Picture: Mark Avellino

By David Manuca

Melbourne Victory won promotion to the PS4 National Premier Leagues Victoria following a 2-0 play-off win against North Geelong Warriors on Saturday afternoon.

A goal in each half from Callum Goulding and Pierce Waring respectively sealed the historic win for Victory.

North Geelong were reduced to 10-men late in the game as Michael Grgic was sent off after receiving a second yellow card.

The Warriors had the first chance of game through forward Gareth Richards but he blasted over from inside the box on 12 minutes.

Victory’s top-scorer Joey Katebian almost put Victory ahead a few minutes later but was denied by an on-rushing Daniel Zilic.

But it did not take long for Victory to take the lead. A corner fell to Callum Goulding at the back-post and the defender placed a shot into the left-side of the goal.

North Geelong had struggled to pierce the Victory defence in the first-half but in the second period they managed to create many more opportunities.

Lucas Spinella made claims to be the man of the match with a number of fantastic saves, with the first coming from a Vito Chichello strike.

Katebian should have doubled Victory’s lead on the hour mark after he was played in by half-time substitute Jesse Daley but the forward put his attempted chip wide.

Spinella made another save from a Nikola Jurkovic header before Michael Anderson spurned a shot from inside the box to bring North Geelong level.

The Warriors were made to pay for not taking their opportunities when substitute Pierce Waring sealed the win with ten minutes to go.

Waring picked up the ball on the left as Victory broke away before cutting inside and slotting the ball past Zilic.

The task was too much for North Geelong at that point and it got even harded when Grgic was sent-off for his second caution of the game.

Stefan Nigro hit the crossbar in injury-time and Katebian missed a great chance but it didn’t matter as Victory held on for a 2-0 win and a place in next season’s premier competition in Victoria.

 

North Geelong Warriors: 1. Daniel ZILIC, 17. Nicholas JURICIC (6. Josh PUGH 81’), 16. Michael GRGIC, 3. Matt TOWNLEY, 2. Darren LEWIS, 4. Nikola JURKOVIC, 8. Vito CICHELLO, 7. Reardo LUKA (10. Yusuf YUSUF 71’), 23.Micheal ANDERSON, 11. Juso JULARDIZIJA, 12. Gareth RICHARDS.

Un-used substitutes: 9. Rudi SAGLAM, 5. Anthony BANOVAC, 31. Hamish FLAVELL.

Yellow cards: Grgic73’, 87’, Cichello 83’, Julardizija 88’, Townley 90+2

Red cards:Grgic 87’

Melbourne Victory: 1. Lucas SPINELLA, 19. Nick GLAVAN, 18. Christian CAVALLO, 14. Callum GOULDING, 2. Reece CALDECOURT, 6. Stefan NIGRO, 8. Anthony DUZEL (7. Jesse DALEY 46’), 11. John MACLEAN (4. Pierce WARING 70’), 17. George HOWARD, 9. Joey KATEBIAN, 10. Kieran DOVER (13. Lucas DERRICK 56’).

Un-used substitutes: 16. John VAKIRTZIS, 20. Stephen HATZIKOURTIS.

Yellow cards: Cavallo 23, Daley 60’

Red cards: Nil

 

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