By David Manuca

Richmond SC produced a brilliant come-from-behind performance against Bulleen Lions on Sunday evening to be crowned the 2015 PS4 NPL 1 champions.

Tom Cahill was the hero for Richmond, scoring both goals as the NPL1 East premiers defeated the 10-man NPL 1 West premiers.

It was a perfect start for Bulleen who took the lead after just 13 minutes when Sami Nour converted a one-on-one opportunity.

The Bulleen forward could have had a second in almost identical fashion just minutes later but this time he was denied by Richmond goalkeeper Christian Rossi.

Cahill had a shout for a penalty turned down on 23 minutes before Nour set-up Bulleen’s SayeedHussaini, but the no.9 did not get a clean connection with the ball.

Somehow Bulleen did not make it 2-0 five minutes before the end of the half, with Andrew Mullett hitting the post before a pin-ball in the box saw Richmond block various attempts on target.

It was fair to say Bulleen were the better of the two sides in the first-half, but Richmond were comfortably the dominant side in the second period.

An early shot from Hamlet Armenian tested Bulleen goalkeeper Stefan Sardelic before the goalkeeper made another great save from Catalano on the rebound.

However, it was not until Mullett received two yellow cards in the space of four minutes to reduce Bulleen to 10-men.

Richmond took advantage quickly, with Cahill winning a penalty six minutes later which was expertly dispatched by the forward.

Will Abbott then had a free header from a free-kick which he should have done better from before Gianni de Nittis having a shot blocked by the Richmond defence.

Catalano almost found a late winner but his shot was saved, but thankfully for Richmond Cahill found the target just minutes later.

The talisman had a free-kick go over the bar before netting a chance under pressure less then 60 seconds later which proved to be the winning goal.

MATCH DETAILS

Bulleen Lions 1 (Nour 13’) Richmond 2 (Cahill 70’, 87’)

Richmond SC: 1. Christian ROSSI, 12. Matthew WATERS, 23. Joshua VALADUN (2. Andrew GOFF 80’), 18. Jordan SEETO, 11. Liam FLYNN, 6. Peter SAWAN, 17. Samuel CATHERINE (8. Joshua KNIGHT 68’), 19. Michael CATALANO, 7. Hamlet ARMENIAN (15. Jay KELLY 90+3’), 10. Alex CANIGLIA, 9. Tom CAHILL.

Un-used substitutes: 20. Chris DAVIS, 16. Ryan LAMBERT.

Yellow cards: Valadun 36’, Catherine 45’, Seeto 90+5’

Red cards: Nil

Bulleen Lions: 21. Stefaan SARDELIC, 3. Will ABBOTT, 6. Bardhi HYSOLI (4. Samuel BORGHESI 65’), 8.Matteo BALLAN, 8. Sayeed Reza HUSSAINI, 10. Takanori NISHIMOTO, 11. Gianni DE NITTIS (33. Davide CARDAMONE 78’), 12. Eli LUTTMER, 14. Sami NOUR, 18. Felix ROSMAN (13. Dean LORENZI 90’), 20. Andrew MULLETT.

Un-used substitutes: 5. Lewis WADDELL, 41. Luke GALLO.

Yellow cards: Mullet 59’, 63’

Red cards: Mullett 63’