By Chris Hearn (@_ChrisHearn)

A goal and two assists from Matthew Cundari have helped Whittlesea Ranges to a comeback 3-2 win at home against Brunswick City.

After Baran Kockaya and Juan Portillo gave Brunswick a buffer inside the first 20 minutes, the hosts equalised before half time thanks to Matthew Kundevski and Cundari. Attila Ofli scored the winner with 25 minutes to play

Kockaya gave the visitors a shock early lead. The referee awarded Brunswick a free kick five yards in from the corner flag, and the defender was on hand to head home powerfully from eight yards.

Whittlesea controlled the tempo of the contest after the early goal, but Lucas Aoun nullified the influence of the usually dangerous Giosue Tolomeo.

Portillo then tried his luck from 30 yards from a free kick. The ball deflected off the goalkeeper Gian Tapia's wrist and into the net to give the visitors a two-goal cushion.

The lead was cut within two minutes.

Cundari's inventive pass played in the lively Kundevski to fire home a much-needed response.

The pace of the contest noticeably slowed after a frenetic opening, as Whittlesea began to take full control.

Openings to Ofli, Matthew Iuliano and Tobias Haegele showed the team's true intent, and were rewarded a minute before the break.

Iuliano's whipped delivery from the corner found the head of Cundari, who directed his header past Brunswick goalkeeper Alex Hards from close range.

After the break, Ofli was denied acrobatically by the goalkeeper, as Brunswick brought on Wurak and Yach Bol to give the side greater speed through midfield.

Despite the changes, Whittlesea continued to create the better chances.

Kundevski and Tolomeo squandered great openings within a minute, and the pressure was too much for Brunswick's overworked rearguard to handle.

Cundari played in Ofli after an interception deep in Brunswick's half, the striker's effort flying in off the upright to give Whittlesea the lead.

The striker should have added to his tally in the final 10 minutes, firstly denied by the post and then Brunswick keeper Hards, but in the end, it was still enough to earn Whittlesea the three points.

 

MATCH DETAILS

Whittlesea Ranges 3 (Kundevski 19', Cundari 44') defeated Brunswick City 2 (Kockaya 3', Portillo 17') at Epping Stadium (HT: 2-2)

Whittlesea Ranges: 1. Gian TAPIA, 2. Pavle DURKIC, 6. Andrew TAYLOR, 7. Matthew CUNDARI, 10. Matthew IULIANO, 15. Matthew KUNDEVSKI, 17. Stefan BARICEVIC, 19. Ardo MUSTADANAGIC, 20. Tobias HAEGELE, 23. Giosue TOLOMEO (14. Rami MUSTAFOSKI 76'), 25. Atilla OFLI

Unused Substitutes: 18. Daniel GICEVSKI, 27. Jarrod HILL, 32. Andreos BACHOS

Yellow cards: Matthew Cundari 28', Pavle Durkic 50', Attila Ofli 66'

Red cards: Nil

 

Brunswick City: 34. Alex HARDS, 52. Reha KURUL, 18. Matthew MURPHY, 45. Frank SERRATORE, 17. Evan KARAVITIS, 35. Anthony IANCHELLO, 10. Juan PORTILLO, 62. Dimitri VITHOULKAS, 9. Ahmet TURER (30. Yach BOL 63' - 27. Abdiqafar URUSHE 77'), 29. Luca AOUN, 23. Baran KOCKAYA (60. Wurok BOL 46')

Unused Substitutes: 7. Giorgio MAVRELIS, 15. Jake CREA.

Yellow cards: Dimitri Vithoulkas 28', Evan Karavitis 54', Lucas Aoun 65' 

Red cards: Nil