By Billy Green

FC Bulleen Lions have defeated a desperate Nunawading City 3-1, leaving the visitors still without a point this season.

Having conceded 16 goals in their past two games, Nuna stayed on par with Bulleen for the first half, but faded out as the game wore on.

On 10 minutes, striker Emile Damey broke through a pack of Bulleen defenders and looked certain for a goal.

Bulleen defender Andrew Mullett came in for a lunging tackle, but was late and awarded Damey a penalty.

Goalkeeper Stefaan Sardelic picked Damey’s direction, but couldn’t deflect it strongly enough and the away team went up 0-1.

Bulleen responded quickly, and at the 15-minute mark a cross was slotted into the goals by Felix Rosman off a header.

While Bulleen’s press looked to be overcoming the underdogs, Nuna kept themselves in it through sheer desperation in defence.

On 35 minutes, Bulleen’s Dean Lorenzi received a free kick from outside the box, going for goal and curving it just above the bar.

The home team didn’t wait long to strike as the second half began.

On 50 minutes, Lorenzi received a tap-on through the middle, but was chased down and diverted wide.

He looked like the opportunity had been missed before he quickly turned foot and slammed it into the bottom-right corner to give them a 2-1 advantage.

Down one goal, Nuna continued to press hard, but just couldn’t find the structure forward to find a legitimate chance.

At the 70-minute mark, Nuna substitute Stefan Papageorgiou took a shot from outside the square which just skimmed the top bar above the Bulleen goalkeeper.

Damey took another shot moments after, again from outside the square, which sailed over the top bar.

Bulleen speedster Sami Nour came on and had looked worrying in attack.

On 81 minutes, he received a cross out wide, outran the Nuna defence, beat the out-of-position keeper, and casually slotted it in to clench the game for Bulleen with a 3-1 lead.

Bulleen Lions take on Bendigo City next Saturday afternoon at Epsom Huntly Recreation Reserve.

Match details

FC Bulleen Lions 3 (Rosman 15’, Lorenzi 50’, Nour 81’) defeated Nunawading City 1 (Damey 10’) at David Barro Stadium

FC Bulleen Lions: 21. Stefaan SARDELIC, 5. Lewis WADDELL, 8. Matteo BALLAN, 11. Gianni DE NITTIS (31. Dylan BRESOHN 78’), 12. Eli LUTTMER 13. Dean LORENZI, 15. Billy ROMAS (14. Sami NOUR 55’), 16. Matt DIMECH, 18. Felix ROSMAN (4. Samual BORGHESI 46’), 20. Andrew MULLETT, 23. Edison PONARI

Unused Sub(s): 1. Stefan RANKOVIC

Yellow Card(s): Waddell 42’, De Nittis 52’, Romas 49’, Mullett 9’, Bresohn 79’

Red Card(s): Nil

Nunawading City: 1. Keegan COULTER, 10. Ivan SKORICH, 7. Anthony GIANNOPOULOS, 9. David ANTEQUERA (20. Stefan PAPAGEORGIOU 58’) , 5. Peter EVANGELAKOS, 17. David MOROVIC, 21. Felix DIMITRAKIS, 44. Samuel ANTONIADIS (16. Spencer EGAN-TANNER 71’), 31. Dylan FACCI, 11. Daniel PATTERSON (19. John-Luc SILVESTRI 68’), 41. Emile DAMEY

Unused Sub(s): Nil

Yellow Card(s): Nil

Red Card(s): Nil