By Marc Sudholz (@marc014)

FC Bendigo has extended its winning run to three games, with a last-gasp 2-1 victory away from home against Brunswick City on Saturday at Dunstan Reserve.

Bendigo took the lead in the first half through George Slefendorfas’s header, before Denis Sadik’s penalty levelled proceedings.

It looked as though the game was headed for a draw, but Victor Rodriguez was the hero, scoring the winner for Bendigo at the death.

Bendigo started the brighter of the two sides, with Matthew Breeze putting an early free kick over the bar from 30 yards.

Breeze then went close again, beating a defender and rounding Mason Interlandi, but Rikiya Kitami did well to track back and clear the ball.

Brunswick’s best chance of the half came after 20 minutes. Denis Sadik played a chipped ball through to Juan Pablo Zuleta-Arias, but Sebastian Mattei claimed the ball before Zuleta-Arias was able to clear his feet.

Minutes later, Brunswick thought it had a penalty. Mattei appeared to bring down Baggio Youssef in the box, but the referee decided that he left a foot in, and booked him for simulation.

In what was a tight half, it would take a moment of quality to separate the teams.

Bendigo captain Trent Waterson beat his man with a lovely heel-to-heel dribble, before firing in a pinpoint cross for Slefendorfas, who fired a header past the diving Interlandi.

Bendigo entered the break with the slenderest of leads, but Brunswick would soon equalise.

Three minutes into the second half, Brunswick had another penalty appeal, and this time, the referee pointed to the spot.

Zuleta-Arias was bundled down in the box, and Sadik stepped up to calmly slot it past Mattei.

Bendigo then stepped it up, eager for the winner. Slefendorfas made a surging run, but was cut down by Amara Cromah, who picked up a yellow card. 

From the resulting free kick, Breeze’s effort flew straight at Interlandi.

With 30 minutes to play, Steve Martin was played through, but was denied by a stunning reflex save from Interlandi. Slefendorfas did have the ball in the back of the net, but it was ruled out for offside.

From that point, it appeared as though the game was destined for a draw, with both teams only creating half chances.

There would be a winner however, and a stunning one at that.

Slefendorfas held the ball up on the edge of the box, before laying the ball back to Breeze. Alan Blumgart was found brilliantly by Breeze, and he cut back for the unmarked Rodriguez, who volleyed home from two yards.

It was a cruel blow for the hosts, who had been gallant all day, but sheer delight for the visitors.

Brunswick coach Armando Pianece was disappointed with the result, but proud of his team’s effort.

“Very happy about the performance, very sad for the boys for the result,” Pianece said.

“For them (Brunswick), it was more fair to walk away with a draw.”

Bendigo player-coach Steve Martin was pleased his team was able to grind out a result.

“It was pleasing to get a result; 2-1 at the end, but as I said it wasn’t a pretty match,” Martin said.

“We only had to take a small bit of play to open them up, and we were fortunate to take the opportunity which was pleasing.”

MATCH DETAILS

Brunswick City 1 (Sadik 48’) defeated by FC Bendigo 2 (Slefendorfas 30’, Rodriguez 89’) at Dunstan Reserve [HT: 0-1]

Brunswick City: 1: Mason INTERLANDI (GK), 16: Rikiya KITAMI, 2: Seamus CARR, 24: Sam MAZZOLINI, 17: Vani SHAMON, 95: Patric MARRA, 30: Nick ARGYRAKAKIS (25: Alex GIANETTA 68’), 9: Baggio YOUSSEF (29:Amara KROMAH 52’), 99: Dimitri VITHOULKAS (21: Dion BELBRUNO 88’), 14: Denis SADIK, 35 Juan Pablo ZULETA-ARIAS.

Unused subs: 45: George MARKELIS, Oliver SWADZBA (GK)

Yellow cards: VITHOULKAS 22’, YOUSSEF 27’, SADIK 55’, KROMAH 59’, SHAMOON 63’

Red cards: None

FC Bendigo: 1: Sebastian MATTEI (GK), 3: Ben SHAPER, 2: Aaron COHEN, 5: Josh ROMEIN, 6: Alon BLUMGART, 7: Trent WATERSON, 8: Victor RODRIGUEZ, 9: George SLEFENDORAS, 10: Matthew BREEZE, 16: Steve MARTIN (14: Ryan DAVIDSON 52’), 17: Jonathan RYAN.

Unused subs: 13: Finn HUZZEY, 18: Daniel PURDY, 11: Josh DWYER, 22: Chris XERRI.

Yellow cards: SLEFENDORFAS 30’, SHAPER 66’

Red cards: None