By Lucas Pavlidis (@LucasPavlidis)

FC Bulleen Lions are back in the winners' circle after a tough 2-0 victory over bottom side Brunswick City SC.

Goals to captain Matteo Ballan and substitute Dean Lorenzi were enough to see the Lions triumph over City as they moved into second spot on the ladder behind leaders Moreland Zebras.

It wasn’t all Bulleen’s way though.

Brunswick came to play and in the opening stages threw everything they had at the home side.

Matt Dimech was on hand to clear a dangerous cross looking for an attacker at the back post to turn in a chance, after Juan Portillo broke free of his challenge on the right wing to whip in a fizzing effort.

Portillo was the difference for Brunswick in those opening exchanges as he continued to trouble Bulleen with his pace on the wings, but with no final touch on their moves forward; his mazy runs down the right hand side of midfield were wasted.

Only a few chances presented themselves for Bulleen, with the home side depleted through injury with Samuel Borghesi, Takanori Nishimoto and Bardhi Hysolli all missing out.

The home side was missing its spine, as Ballan tried an alteration on a free-kick he had earnt for his side within scoring range; outside the box, right in front.

His run-up suggested he would shoot, but instead the midfielder chipped the ball over the wall, only for his team-mates effort on goal to be scrambled away by Brunswick keeper Alex Hards.

Ballan would have another chance moments after via another set piece, after Sami Nour was bundled over just outside the area.

With a slight angle, the situation was perfect for Ballan to directly strike on goal.

But the effort on goal was weak, and did nothing to harm Brunswick who would attempt to counter.

The ball would come right back at them, and nearly turned into the net by one of their own, as a cross flew passed the near post by the feet of a Brunswick defender who was lucky to see it out for only a corner.

Half-time would soon bring a close to the opening period, with the resulting corner cleared off the line by Brunswick.

Bulleen’s first chance of the second half would be via a corner, and a memorable one at that.

Captain Matteo Ballan’s effort from the left-side sailing all the way in, with Brunswick in awe of the set-piece.

That got Bulleen going, as a chance fell to Gianni De Nittis in the next few minutes. His effort cannoned off the inside of the post after a shot from the angle went agonisingly close to a second goal.

Lewis Waddell was called upon to head the ball wide at the far post as Brunswick broke with purpose and almost caught Bulleen out on the counter attack with twenty minutes to go.

From the corner that followed, Stefaan Sardellic punched clear, the ball flying over to the right side where it was whipped back into the area. The goalkeeper was again equal to it, strongly holding the rebound.

Sami Nour would make way for Dean Lorenzi in an inspired substitution from coach Dominic Barba.

The change would pay off for Barba, as Lorenzi wasted no time in showing his effectiveness off the bench, fashioning a few chances before scoring a goal of his own in the latter stages of the game.

After being played through, Lorenzi was one-on-one with the oncoming Brunswick number one, Alex Hards. Lorenzi slid the ball through the legs of the rushing keeper, rounding out a hard-fought 2-0 victory in front of a few delighted on-lookers.

 

Match Details

FC Bulleen Lions 2 (Ballan 47’ Lorenzi 88’) defeated Brunswick City SC 0 [HT 0-0] at David Barro Stadium on Monday night

Bulleen:  21. Stefaan SARDELLIC, 3. Will ABBOTT (23. Edison PONARI 50’), 5. Lewis WADDELL, 8. Matteo BALLAN, 14. Sami NOUR (13. Dean LORENZI 72’), 11. Gianni DE NITTIS, 12. Eli LUTTMER, 15. Billy ROMAS (31. Dylan BRESOLIN 80’), 16. Matt DIMECH, 18. Felix ROSMAN, 20. Andrew MULLETT

Unused Subs: 10. Takanori NISHIMOTO, 1. Stefan RANKOVIC

Yellow Cards: De Nittis 39’

Red Cards: None

 

Brunswick: 34. Alex HARDS, 49. Peter CONSTANTINOU, 18. Matthew MURPHY, 45. Resit CULCULOGLU, 48. Nick TZOULIS (77. Alessandro VERRATTI 73’), 45. Frank SERRATORE, 35. Anthony IANCHELLO (8. George MARKELIS 51’), 10. Juan PORTILLO, 62. Dimitri VITHOULKAS (23. Baran KOCKAYA 71’), 52. Reha KURUL, 9. Ahmet TURER

Unused Subs: 63. Duglas MENDEZ, 15. Jake CREA

Yellow Cards: Turer 36’ Constantinou 53’ Markelis 71’