By Billy Green

FC Bulleen Lions took a commanding step towards promotion to PS4 NPL Victoria after a 3-0 win against Eastern Lions on Monday.

Bulleen scored three times in 18 minutes in the second half at David Barro Stadium to open an eight-point lead at the top of NPL1 West.

A tightly-contested first half kept the scores level at 0-0 with both defences holding strong before the forwards of the hosts pressed for three goals in the second half.

Eastern Lions were the first to be presented with an opportunity, with Munyaradzi Nyadzayo collecting a deflection off Bulleen defender Felix Rosman.

His strike from the edge of the area curved wide and rebounded off the post on eight minutes.

Soon after, a free kick to Bulleen captain Matteo Ballan on a sharp angle again marginally missed, this time hitting the cross-bar.

Both teams were impressive with possession, but were broken down by the sturdy defence of the respective teams.

On 23 minutes, Bulleen striker Takanori Nishimoto turned quickly and slammed the ball towards goals, missing wide.

Stefaan Sardelic pulled off an impressive save after a concise forward press by Eastern Lions ended in a strike for Ziggy Razuki.

As the half closed out with scores level, the visitors’ ‘keeper Andrew Lightfoot showed some desperation with a diving save preventing a goal from a Bardhi Hysoli shot on goal.

The usually influential duo of Nyadzayo and Philip Ajao for Eastern Lions was held quiet in the first half, unable to find the ball and structure forward.

On 52 minutes, young speedster Sami Nour came on to inject some speed into the Bulleen forwards and it had an immediate effect to their attacking play.

Nishimoto found Lewis Waddell on 54 minutes with space, but he finished poorly.

Moments later, another free kick to Ballan from outside the square hit Waddell, and with his strike deflecting sharply down off the cross-bar, Eli Luttmer ran into claim the first goal of the night.

It took less than ten minutes for the hosts to give themselves a two-goal buffer, Nour receiving a low cross from Nishimoto and casually slotting it in.

Ajao was the sole light for Eastern Lions up forward, slamming in two strikes in different plays and missing both marginally wide.

Nour was involved in two close opportunities of his own soon after, missing his own strike wide on 67 minutes, and then putting a cross in front of Nishimoto but missing him by inches.

An unlucky attempt at blocking a Nishimoto cross by Michael Jones ended in an own goal and further pushed the scores out to 3-0 at 73 minutes.

On 84 minutes, Bulleen’s Gianni De Nittis took a hopeful long-range shot which floated high, but with the game out of contention for the visitors, the players were happy to wind down the final minutes of the match with some casual possession play.

Next week Eastern Lions take on Murray United, while Bulleen face a tough match against Melbourne City.

MATCH DETAILS

FC Bulleen Lions 3 (Luttmer 56’,  Nour 65’, Jones O.G. 73’) defeated Eastern Lions 0 at David Barro Stadium

 

 

 

FC Bulleen Lions: 21. Stefaan SARDELIC, 3. Will ABBOTT, 5. Lewis WADDELL (33. Davide CARDAMONE 76’), 6. Bardhi HYSOLI, 8. Matteo BALLAN, 10. Takanori NISHIMOTO (13. Dean LORENZI, 82’), 11. Gianni DE NITTIS, 12. Eli LUTTMER, 15. Billy ROMAS (14. Sami NOUR 52’), 16. Matt DIMECH, 18. Felix ROSMAN

 

Unused Sub(s): 31. Dylan BRESOLIN, 41. Luke GALLO

 

Yellow Card(s): Nil

 

Red Card(s): Nil

 

 

 

Eastern Lions: 1. Andrew LIGHTFOOT, 3. Matthew PARRY, 4. Michael JONES, 5. Daniel RODRIGUES (12. Cameron PAIN 71’), 6. Andrew WILLIAMS, 7. Ziggy RAZUKI, 8. Mitch BEAMISH (15. Yianni TOUMANIDIS 76’), 10. Philip AJAO, 11. Munyaradzi NYADZAYO (9. Louis RAZUKI 87’),  13. Jarrah CLEAR, 17. Shaun KENNY

 

Unused subs: 27. Robert HAVERCROFT

 

Yellow Card(s): Williams 68’

 

Red Card(s): Nil