BY MARC SUDHOLZ

Bulleen Lions' NPL1 West title aspirations are set to be tested through the final month of the season after a 2-0 defeat to Melbourne City at David Barro Stadium on Monday night.
In what were chilly, but otherwise good conditions for football, two second half goals were enough for City to claim the points.
The opening minutes proved to be a midfield battle, with both sides seemingly attempting to work one another out.  
It took until the 15 minute mark for the first chance of the contest, with Baki Efe seeing his left-footed half-volley clip the crossbar following a Luka Prelevic corner.
Ten minutes later, City again had a good chance, after Matthew Mellor was fouled on the edge of the box.
Ali Eyigun rolled the resulting free kick off to Ratip Cileli, forcing Stefaan Sardelic into a comfortable save to his left.
Bulleen’s opening chance came with 10 minutes remaining, as Takinori Nishimoto broke through City’s offside trap, before firing wide of the far post.
The Lions almost got the opener in the shadows of half time, however Bardhi Hysoli couldn’t control Sami Nour’s cross, Yarren Sozer able to get a hand to it just in time to clear the danger.
At the break, it was 0-0, but City would soon lead.
After 52 minutes, Sawari latched onto the ball on the edge of the box, cutting in, beating two defenders before firing an unstoppable shot on his left into the top left corner.
It was the goal the game needed, as both teams became more attack-minded.
Half time sub Phil Petreski saw a free-kick saved by Sardelic, before Bulleen counter-attacked, Nishimoto finding Nour, whose header was straight at Sozer.
Bulleen brought on Dean Lorenzi for the final 30 minutes, and he nearly had an instant impact.
The forward almost rounded Sozer to score within 60 seconds of coming on, but the keeper’ stuck out a right hand intelligently.
With 20 to play, Sozer again denied Lorenzi, this time with a brilliant save, tipping a low shot to his right around the post.
Soon after, Cardamone picked out Nishimoto, who headed back across goal, but Lorenzi couldn’t direct it on target, despite being at full stretch.
Six minutes before time, Sozer again came to the rescue for city, acrobatically saving a Felix Rosman header.
Nishimoto then wasted a free header, glancing wide of the post with the superb Sozer rooted to the spot.
City delivered a knockout blow with seconds remaining.
Petreski dispossessed Cardamone on halfway, before finding substitute Pablo Espindola in space on the right side of the box, his strike clinically finished into the top left corner, with Sardelic helpless.
It was a cruel sucker punch for Bulleen, but a huge three points for city, who are now a single point off second place in the division.

MATCH DETAILS

Melbourne City NPL 2 (Sarawi 52’, Espindola 90+4’) defeated FC Bulleen Lions 0 at David Barro Stadium.

MELBOURNE CITY: 1: YarrenSOZER (gk), 3: Nicholas SYMEOY, 4: Jordan HALL, 5: Leo ATHANASIOU, 9: Tom BARFOROSH, 10: Luka PRELEVIC, 8 Ratip CILELI, 14: BakiEFE (12: Anthony RIZK 75’), 16: Matthew MILLAR (7: Hernan ESPINDOLA 75’), 21: Ali EYIGUN(6: Phil PETRESKI 46’), 22: Mehdi SARAWI

Unused Subs: 11: Marcus Dimanche, 20: Yianni Skilras (GK)
Yellow Cards: None
Red Cards: None

FC BULLEEN LIONS: 21: StefaanSARDELIC (GK), 3: Will ABBOTT 6: Bardhi HYSOLI 8: Matteo BALLAN (C), 10: Takanori NISHIMOTO, 11: Gianni DENITIS (13: Dean LORENZI 62’),  12: Eli LUTTMER 14: Sami NOUR (31: Dylan BRESOLIN 80’), 16: Matt DIMECH, 18 Felix ROSMAN (15: Billy Romas 90’) 33: Davide CARDAMONE

Unused Subs: 41: Luke Gallo (GK), 4: SamualBorghesi
Yellow Cards: Denitis 42’
Red Cards: None