By Daniel Campos (@francisfields)

Dandenong City has ended its form slump with a 2-1 win over Sunshine George Cross at Frank Holohan Soccer Complex on Saturday.

A first-half brace to Goran Jozeljic proved enough, despite Delfin Mosible missing a golden opportunity to secure a brace and level the scores for Sunshine with a late penalty.

Sunshine couldn’t find rhythm and possession in the early stages, with defensive duo Eddie Cetkin and Christoper Dib kept on high alert with Dandenong attackers Damien Miskulin, Sean Seavill and Alex Rojas in formidable form.

Sunshine’ keeper Nabi Tuna was called upon regularly to deny Dandenong, but his efforts only lasted until the 16th minute when Goran Jozeljic finished to open up the scores, much to the delight of the vocal crowd.

Sunshine coach Tony Ciantar instructed his players to keep the heads up and persist with the ball along the ground.

Dandenong began to increase its tempo and pressure by covering tight spaces and enabling sequences to play through to the left flank.

Miskulin was kept tightly marked as Dandenong still created chances with shots from long range, but Tuna responded in solid fashion for the visitors.

Shortly before the halftime break, Dandenong further stamped its authority on the game, with Miskulin's height and Rojas’s set pieces troubling Sunshine.

Jozeljic was on a personal mission to increase the lead and did so comfortably, tricking Sunshine's backline and entering the 18-yard area with an almost identical finish in the 42nd minute.The intensity began to slow down with the halftime break approaching.

After the interval Dandenong continued to almost repeat the script in a tussle where perhaps over-confidence could best describe its drop in possession and intensity.

When Sunshine's prolific attackers Anthony Cassar and Muhamad Chawk missed opportunities - including a rebound effort off the woodwork - the visitors’ efforts looked underwhelmed as almost nothing went in their favour.

But Sunshine did soon grab its slice of luck.

Mosibe converted a penalty in the 82nd minute and then found himself lining up another spot kick five minutes later.

With a much-needed three points on the line, Dandenong ‘keeper Marko Stevanja – Melbourne Heart’s former second-choice shot stopper - showed nerves of steel to save Mosibe’s spot kick.

Dandenong was hell-bent on securing the three points and sacrificed yellow cards to Miskulin and Andres Jerez for tactically holding up play, but the final whistle was met with scenes of jubilation from the stands.

Dandenong coach Ivan Duzel was relieved to take the three points.

"We have to balance out our chances when we score and when we miss,” Duzel said.

“I am going to learn from this, especially the last 20 minutes and we also have players with injuries and not fully fit but the team can play so we need to keep working."

Sunshine coach Tony Ciantar was pleased with his side’s inability to execute the game plan.

"We didn't play our normal game and didn't push the ball around,” Ciantar said.

"When you resort to long and hopeful balls instead of keeping it along the deck, then you know you're not having a good day as the boys were on another planet.

“We allowed too much space for them (Dandenong) to play.”

MATCH DETAILS

Dandenong City 2 (Jozeljic 16’ 42’) defeated Sunshine George Cross 1 (Mosibe 82’) at Frank Holohan Soccer Complex [HT: 2-0]

Dandenong City: 1. Marko STEVANJA (GK). 6. John CARROLL, 10. Sean SEAVILL, 22. Andres JEREZ, 5. Alex ROJAS, 8. Dario MATKOVIC, 19. Nicholas GLAVAN, 4. Steven TOPALOVIC, 23. Goran JOZELJIC, 9. Damien MISKULIN, 12. Shaun FILIPOVIC,

Subs: 11. Raymond LAY 21. Danijel BUHIC, 31. Dennys MARTIN (GK), 15. Ivica BAHA.

Yellow cards: Matkovic 44’, Jerez 85’, Miskulin 90’+3

Red cards: None.

Sunshine George Cross: 21. Nabi TUNA (GK), 2. Eddie CETKIN, 5. Christopher DIB, 17. Jacob ATTARD, 3. Nejdet SAHIN, 4. Ross WALLIS, 8. Delfin MOSIBE. 18. Shannon LEWIS. 19. Manuell SADIK. 14. Anthony CASSAR. 11. Muhammad CHAWK.

Subs: Mohamed Mohamed, Mohamed Ahmed, Dean Hili, Brandon Zaffina, Andrew Taylor

Yellow Cards: Dib 53’, Cetkin 71’

Red Cards: None