By Jordan Lim (@JordanLim24)

The hearts of the Springvale White Eagles faithful got a good work out as their side prevailed 4-2 over Brunswick City, despite being a goal down at half time. 

Those at White Eagles Stadium were treated to a goal fest, but ironically the game for the most part was a drab affair.

Forward Sanni Dauda slotted home a brace in his first start for the club, while Vojo Milojevic and Slaven Vranesevic got a goal a piece in the second half. 

Brunswick’s scoring was completed in the first half; Matt Tancevski and Sam Mazzolini both netting within five minutes of each other to give the visitors the lead.

Springvale dominated the contest from start to finish, with Brunswick seemingly willing to sit back and get their more fancied opponents on the counter attack.

Its defence however resembled a sponge at times, soaking up some pressure but ultimately porous.

It didn’t take long for the hosts to find the breakthrough as a nice passing exchange on the left wing saw Dauda side foot the ball into the net from just inside the area.

Brunswick’s response was clinical, as the bottom-placed side converted from both its real chances for the half.

Tancevski hit back in the 25th minute with a low drive from the edge of the area, which was met strangely with absolutely no celebration by the team.

When Mazzolini capitalised on a slip from centre-back Slavisa Saric, the team pretty much made up for their first casual effort, getting up and about as they hit a shock lead.

However it always looked likely that Springvale would hit back, but it was a matter of getting past the wall that was Mason Interlandi in goals. 

He first tipped Vranesevic’s free-kick onto the crossbar before topping that with a fingertip save to keep Milojevic at bay.

Although they went into the break a goal to the good, the pressure was telling as the away side struggled to contain the imposing White Eagles.

It was Interlandi to the rescue again early in the half as he somehow kept out Dauda’s point blank header, but the forward didn’t have to wait long for his second.

Dauda reacted quickest to poke home Milojevic’s curling effort, which hit the frame of the goal on the hour mark.

The pair linked up three minutes later to put the home side up, as Dauda’s corner was headed home at the far stick by Milojevic.

Vranesevic then sealed the contest in the 79th minute after converting his second spot-kick, with his first called back to be retaken.

Amara Kromah was adjudged to have handled in the box after jumping with the arms out to block Hamish Millar’s shot, leading to the spot kick.

Springvale coach Zed Mihajlovic was always confident of the sealing maximum points, declaring he believed it was only a matter of time before they hit back after going down.

“We started off and again took an early lead but I thought we should’ve kept on going on with it,” Mihajlovic said. 

“The second half was 3-0, that’s the score line. They parked the bus after 30 minutes when they led 2-1. 

“It was one of those games where you sat on the bench knowing you were going to win, but when’s it going to happen? No disrespect to the opposition of course.”

He also touched on the defensive mistakes that today saw his side concede two, but was just glad it didn’t eventuate in dropped points.

“Here we gave the opposition two goals – it’s a good thing at 2-1 down at half-time to win but that’s the difference, concentration,” he said. 

“It’s hard to get back into the game when we’re giving away goals but thankfully today Brunswick wasn’t at their best. But they made it scary for us knowing that they scored two goals from two chances.”

MATCH DETAILS

Springvale White Eagles 4 (Dauda 12’  62’, Milojevic 65’, Vranesevic (p) 81’  defeated Brunswick City 2 (Tancevski 25’, Mazzolini 30’) [HT 1:2]

Springvale White Eagles: 12. Bojan TOMIC (GK), 18. Ryan DON PAUL, 5. Scott MILLAR , 6. Slavisa SARIC, 3. Joey CALDERONE (14. Josh BOWEN 76’), 17. Slaven VRANESEVIC, 22. Milan JOVANOVIC (8. Marcus HOLMES 76’), 21. Dejan ERAKOVIC, 19. Vojislav MILOJEVIC, 11. Sanni DAUDA, 13. Hamish MILLAR, 

Unused Sub(s): 30. Anthony CASSETT, 4. Simo JOVANOVIC

Yellow Card(s): Jovanovic 68’, Holmes 90+1’

Red Card(s): Nil

Brunswick City: 1. Mason INTERLANDI, 2. Seamus CARR, 24. Sam MAZZOLINI, 32. Matt TANCVEVSKI, 16. Rikiya KITAMI, 55. Lachlan SMALE, 30. Nick ARGYRAKAKIS (25. Alex GIANNETTA 86’), 99. Dimitri VITHOULKAS, 29. Amara KROMAH, 45. George MARKELIS (31. Simon STANKOVSKI 70’), 4. Manny KARAS

Unused Sub(s): 8. Nick TEREZAKIS, 44. Rojdar ZENGIN, 11. Admir KOLAKOVIC

Yellow Card(s): Vithoulkas 36’

Red Card(s): Nil