BY JASON TURNER

Melbourne Victory gave their promotion hopes a massive boost with a thrilling 4-3 victory over playoff hopefuls Kingston City at The Grange Reserve.

The visitors bolted out of the blocks with an own goal from George Stavridis and Kieran Dover putting them ahead early before Kingston’s Sean McIlroy and Benjamin Osei-Safo levelled the scores before half-time.

Dover notched up his brace to put the league leaders ahead before substitute Damian Iaconis set up a tense finale.

The hosts matched their much fancied opponents throughout the second half creating chances, however, the league’s top goalscorer Joey Katebian made them pay with a late winner.

There was plenty at stake for both sides, the hosts needing a victory to keep their playoffs alive, while the Victory could go three points clear on top of the PS4 NPL 1 East table with a win.

Victory settled well and were ahead on six minutes after a free kick from just outside the penalty area floated through the six yard area, with City defender Stavridis clipping the ball into the net just ahead of Katebian.

The visitors pressed Kingston well, passing well out of defence and linking up with their lethal forward line-up of Katebian, Dover and John Maclean.

Dover extended the lead after getting onto the end of a Maclean pass, with a clinical finish past Douglas Lindberg.

The hosts started to settle and play the visitors at their own game ramping up the pressing of the Victory back four, who continued try and pass out of defence.

It worked, forcing mistakes and the Reds pulled a goal back, McIlroy lobbing over the goalkeeper after getting onto the end of Deniz Sabanovski’s pass.

Andrew Doig nearly equalised a couple of minutes later, rattling the post after taking his free kick early, the resulting rebound from Osei-Safo went wide.

Osei-Safo made up for that miss just before the break after getting onto the end of a McIlroy pass, he came inside, equalised with a precision finish.

The open play settled down for a while after the break, but was kick started again with Dover capitalising on some lax defending heading from close range from Katebian’s cross.

An equaliser came soon after Victory failed to clear with substitute Iaconis spectularly volleying home from the edge of the box.

The hosts had chances to pinch a victory, but Victory’s lethal poacher Katebian made them pay after being put clear by Maclean late.

MATCH DETAILS

Kingston City 3 (McIlroy 28’, Osei-Safo 45’, Iaconis 71’) defeated by Melbourne Victory 4 (Stavridis OG 6’, Dover 22’, 66’, Katebian 86’)

Kingston City: 24. Douglas Lindberg (GK), 2. George Stavridis, 3. Jamal Clarke, 4. James Karvelis, 5. Nicholas Teichmann, 19. Andrew Doig, 16. Nicholas Stamatiou, 15. Hamish Millar (18. Gino Defeo 81’), 8. Deniz Sabanovski (14. Damian Iaconis 71’), 9. Sean McIlroy, 7. Benjamin Osei-Safo (10. Jamie De Smit 87’)

Unused Substitute(s): 13. Peter Koundalis, 20. Steven Fergadiotis.
Yellow Card(s): McIlroy 36’, Doig 35’.
Red Card(s): Nil

Melbourne Victory: 1. Lucas Spinella, 4. Thomas Deng, 19. Nick Glavan, 5. Damien Miskulin (3. Milos Ridesic 10’), 18. Christian Cavallo, 14. Jordan Brown (8. Anthony Duzel 46’), 6. Stefan Nigro (13. Lucas Derrick 78'), 10. Kieran Dover, 17. George Howard, 9. Joey Katebian, 11. John Maclean

Unused Substitute(s): 15. Pierce Waring, 20. Wyatt Chant
Yellow Card(s): Nil
Red Card(s): Nil