from the spot, scoring his second penalty in two weeks to give North Geelong a vital lead. 

The lead lasted barely 180 seconds though as Chris Grossman bundled home from a well-taken corner kick to make it 2-2 with all to play for in the last 15 minutes of the match. 

Both sides begun to throw numbers forward and North Geelong very nearly scored a winner in the 86th minute through substitute Yusuf Yusuf who, with his first touch since coming onto the ground, stuck a well-hit volley which was beaten away by Stark before being cleared. 

And with the clock ticking into the 94th minute it was Port Melbourne who stole the three points with virtually the last kick of the game.

Following a goalmouth scramble the ball was deflected across the six-yard box to an unmarked Yalaz who slotted home off the post past Zilic to gift Port Melbourne a late victory to the utter dismay of the North Geelong players, who had played well enough to earn at least a point. 

The result leaves North Geelong still third bottom but only two points clear of second-last placed Werribee City. 

Match Details: 

Port Melbourne Sharks 3 (Opperman 22’, Grossman 76’, Yalaz 90+4’) defeated North Geelong Warriors 2 (Anderson 45’, Townley PEN 73’) at JL Murphy Reserve. 

Port Melbourne XI: 25 Michael STARK, 3 James RICCOBENE, 19 Shaun KELLY (6 Chris GROSSMAN 46’), 23 Connor REDDAN, 10 Andrew MILICEVIC, 4 Alan MULCAHY (15 Kristopher KIOUSSIS 70’), 16 Alan KEARNEY, 14 Kamal IBRAHIM, 20 Julius DAVIES, 7 Adrian ZAHRA, 22 Ryan OPPERMAN (17 Erhan YALAZ 77’) 

Unused Substitutes: 1 Ben MORELLA, 12 Alex GOODWIN  

North Geelong Warriors XI: 1 Daniel ZILIC, 17 Nicholas JURCIC, 3 Matt TOWNLEY, 2 Darren LEWIS, 6 Josh PUGH, 16 Michael GRGIC, 8 Vito CICHELLO, 4 Nikola JURKOVIC, 23 Michael ANDERSON (77 Juso JULARDZLJA 70’), 7 Reardo LUKA, 14 Mark PALEKA (10 Yusuf YUSUF 85’) 

Unused Substitutes: 31 Tonio BARESIC, 5 Anthony BANOVAC, 9 Rudi SAGLAM