A stunning second half comeback from Melbourne City has seen them defeat the Goulburn Valley Suns 3-2 in a feisty encounter in Shepparton on Saturday evening.

The Suns led 2-0 at the break, striker Craig Carley netting both goals for the home side.

However the visitors rallied in the second half, Tom Barforosh scoring first before Hernan Espindola and Baki Efe netted to steal the three points.

The opening half hour of the contest was dominated by the City side, who despite their possession, couldn’t fathom too many clear cut chances. 

Monty Alghazaly was proving to be a rock in goal for the hosts, continually getting off his line early to deny City any space in behind the Goulburn back four.

The Suns took the lead in the 38^th minute when Carley slotted home before Carley again would extend the Suns lead when a great ball from substitute Firaol Likassa saw the Englishman with the easiest of tap ins.

City would be back in the game moments after the break however when Tom Barforosh was quickest to react in the area and he neatly slotted the ball past Alghazaly.

The visitors were continuing to press forward in search for an equaliser whilst the home side began to defend deeper and deeper in what was to be a dangerous tactic. 

With 15 minutes to play referee Jordan English awarded a controversial penalty for an off the ball incident in the penalty area. After the ball had been cleared from a goalmouth scramble, the referee adjudged Alghazaly to have tripped a City player in the penalty area and a penalty was duly awarded, much to the dismay of the home side.

Espindola neatly dispatched the penalty against his former side to draw the sides level.

 

But with just 4 minutes of regulation time remaining City completed their comeback when Efe, who had only just been introduced from the bench, rose highest to turn in a Stefan Zinni corner and pinch all three points for City.

MATCH DETAILS

 

Goulburn Valley Suns 2 (Carley 39’,45’) lost to Melbourne City 3 (Barforosh 57’, Espindola 75’, Efe 86’) 

 

 

 

Goulburn Valley Suns: 22. Monty Alghazaly, 2. Cody Sellwood (12. Firaol Likassa 31’), 5. Jordan Montagner (14. Aykut Kucuktepe 62’), 18. Stuart Vance, 3. Greg Nash, 17. Adrian Corbo, 16. Matthew Lelliot, 11. Shaun Kane, 10. Fahed Alghazaly, 20. Vani Shamoon (7. Abel Fesseha 85’), 9. Craig Carley

 

Unused Subs: 1. Philip Petrovski, 21. Joey Hogarty

 

Yellow Cards: Montagner 11’, Nash 52’, Vance 74’

 Melbourne City: 1. Yaren Sozer, 4. Jordan Hall, 5. Leo Athanasiou, 6. Phil Petreski, 7. Hernan Espindola, 9. Tom Barforosh (8. Ratip Cileli 87’), 22. Mehdi Sarwari (11. Stefan Zinni 46’), 12. Anthony Rizk, 13. Haris Stamboulidis (14. Baki Efe 85’), 15. Luke Gallo, 21. Ali Eyigun

 

 Unused Subs: 20. Jack West-Astuti, 16. Marcus Dimmache