By Ahmed Yussuf (@ahmedyussuf10)

Sunshine George Cross came back from two goals down against home side Moreland Zebras to snatch all three points in a thrilling Saturday afternoon encounter at De Chene Reserve.

Sunshine’s stunning 4-3 win came in a 15-minute spell during the second half, where goals were shared among Muhamad Chawk, Manuell Sadik and Delfin Mosibe. 

The opening exchanges were end to end, as both sides were attacking with fury, but Moreland’s defence was breached within five minutes by Chawk.

Moreland’s grip on the contest was beginning to tell, as Scott Robson found space to beat his man and cut inside onto his right-foot to equalise for the home side.

Not long after in the 23rd minute, a stunning Simon Tolli volley from 20 yards out shot into the net to put Moreland 2-1 up.

Moreland begun to heap on the pressure, and the Sunshine defence was beginning to creek. If not for a goal-saving tackle from Nejdet Sahin, the visitors would have been staring at a 3-1 deficit before halftime.

The second half saw a new urgency from Sunshine, and within the first minute of the half Chawk saw his shot fly inches wide of the goalmouth.

Two minutes after seeing Chawk’s attempt skew ever so wide, Sunshine received a blow in the form of an Evan Batsis goal. Moreland double its lead and seemingly ended hope of a comeback for the away side.

A penalty claim after a foul on Sunshine man Anthony Cassar was waved away by the referee, but moments later the whistle was blown for a foul in the area on Manuell Sadik following a stray clearance from Moreland custodian Alex Stojanovski.

Delfin Mosibe stepped up with much aplomb and slotted in the penalty low and hard into the left corner to bring Sunshine back into the contest.

A flurry of goals in five minutes from Chawk to find his brace and Sadik with a brilliantly angled shot into the net, saw Sunshine unexpectedly fire into the lead with just over 20 minutes remaining.

Sunshine shot-stopper Robert Santilli had a part to play late on with game-changing saves, none more eye-catching than his 90th-minute superhuman feat to deny Moreland substitute Liam Brian an equaliser.

Moreland captain Mile Medjedovic was disappointed with his side’s second-half capitulation.

“We were quite confident we’d get the three points. I think [second half] was a bit of a momentum swing, that’s what it came down to,” Medjedovic said.

Sunshine coach Tony Ciantar was buoyed by his side’s comeback win on the road.

“It just shows a lot of character from the boys and the belief I have in the team,” Ciantar said

“We’re absolutely excellent going forward if we push the ball around and play our game.”
 
Match Details

FT: Moreland Zebras 3 (Scott Robson 15’, Simon Tolli 20’, Evan Batsis 47’) defeated by Sunshine George Cross 4 (Muhamad Chawk 4’ 62’, Delfin Mosibe 52’, Manuell Sadik 67’) at De Chene Reserve [HT: 1-2]

Sunshine George Cross: 1. Robert Santilli, 12.Jacob Attard, 3.Nejdet Sahin, 2. Eddie Cetkin, 5. Christopher Dib, 4. Ross Walliss, 8. Delfin Mosibe (6. Seddar Pir, 80’), 10. Adrian Logozzo (7. Brandon Zaffina, 45’), 11. Muhamad Chawk, 14. Anthony Cassar (13. Sami Nour, 60’), Manuell Sadik

Unused Sub(s): 12. Mohamed Mohamed, 21. Nabi Tuna

Yellow Card(s): 8. Delfin Mosibe 70’, 1. Robert Santilli 81’, Manuell Sadik 90’

Red Card(s): Nil

Moreland Zebras: 1. Alex Stojanovski, 14. James Papadimitriou (4. Liam Brian, 62’), 5. Nick Symeoy, 7. Scott Robson (13. Mario Piriano, 75’), 8. Simon Tolli, 9. Joel Nikolic, 10. Dianillo Bonillo, 22. Robert Armelini, 15. Evan Batsis (17. Jack Turner, 89’), 16. Mile Medjedovic, 18. Adam Centofanti

Unused Sub(s): 21. Nikola Kostadinoski, 6. Angus Martin

Yellow Card(s): 9. Joel Nikolic 73’, 4. Liam Brian 82’

Red Card(s): Nil

Image credit: Aleksandar Jason Photography