By Agron Dauti

Dandenong City and Brunswick City shared the points on Saturday afternoon in an entertaining 2-2 draw at Frank Holohan Soccer Complex.

Brunswick City’s inability to hold on to its two-goal lead would come back to haunt it as Dandenong City forward Dario Matkovic’s brace proved to be the difference as the home side denied Brunswick City its second win of the season.

The draw was Brunswick’s first of the season.

Both teams were given a not-so-warm welcome as they walked out onto the pitch into a heavy drizzle, and were forced to tailor their gameplay to the wet pitch.

Dandenong’s familiarity with the pitch ensured that it controlled play in the opening minutes.

The half begun with both teams going back and forth but unable to break down the respective defences until Brunswick City fashioned a chance out of nothing and gained a 1-0 lead in the 19th minute.  

The visitors went ahead after new signing Rikiya Kitami made his way forward from right-back, hopped onto a loose ball and drove the ball into the bottom corner, catching Dandenong City goalkeeper Marko Stevanja off his line.

The goal seemed to inspire Brunswick as it threatened to extend its lead with good build-up play and strong chances, but it was unable to finish in the final third as an entertaining first half winded to a close.

Both sides came out of the main break fresh and firing, but it was Brunswick which drew first blood in the second half when Baggio Yousif found space in the box and finished coolly – slotting the ball through Stevanja’s legs.

Yousif’s goal gave Brunswick a two-goal cushion early in the second half and a sniff at winning its first match since April but a yellow card to Brunswick captain Manny Karas seemed to shift momentum towards Dandenong City.

Brunswick’s second goal sparked Dandenong City into action and it struck in the 56th minute when Matkovic got onto the end of a brilliant Andres Jerez cross, whipping the ball in at the far post to spark Dandy City’s comeback.

The hosts found themselves in another scoring position just minutes after scoring as Matkovic streamed down the right wing but was brought down in the penalty area by a late tackle from behind.

The Dandy City marksman wasted no time equalising from the spot-kick, slotting the ball to the left of goal in the 59th minute.

Both sides enjoyed a flurry of late attacking chances with the final whistle rapidly approaching, but it wasn’t to be as the referee called time with the scoreline at 2-2.

Dandenong City coach Ivan Duzel said he was committed to improving his side’s slow starts, which have cost it dearly this season.
 
“That (slow start) follows me every time and I lose the game, my boys lift [but] I don’t know why [they’re] not lifting from the start of the game,” Duzel said.

“I still think we showed in the second half [an] attractive sort of football, good combination, good chances to win the game … After 2-0 down we have to be happy with the draw and hopefully next week it’s going to be better.

“Now we have to work harder and try get ourselves better and better this half of season and see what happens.”

MATCH DETAILS

Dandenong City 2 (Matkovic 56, 59') drew with Brunswick City 2 (Kitami 19', Yousif 50’) at Frank Holohan Soccer Complex [HT: 0-1]

Dandenong City: 1. Marko STEVANJA (GK), 6. John CARROLL, 10. Sean SEAVILL, 8. Dario MATKOVIC, 11. Joseph SIEH, 19. Nicholas GLAVAN, 14. Karim EL HILALI (23. Goran JOZELJIC, 53’), 22. Andres JEREZ, 9. Damien MISKULIN, 12. Shaun FILIPOVIC (5. Alex ROJAS, 71’), 7. Keegan ZIADA

Unused sub(s): 31. Dennys MARTIN (GK), 21. Graham HILL

Yellow card(s): Nil

Red card(s): Nil

Brunswick City: 1. Mason INTERLANDI (GK), 24. Sam MAZZOLINI, 16. Rikiya KITAMI, 14. Denis SADIC, 55. Lachlan SMALE, 32. Matthew TANCEVSKI, 30. Nick ARGYRAKAKIS, 99. Dimitri VITHOULKAS (8. Nick TEREZAKIS, 87’), 4. Manny KARAS, 31. Simon STANKOVSKI (45. George MARKELIS, 78’), 9. Baggio YOUSIF (29. Amara KROMAH, 79’)

Unused sub(s): 25. Alex GIANNETTA, 6. Oktay OZTEKIN

Yellow card(s): KARAS 51’, STANKOVSKI 61’, SADIC 67’

Red card(s): Nil.