By Chris Hearn (@_ChrisHearn)

Avondale Heights has blown its chance to win the PS4 NPL 1 title in front of its home fans, slumping to a shock 2-0 defeat against Bulleen Lions on Saturday.

Needing just one point to claim the title, Avondale Heights drew a blank as goals to Kristian Sarkies and Dean Lorenzi powered the Lions to their first win in three weeks.

The result means that if North Geelong defeats Richmond on Sunday, the title will be decided on the last day with three points separating league leader Avondale Heights and North Geelong.

The visitors made their intentions clear early on, with aggressive pressing denying Avondale midfielders Resit Culculoglu and Bosin Georgevski sufficient time or space to operate.

Bulleen midfielder Bardhi Hysoli was allowed to drift into pockets of space as a result, causing the Avondale defence more problems than it has grown accustomed to this season.

Avondale wised up and opted to attack from wide areas which helped to bypass the Bulleen press.

Andrew Le Page's defence-splitting pass from the right provided Oleksiy Khrapko the first real opportunity, but the striker's chipped effort bounced just wide of Bulleen 'keeper Gian Tapia's post.

On 25 minutes, Avondale would rue the missed opportunity - Takanori Nishimoto was brought down by Avondale defender Michele Crazia, and from the resulting free kick, Sarkies found the top corner past Anthony Saric.

For the remainder of the half, Avondale struggled to create openings, forcing Anthony Barbieri to bring on the physical Burakhan Koca after half-time.

The midfield trio of Georgevski, Culculoglu and Koca used the conditions to their advantage as Bulleen was forced back under a wave of pressure that would continue throughout.

While chances were being created freely, they were all wasted.

Left-back Anthony Fallone's cross found Khrapko in the six-yard box but the striker's touch let him down.

Minutes later, the striker latched onto a poor defensive clearance but his guided effort flew wide.

The visitors were under siege and losing shape, so much so that Avondale central defender Crazia forced his way through a few challenges and a goalmouth scramble ensued.

The home crowd grew restless with 10 minutes remaining, typified by the groan that followed Koca's near miss from 18 yards.

Bulleen then struck the killer blow on the counter attack. After clearing an Avondale attack, Sarkies was found one-on-one with Culculoglu on the halfway line.

The former Victory man then fed Lorenzi to finish with aplomb from the edge of the area on 84 minutes.

Controversy shrouded the goal after the hosts complained about a foul in the build-up, but the referee was not swayed as Bulleen held on for an unlikely victory.

Avondale assistant coach Adam Inglese praised the performance, but lamented the catalogue of chances his side missed.

"I thought the boys were quite good. We had a lot of play and certainly created plenty of chances," Inglese said.

Inglese spoke of his desire for the squad to stick to basics, should it face a title-decider away to Kingston City next week.

"I don't see the need to change anything. We'll just keep knocking the ball around and playing the way we're playing,” he said.

Bulleen coach Fabricio Soncin complimented his side's discipline and adaptability, after being under serious duress for large periods of the contest.

"We had to compete physically because we knew that they're a more experienced and physical side," Soncin said.

"You put all the ingredients together and you get the end result."


MATCH DETAILS

Avondale Heights 0 lost to Bulleen Lions 2 (Sarkies 24', Lorenzi 85') at Avondale Heights Reserve [HT 0-1]

Avondale Heights: 20 Anthony SARIC (GK), 6 Anthony STRANO (C), 7 Andrew LE PAGE, 8 Bosin GEORGEVSKI, 9 Anthony FALLONE (27. Julien CANNIZZARO 76'), 14 Daniel SLOVACEK (19. Jason PRINCIPATO 60'), 24 Resit CULCULOGLU, 31 Michele CRAZIA, 3 Fabian GUGLIANDOLO (10. Burakhan KOCA 54')

Unused substitutes: 5. Jason SACCHETTA, 20. John SCOLLO (GK)

Yellow cards: Nil

Red cards: Nil

FC Bulleen Lions: 41. Gian TAPIA (GK), 13. Dean ROMAS, 4. Samuel BORGHESI, 5. Lewis WADDELL, 8. Matteo BALLAN (C), 86. Kristian SARKIES, 9. Bardhi HYSOLI (14. Edison PONARI 90'), 10. Takanori NISHIMOTO (16. Dean LORENZI 73'), 11. Gianni DE NITTIS, 12. Matthew DIMECH, 31. Dylan BRESOLIN,

Unused subs: 1. Matt BANOVIC (GK), 26. Joshua SABIDUSSI

Yellow cards: 25. Matt DIMECH 81'

Red cards: Nil