By Billy Green

Box Hill United has held off an attacking Bulleen Lions to draw 1-1 at Veneto Club on Monday night.

The local derby didn’t disappoint, with the underdog Box Hill taking an early lead against the west-division ladder leaders.

It looked to be drawing closer to ending the four-win streak of the hosts before Sayeed Reza Hussaini equalised the scores, and neither team able to convert on late opportunities, ending the contest in a stalemate.

There was little separating the two teams in the first half. 

While Bulleen seemed the more composed and structured moving forward, Box Hill looked to be the more determined and desperate.

On three minutes, Bulleen’s Dean Lorenzi broke through the centre but his shot on goal from outside the box was deflected off the Box Hill defence.

At the 14-minute mark, Gianni De Nittis put it through to fast-paced youngster Sami Nour, who left the defenders behind as he broke forward.

Facing a one-on-one with the Alex Connell, he chipped it over the Box Hill ‘keeper but it drifted wide.

Moments after, De Nittis found himself with space in the box but placed a disappointing strike into the side netting.

As the half continued, the hosts continued to miss opportunities and seemed to be approaching the game fairly casually and over-confidently.

On 34 minutes, Nour took a free kick from outside the square and decided to have a shot on goal, but it landed comfortably into the chest of Connell.

Soon after, Box Hill’s Lucas Johns crossed it perfectly into the path of striker Michael Kariuki, but his strike collected nothing but air.

The desperation and effort of Box Hill was rewarded soon after.

Delicate interplay in attack allowed Johns an opportunity which he didn’t miss, slamming it into the corner of the net to give Box Hill an unexpected 1-0 lead.

As the second half began, Bulleen seemed to bring the effort that would be expected from the top-of-the-table team.

On 49 minutes, a 2-on-1 with Lorenzi and fresh substitute Hussaini looked to be dangerous, but Box Hill’s Ollie Paterno stood up in the last line of defence and intersected Lorenzi’s pass.

Soon after, Hussaini crashed through Box Hill defender Joey Calderone and took a shot but it drifted to the left of the upright.

Hussaini continued to impose himself as a threat, and on 77 minutes found space on the left corner of goal and slammed it into the back of the net on a tight angle to equalise.

Bulleen had chances late in the half to break through with the winning goal, but will lament its missed opportunities.

Inside 83 minutes, captain Matteo Ballan centred it from a free kick perfectly onto the head of Lewis Waddell, but he missed wide from just metres out.

Takanori Nishimoto took a shot from outside the square moments later, but it floated over the top of the cross-bar.

In the dying seconds, Bardhi Hysoli found his way past two defenders but his shot lacked an angle and launched straight into the Connell’s arms.

While Box Hill will be pleased with its efforts, Bulleen are now only one point ahead of Moreland Zebras and St. Albans Saints on the NPL1 West ladder.

Next week Box Hill faces bottom-of-the-table team Brunswick City at Dunstan Reserve in a must-win match to hold their first-place mantle.

Match Details: 

FC Bulleen Lions 1 (Hussaini 77’) drew with Box Hill United 1 (Johns 43’) at David Barro Stadium

FC Bulleen Lions: 21. Stefaan SARDELIC, 3. Will ABBOTT, 4. Samual BORGHESI (31. Bylan BRESOLIN 84’), 5. Lewis WADDELL, 6. Bardhi HYSOLI, 8. Matteo BALLAN, 10. Takanori NISHIMOTO, 11. Gianni DE NITTIS (9. Sayeed Reza HUSSAINI 46’), 13. Dean LORENZI, 14. Sami NOUR (15. Billy ROMAS 87’), 16. Matt DIMECH

Unused Sub(s): 41. Luke GALLO, 23. Edison PONARI

Yellow Card(s): Hussaini 77’, Waddell 84’

Red Card(s): Nil

Box Hill United: 1. Alex CONNELL, 2. Nikola SURDOSKI, 25. Michael GODFREY, 18. Joey CALDERONE, 20. Ollie PATERNO, 15. Chris PAGE, 8. Caleb LUDLOW, 21. Travis CHALK-HATTON, 11. Sebastian BARRERO (10. Lorenzo TARZIA 78’), 19. Michael KARIUKI, 14. Lucas JOHNS

Unused Sub(s): 35. Christian PAVLIDIS, 24. Chris GEILS, 23. Dillon YAKUPI, 6. Luca PRESUTTI

Yellow Card(s): Surdoski 62’, Calderone 86’

Red Card(s): Nil