By Daniel Campos (@FrancisFields)

Brunswick City has clinched a point after a late equaliser against Sunshine George Cross on Saturday afternoon at Dunstan Reserve.

Despite Brunswick leading twice before half time through James Neighbour and Dimitri Vithoulkas goals, a Steven Vranesevic goal and Anthony Cassar’s brace for Sunshine looked to have put the visitors on track for the win, only for Juan Portillo to pop up with a late goal to make it 3-3.

Brunswick City came into the match at Dunstan Reserve with high hopes in causing an upset and looked bright into the opening minutes.

Ahmet Turer was kept busy up front with several long balls into open space for him to finish off but was caught both offside, and with a shot that went wide of the mark on eleven minutes.

On the other end, Sunshine built good momentum with a quick piece of play down the left wing that left Anthony Cassar with an ambitious long range effort with an aerial volley only inches wide.

It was a sign of a tight match until barely a minute later on 16 minutes a scramble in the 18-yard box found Brunswick City defender James Neighbour with enough space to chip in a lob to beat keeper James Kapuranovski for the opener.

Sunshine drew level soon enough; it took a long range shot by Anthony Cassar on 35 minutes to restore parity.

Barely a minute later a back pass caught Dimitri Vithoulkas unmarked as he surged one-on-one with goalkeeper Kapuranovski to make it 2-1.

But the lead wouldn’t last; three minutes later, Bozidar Lojanica got on the better end of an aerial challenge and managed to head the ball to find hard-working midfielder Slaven Vranesevic with space to slot the ball home past Brunswick City goalkeeper Alex Hards for 2-2.

Only minutes into the second half it was Anthony Cassar again on the break trying to destable a much more tight-knit looking Brunswick City defence.

Cassar went swerving in and out past his marker dribbling the ball tight to his feet and lifting his head up to score a brilliant goal from the edge of the 18-yard area for 3-2.

It was a sign that Sunshine George Cross could have taken all three points whilst in the lead. With most of the possession as well, the visitors needed to hold on but it was not to be.

Brunswick City did not give up and kept their composure. Mot of their play was commanded on the right hand side from Yach Bol at the back to substitute Fasile Aden and Juan Portillo all combining and threatening the visitors.

Tricky playmaker Portillo managed to get his name on the scoresheet with 13 minutes remaining with a brilliant finish coming in from the right hand flank to settle the match for 3-3, much to the jubilation of his Brunswick City teammates and fans present.

Match Details

Brunswick City 3 (Neighbour 17', Vithoulkas 38', Portillo 77') drew Sunshine George Cross 3 (Cassar 35, 60, Vranesevic 41') at Dunstan Reserve.

Brunswick City: 34. Alex HARDS, 52. Reha KURUL, 29. Luca AOUN, 39. James NEIGHBOUR, 35. Anthony IANCHELLO, 10. Juan PORTILLO, 62. Dimitri VITHOULKAS, 9. Ahmet TURER, 27. Abdiqafar URUSHE (28. Fasile ADEN 60'), 30. Yach BOL, 18, Matthew MURPHY

Unused Substitutes: 26. Max CORNFORD, 7. Giorgio MAVRELIS, 13. Theodore HERETAKIS, 15. Jake CREA.

Yellow Card(s): Nil.

Red Card(s): Nil.

Sunshine George Cross: 21. James KAPURANOVSKI, 2. Eddie CETKIN 3. Martin MASON (12. Matthew OGHANNA 90+3'), 4. Brandon SCERRI, 5. Christopher DIB, 8. Slaven VRANESEVIC, 6. Damien RASTOCIC, 9. Bozidar LOJANICA (13. Christopher ANTONIADIS 73'), 10. Adrian LOGOZZO, 11. Anthony CASSAR, 17. Jacob ATTARD

Unused Substitutes: 1. Jonathon HARBOGLOU, 16. Nathan LIBERTO, 15. Brandon GALEA

Yellow Card(s): Lojanica 44', Scerri 51’

Red Card(s): Nil.