By Tonci Prusac

Bentleigh Greens recorded a stunning come-from-behind 3-2 win over Ballarat Red Devils in a pulsating clash on Saturday afternoon at Morshead Park Stadium on Saturday.

It was a game of two halves, as all three goals for the visitors came in the second half after the Red Devils' new signing Deang Aguek netted a spectacular brace in the opening stanza.

Having signed from State League 1 outfit Western Suburbs during the week, Aguek got Ballarat off to the best start possible with a wonder strike in the 17th minute.

The elegant marksman’s delightful chip spectacularly lobbed Bentleigh goalkeeper Alistair Bray from 30 metres out.

His second goal, in the 35th minute, was equally spectacular when a pinpoint Daniel Firth cross was sweetly met by Aguek’s stunning volley.

The ball slammed into the back of Bray’s net to double the home side’s lead.

After having participated in a bruising Dockerty Cup encounter on Tuesday night, the battle-weary Greens could hardly wait for the halftime whistle, to regain some composure.

Ironically, it was a master stroke by Greens’ coach John Anastasiadis which completely transformed the game, as Bentleigh came out in the second half with a more attacking formation.

Immediately the bold move paid dividends, as 17-year-old midfielder Christian Cavallo opened the scoring for Bentleigh with a missile from a similar distance to Aguek’s opening goal of the game.

As the level of intensity rose, three yellow cards were handed out in three minutes as the Greens’ Jamie De Abreu and Jack Webster and Ballarat’s Aguek all found themselves in the referee’s book.

As the action switched constantly from end to end, Red Devils goalkeeper Jordan Franken was coming under mounting pressure, as the Greens’ midfield, led by Cavallo and captain Wayne Wallace, was starting to supply the attackers with quality service.

In the 79th minute, it was Wallace who pounced on a loose ball in the box and his sudden shot on the turn had Franken totally bamboozled, launching the ball into the bottom left corner of the goals.

The last 10 minutes saw both sides throw caution to the wind, but it was left to the Greens’ leading goalscorer, Brent McGrath, to net the winner in the 89th minute.

Following a quick counter attack against the run of play, McGrath latched onto a long, low pass to shoot past a hapless Franken in the Ballarat goals.

Ballarat had a chance to salvage a point in the dying seconds of the game, but a powerful header by Steven Thomson sailed well over the crossbar, ensuring the Greens returned to Melbourne with all three points in the bag.

After the match, both coaches paid tribute to Anastasiadis’ strategic halftime move which changed the course of the game.

“They changed their system and in the first minute of the second half they scored a goal, which put them on the front foot,” Ballarat coach James Robinson said.

“As a result, they gained momentum, they took their opportunities and they punished us. Our first half was fantastic, but our second half was a different story. From a lead of 2-0, at home, you should never give it up. We did and we have to learn from this.”

Robinson’s Bentleigh counterpart was both relieved and jubilant following the stunning second-half turnaround from his troops.

“To be down 2-0 and to come back and win 3-2 showed a lot of character,” a triumphant John Anastasiadis said.

“They were troubling us in that first half so we had to change something, as we were very flat in the opening 45 minutes as a result of our Cup game on Wednesday night. But we came back extremely well in the second half and the boys did very well.”

MATCH DETAILS

Ballarat Red Devils 2 (Aguek 17’ 35’) lost to Bentleigh Greens 3 (Cavallo 46’, Wallace 79’, McGrath 89’) at Morshead Park Stadium [HT: 2-0]

Ballarat Red Devils: 40 Jordan FRANKEN, 19 Daniel FIRTH, 18 Daniel O'DONNELL, 5 Sean HARDING (12 Miles BAKER 87’), 4 David KING, Charles KING, 6 Liam HARDING (11 Nelson SALVATORE 82’), 13 Michael TRIGGER, 25 Steven THOMSON, 31 Simon MURPHY, 17 Deang AGUEK
Unused subs: 1 Aaron ROMEIN, 2 Tristan ROMEIN, 34 Josh DE VOOGEL

Yellow cards: AGUEK 54’

Red cards: None

Bentleigh Greens: 21 Alastair BRAY, 2 Thomas MATTHEWS, 34 James CUMMING, 24 Luke PILKINGTON, 15 Christian CAVALLO, 5 Jack WEBSTER, 8 Wayne WALLACE, 11 Brent McGRATH, 10 David STIRTON (9 Luke O'DEA 65’), 19 Liam McCORMICK, 7 Jamie DE ABREU (25 Andre McNAMARA 75’).

Unused subs: Perry LAMBROPOLOUS, 22 Lewis FOSTER, 21 Andrew GIANNOS.

Yellow cards: DE ABREU 48’, WEBSTER 61’

Red cards: None.