By Tomasz Ng (@tomaszng07)

Sunshine George Cross picked up its first home win of the season, upsetting PS4 NPL1 East leaders Melbourne Victory 2-1 on a sunny Sunday afternoon.

Anthony Cassar and Christopher Dib scored for the hosts in what was an eventful first half, while a late Stefan Nigro strike made for a tense finish.

Ultimately, Sunshine did just enough on the day, inflicting Victory’s second loss in a row.

The game took a while before sparking into life following a controversial strike by Cassar. 

Play had to be restarted following a stoppage when Damien Miskulin went down with a knock to the head, but instead of playing it back to the opposition keeper, Cassar took the opportunity to shoot, and buried his shot into the bottom left corner.

Victory argued the decision to allow the goal, but the referee held firm.

Sunshine were in the ascendency following the goal, with a speculative effort from Ayodeji Omoboye going well wide, and another chance not taken by Cassar.

A poor ball from Duzel played Cassar in on goal, but he lacked the finish, lobbing it into the grasp of Andre Jannese. 

Three minutes later, a crazy ten-minute period ensued to round off the half.

A penalty was awarded to Victory when Christian Cavallo was felled in the box by Brandon Scerri.

Maclean stepped up to take the kick, but Robert Santilli guessed correctly and palmed it away.

Lucas Derrick then had a great chance to level the scores, but Santilli was in top form, palming away from a corner. 

After the corner was half cleared, another penalty was given when the ball was played back into the box. 

With the ball in the air, Jesse Daley was nudged in the back by Daniel Hutchinson, and this time, Daley stepped up to take the kick himself.

Santilli once again guessed correctly, making a save to sent the home fans into raptures, only for the linesman to flag that he had come off his line too soon.

The re-take was taken by Christian Cavallo, who sent Santilli the wrong way, but only managed to hit the post, leaving Sunshine in the lead.

Two minutes later, Cassar was brought down in the box, and a spot kick was this time awarded to the hosts.

Christopher Dib stepped up confidently and smashed the penalty past the despairing dive of Jannese.

Sunshine came out firing after the break, with Adrian Logozzo missing a half chance well over the bar ten minutes in.

Cassar then had a header saved by Jannese, and probably should have done better.

But Omoboye missed the chance of the half for Sunshine just three minutes later, directing his diving header wide of the open net.

From the Victory finally began to gain some control back into the contest, but were still saved by the linesman’s flag in the 75th minute. 

Eddie Cetkin was found free at the back post from a free kick, and nodded it firmly into the back of the net, but the assistant referee had his flag up, seemingly for offside.

In the 81st minute, Christian Cavallo hit the crossbar from a free kick of his own, frustrating the visitors even further.

Victory finally got the goal it was looking for four minutes later, as Nigro’s shot wasn’t kept out by Santilli’s save, despite his protests.

In the end, it was all Victory could muster, and Sunshine took the points. 

Photo: Graeme Furlong

Match Details:
Sunshine George Cross 2 (Cassar 23’, Dib 45+1’) defeated Melbourne Victory 1 (Nigro 85’)

Sunshine George Cross: 1. Robert Santilli [GK], 3. Martin Mason, 4. Brandon Scerri (2. Eddie Cetkin 62’), 5. Christopher Dib, 13. Liam O’Connell, 18. Denis Dasoul, 10. Adrian Logozzo, 12. Chris Oghanna (7. Brandon Zaffina 76’), 11. Anthony Cassar (15. Amara Kromah 89’), 8. Daniel Hutchinson, 19. Ayodeji Omoboye

Unused subs: 21. James Kapuranovski, 14. Muhamad Chawk

Yellow Cards: Oghanna 24’, Cassar 28’, Dasoul 43’

Melbourne Victory: 1. Andre Jannese [GK], 3. Milos Ridesic, 2. Reece Caldecourt, 5. Damien Miskulin, 19. Nick Glavan, 6. Stefan Nigro, 8. Anthony Duzel, 7. Jesse Daley (12. Dion Paola), 13. Lucas Derrick (4. James Xydias 82’), 11. John Maclean (9. Pierce Waring 72’), 18. Christian Cavallo

Unused subs: 20. Stephen Hatzikourtis, 16. Patrick Avice 

Yellow Cards: Maclean 40’, Miskulin 45+1’, Ridesic 73’