By Bryce Clayton

Moreland Zebras claimed an important away victory on Saturday, thrashing Springvale White Eagles 5-1 at the Serbian Sports Centre.

Moreland started the game on top, with early possession paying off as it was able to create early chances.

The first goal came early in the fourth minute when a deflected shot from Danilo Bonilla-Ospina fell comfortably to Nick Symeoy on the penalty spot and he made no mistake, sending Moreland ahead with a shot into the top left-hand corner.

Five minutes later, it was Danny Charalambous who had a crack from outside the box, with his shot comfortably saved by White Eagles ‘keeper Bojan Tomic.

Springvale spent the next few minutes regrouping as it tried to venture forward, but the Zebras’ defence held strong.

Some excellent build-up play led to a through ball which found Scott Robson in the clear in the 13th minute, and he made no mistake. His powerful strike flew past Tomic and even with a fingertip to the ball, it ended up in the back of the net to give the Zebras a 2-0 lead.

It took until the 18th minute for Springvale to manufacture its first shot on goal, with a Dejan Erakovic header going straight into the arms of Moreland ‘keeper Alex Stojanovski.

Moreland’s plan was working well, as it continually hit on the counter and tested Tomic.

Springvale managed a couple of ventures forward in the 22nd minute but was unable to test the superior Moreland defence.

Charalambous had another opportunity in the 23rd minute but his shot sailed agonisingly close over the top left-hand side of the goal.

The first clear-cut chance for the White Eagles fell to Ryan Don Paul when his 26th-minute shot was blocked inside the box before his follow-up was well cleared by the Zebras.

Moreland began to drop off in the middle part of the first half, with Jamie De Smit having a shot from outside the box for the White Eagles but it didn’t trouble Stojanovski.

Springvale thought it had drawn level when Stojanovski came out and left an open goal, but the long ball for goal was spectacularly cleared off the line by Moreland’s Mile Medjedovic in the 32nd minute.

Desperate defending by the Zebras calmly dealt with a two-minute spell of corners and shots for the White Eagles.

Nikolic made it 3-0 in the 45th minute with an outstanding curling strike from outside the box into the top left-hand corner.

There were multiple substitutions at halftime, with Joel Bowen and Milan Jovanovic coming on for Slavisa Saric and Ryan Don Paul for the White Eagles, and Francesco Greco coming on for Stojanovski for the Zebras in goals.

In the 50th minute, it was Nick Symeoy who doubled his tally from inside the six-yard box with a goal that ultimately ended the game.

Springvale’s pressure was almost non-existent with the Zebras beginning to completely dominate the game over the next 10 minutes.

Jovanovic had his first shot of the game off the bench in the 61st minute, but could only sky the ball over the crossbar as the White Eagles struggled to gain possession.

Ryan Don Paul pulled one back for the White Eagles in the 63rd minute as the home side mounted a challenge but struggled to break down a steely Zebras outfit.

It took until the 85th minute for the next clear opportunity, with the White Eagles defence scrambling to deny a host of chances for the Zebras.

It was the perfect finish for Moreland, with White Eagles ‘keeper Tomic coming out from goal and Nikolic having the easiest of chances, tapping into an open goal from the edge of the box in the 89th minute.

The end result was a 5-1 victory to a Moreland outfit which comprehensively outplayed the White Eagles.

Moreland coach Danny Gnjidic was very impressed.

“We had an approach to the Box Hill game (last week) that we didn’t execute, but today we had an approach that we did execute,” Gnjidic said.

“We were able to convert our opportunities.

“We’ll go about next week the same way. We got rolled by Bulleen in Round 1 so we’re looking forward to taking them on again.”

Springvale was unavailable for comment.

Moreland takes on FC Bulleen Lions at home next week, while Springvale will play away to St Albans Saints.

MATCH DETAILS

Springvale White Eagles 1 (Don Paul 63’) defeated by Moreland Zebras 4 (N. Symeoy 4’ 50’, Robson 13’, Nikolic 45’ 89’) at White Eagles Stadium [HT: 0-3]

Springvale White Eagles: Bojan TOMIC (GK), Joshua BOWEN (Keletso MTHEMBU 79’), Ryan DON PAUL (Milan JOVANOVIC 45’), Simo JOVANOVIC, Slavisa SARIC (Joel BOWEN 45’), Marcus HOLMES, Jamie DE SMIT, Vojislav MILOJEVIC, Stojan MILOJEVIC, Hamish MILLAR, Dejan ERAKOVIC

Unused Subs: Anthony CASSET, Joey CALDERONE

Yellow Cards: Vojislav MILOJEVIC 69’

Red Cards: Nil

Moreland Zebras: Alex STOJANOVSKI (GK) (Francesco GRECO 45’), Simon SYMEOY, Adam CENTOFANTI, Mile MEDJEDOVIC, Johnny CRIVELLI, Scott ROBSON, Brad MURRAY, Danny CHARALAMBOUS, Nick SYMEOY (Josh MCMONAGLE-IMASZ 65’), Joel NIKOLIC, Danillo BONILLA-OSPINA (Daniel SWEENEY 76’)

Unused Subs: Papa PAPADIMITRIOU, Evan BATSIS

Yellow Cards: Nil

Red Cards: Nil