by Daniel Campos @francisfields

Whittlesea Ranges enjoyed a late-season win as two second half goals delivered a 2-0 win against Bendigo City at Epping Stadium in PS4 NPL 1 West on Saturday.

Mario Piraino and Attila Ofli sealed victory after Bendigo City were reduced to 10 men.

Two chances in quick succession in the opening five minutes were not capitalised. Ofli displayed quick-smart decision making for the home side with a smart cross coming in from the right but Matthew Cundari headed straight into Gianmarco D'Oria's hands. The other opportunity saw Ofli opt for placement only for his effort to go wide.

Meanwhile Bendigo City courtesy of George Slefendorfas could have opened the scoring as well with his lightning pace catching the Ranges' backline off guard. Gian Tapia brought himself into action with a firm double-handed parry for Andrew Taylor to clear away.

German import Toby Haegele on the quarter hour mark made a solo effort Diego Maradona would have been proud of as he took an extra touch too many before attempting to finish.

Rylan Sadler in the middle of midfield displayed good distribution throughout the match and the front third was only lacking in numbers to trouble Whittlesea's intentions coming out from the backline.

Riley Dillon on the right wing had a handful of long range shots. The stand-out on 22 minutes forcing
Tapia onto a full-stretch stop to his right after a smart quick decision to smash the ball to the far post.

Slefendorfas beat his marker on the left for a pin-point cross along the ground on 33 minutes only to witness an incredible miss.
Attila Ofli's dribbling, taking players on whilst cutting back deep into midfield needed to pay dividends for the hosts.

The second 45 began to spiral out of control in terms of physicality. Wayward late tackles began flying in from both sides. Tapia received a late challenge as he came off his line on the hour mark and a mêlée shortly afterwards saw Bendigo City's Jason Shade get his marching orders.

With the numerical disadvantage for the visitors, Rylan Sadler began to distribute to look for Slefendorfas to unsettle the scores yet chance after chance the ball could not find the net.

Mario Piraino had other plans getting on the end of a cross by Ofli for the easiest of tap-ins to open the scores. Whittlesea Ranges began to grow in confidence but not until midfielder Andrew Taylor also getting his marching orders.

Tension was in the air as Whittlesea were looking vulnerable in their marking and pressing off the ball. Bendigo City's missed opportunities proved costly whilst a pinball-like confusion in D'oria's 6-yard area on
75 minutes was judged by the officials as obstruction preventing Ofli a shot at goal.

Whilst ordering proceedings for the penalty to be taken, Andrew Taylor got a straight red. Ofli took full advantage, placing the ball straight down the middle ensuring three safe points with one round left to play.

Manager Vinko Buljubasic praised the Ranges’ fight-back in the most pivotal stage of the game – right before half-time.

“It was a little disappointing to see both teams in a scuffle but I told my boys to keep calm, show composure and to numerically push up to the front third to trouble Bendigo. They’ve proven to be a very tough side to play against and now we’ve got to finish on a high.”

Match Details:

Whittlesea Ranges 2 (Piraino '67, Ofli '76 pen) defeated Bendigo City 0 at Epping Stadium, Epping.

Whittlesea Ranges: 1. Gian TAPIA, 19. Adem MUSTEDANAGIC (10. Matthew IULIANO 65’), 20. Tobias HAEGELE, 5. Daniel SOTIROPOULOS ©, 2. Pavle DURKIC, 13. Ilhan ALTINTAS, 6. Andrew TAYLOR, 17. Stefan BARICEVIC, 4. Mario PIRAINO (23. Ryan PIPER 90’), 25. Attila OFLI (15. Matthew KUNDEVSKI 90’), 7. Matthew CUNDARI
Unused Subs: 27. Jarrod HILL, 21. Marijan TOTIC,
Yellow Cards: 5. Daniel SOTIROPOULOS 40, 20. Tobias HAEGELE 42’, 13. Ilhan ALTINTAS 46’, 6. Andrew TAYLOR 50’, 70’.
Red Card: 6. Andrew TAYLOR 70’

Bendigo City: 1. Gianmarco D'ORIA ©, 19. Hugh GIBSON, 6. Jason SHADE, 3. Tristan ROMEIN, 8. Karl SLEVIN, 17. Charlie McCORMICK, 5. Rylan SADLER, 20. Greg THOMAS, 7. George McLEILEH, 9. George SLEFENDORFAS, 2. Riley DILLON.
Unused Subs: 16. Sam SCOBLE, 13. Ehson SEVEN, 11. Jack KELLY, 30. Rob MUNDAY
Yellow Cards: 5. Rylan SADLER 42', 9. George SLEFENDORFAS 63’, 1. Gianmarco D’ORIA 76’, 20. Greg THOMAS 90’
Red Card: 6. Jason SHADE 60'.