Zebras win Moreland derby in injury time
Match Report - NPL 1 Round 4
Zebras win Moreland derby in injury time
By Andrew Bishara (@_andrewbishara)
Danny Charalambous was the hero for 10-men Moreland Zebras as it snatched a last-minute 2-1 win over Moreland City at CB Reserve on Saturday afternoon.
The hosts first took the lead through Joshua McMongle-Ihasz before City leveled in the second half through Osman Kose.
But it was substitute Charalambous who stole the limelight, earning the points despite the Zebras playing the entire second half with a man down after a red card.
The game kicked off at a frantic pace with both teams struggling to hold possession and struggling to complete their passes.
The Zebras had the first chance when James Kelly saw his dipping freekick saved by City goalkeeper Brandon Galgano.
The hosts then took the lead when McMongle-Ihasz rose highest to smash in a bullet header from a corner.
The goal seemed to spur on City as it increased the pressure, and pushed the Zebras deep into its own half.
City’s Corey Thomas had the best chance when he juggled up a second ball and let leash with fantastic volley that just went wide.
The Zebras quickly launched a lovely counter attack which saw striker James Papadimitrov one-on-one with the keeper, but in his attempt to put the ball across Galgano, he could only put it wide.
The biggest talking point of the half came deep into stoppage time, when Daniel Petrov got himself sent off after running onto the field of play without the referee's consent.
As the second half started it looked like the Zebras were the more spirited, as Papadimitrov saw his shot just miss the goals.
City slowly took advantage of extra man with Kam Simsek seeing his first time volley saved by Zebras goalkeeper Nikola Kostadinoski.
The visitors finally drew level when Kose found space on the edge of the box, sprinted past his defender and smashed a lovely low strike past the Zebras keeper.
The hosts regrouped after the equaliser and held City with the game looking like it would end in a draw.
That was until the final minute when a seemingly lost long ball into the City half was collected by Charalambous.
He broke through the line, and calmly dinked the ball over Galgano to seal the three points for the Zebras.
Match Details
Moreland Zebras 2 (McMongle-Ihasz 10’, Charalambous 90+2’) defeated Moreland City 1 (Kose 60’)
Moreland Zebras: 1. Nikola KOSTADINOVSKI, 3. Johnny CRIVELLI, 5. Daniel PETROV, 6. Adam CENTOFANTI, 16. Mile MEDJEDEVIC, 8. Joshua MCMONAGLE-IHASZ, 19. James KELLY (22. Ryan MURRAY 80'), 12. Bradley MURRAY, 11. Bale MICOVSKI (2. Simon SYMEOY 46'), 9. Joel NIKOVIC (10. Danny CHARALAMBOUS 67’), 14. James PAPADIMITRIOU.
Unused Subs: 17. Chris TRANTAFILOPOULOS, 21. Alex STOJANOVSKI
Yellow Cards: PETROV 38’
Red Cards: PETROV 45’
Moreland City FC: 1. Brandon GALGANO, 21. Nodj SAHIN, 18. Orrie KARA, 12. Shane CARR, 2. Yang TOU-YENG, 6. Julien DOS SANTOS (20. Blane BURRELL 55’), 8. Corey THOMAS, 23. Mo KURUCU (5. Ossie KARA 80’), 14. Casey THOMAS, 11. Kam SIMSEK (17. Liam BRIAN 66’), 7. Osman KOSE
Unused Subs: 19. Rob BAZZANO, 16. Nathan GOURZELAS
Yellow Cards: DOS SANTOS 33’, KARA 50’, BURRELL 87’
Red Cards: Nil.
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