Muriqi double secures points
By Andrew Bishara (@_andrewbishara)
Box Hill United continued it’s end-of-season run with a tough 2-1 win over Moreland Zebras at De Chene Reserve on Sunday.
Two goals by Rinor Muriqi were enough to overcome a Daniel Sweeney strike, helping United tighten its grip on third place, ahead of Richmond SC and St Albans Saints.
The hosts got off the perfect start two minutes in when Nick Symeoy found space in the box to cross a pinpoint ball to the running Sweeney, who headed it in first time.
United could have drawn level when Josh Valadon got his foot on the ball from a corner, but the volley smashed off the crossbar.
Box Hill eventually got its goal when a lovely one-two between Muriqi and Alex Schroen from a corner, saw the former strike a rocket into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.
As the second half kicked off, the game descended into a scrappy affair with overly physical challenges and poor passes.
The breakthrough eventually came when Schroen broke into the box and skipped around Mile Medejovki, but the defender stuck out a foot and brought the winger down.
Muriqi duly stepped up to take the penalty and buried deep into the bottom corner.
The game then resumed its scrappiness as Moreland pushed forward in a bid to equalise, but United held on to claim the points.
Box Hill coach Arthur Georgiou praise his side for taking the three points in a “very tough place”.
“It was scrappy win,” says Georgiou.
“It’s a very tough place to come and win. They are a difficult team to play.”
Georgiou said that his side will look to hold onto the third spot in next week’s final game.
“We want to finish as high as we can and third is as high as we can get,”
“We’ll look to get the win by the way we play.”
The Moreland camp was unavailable for comment.
MATCH DETAILS
Moreland Zebras 1 (Daniel Sweeney 2’) lost to Box Hill United 2 (Rinor Muriqi 20’, 68pen’) at De Chene Reserve. [HT: 1-1]
Moreland Zebras: 21. Nikola Kostadinovski (GK), 2. Simon Symeoy, 3. Johnny Crivelli, 5. Nicholas Symeoy, 7. Scott Robson, 8. Daniel Sweeney (20. Christopher Triantafilopoulos 83’), 9. Joel Nikolic, 11. Danny Charalambons, 12. Joshua McMonagle-Ihasz (14. James Papadimitriou 69’), 16. Mile Medjedovic, 19. Bradley Murray
Unused Subs: 1. Francesco Greco, 17. Adam Turcan, 22. William Nuttal
Yellow Cards: Robson 33’, Crivelli 48’, Nikolic 56’, Sweeney 61’, Symeoy 76’
Red Cards: Nil.
Box Hill United: 1. Alexander PAVILIDIS (GK), 29. George HOWARD, 23. Josh VALADON, 22. Nick KOKOLAKIS, 12. Adrian DEL MONACO, 11. Matt WATERS, 10. Rinor MURIQI (16. Christine LAR 88’), 7. Damien PETERS, 5. Alex SCHROEN (20. Jarryd PORCARO 94’), 4. Chris IRWIN (14. Kenny ATHIU 51’), 3. Matt COLLIER
Unused Subs: 1. Alex CONNEL, 8. Nikola BURDOSKI
Yellow Cards: VALADON 97’
Red Cards: Nil
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