By JARROD POTTER
FOOTBALL FEDERATION VICTORIA – NATIONAL PREMIER LEAGUES
Division 1
WHILE most coaches would take a draw after trailing 0-2 just after half-time, Dandenong City coach Ivan Duzel was disappointed with his side’s comeback 2-2 effort against Brunswick City.
Duzel was forced to use the majority of his squad’s depth this week as Halil Gur (knee), Simon Storey (calf) and Stephen Topalovic (hamstring) were all sidelined.
Conceding an early goal to wooden-spoon aspirants Brunswick City, the Dandenong City defence could not keep out Rikiya Kitami as he slotted an easy shot past Marko Stevanja in the 19th minute.
That would be the margin at the main break before another Brunswick City goal fired up the visitors in the 50th minute – Baggio Yousif was afforded too much space in front of goals and did not falter as the visitors took the two-goal lead.
From there on the match and all the attacking play belonged to Dandenong City. Sean Seavill, Dario Matkovic and Keegan Ziada ran the wings at breakneck speed to shatter the Brunswick City backline.
Andres Jerez lofted a perfectly weighted cross onto the curly mop top of Matkovic in the 56th minute, to reduce the deficit to a solitary kick.
That margin would stay for the briefest of moments as Matkovic stormed up the field and earned a penalty from a careless Brunswick City tackle.
Matkovic leaned back on his penalty kick and slotted it past the outstretched hands of Mason Interlandi to level the ledger with half-an-hour to go.
Duzel brought on tall striker Goran Jozeljic to give the short City attack some much needed height and it almost paid dividends as Jozeljic nearly got on the end of two beautiful passes via Ziada.
Dandenong City would have many more chances in the dying minutes but all amounted to nothing as their errant kicking let Brunswick City escape with a draw.
“After last week to this week, totally different character of the team,” Duzel said.
“Not enough movement, not enough getting themselves in the right positions to punish from the wings.
“The one mistake they scored the goal and after half-time I thought we tried to get back.
“Last 25 minutes we had enough to win the game and we didn’t – now we have to work harder and try to get ourselves better and better this half of the season and see what happens.”
Sitting 12th in NPL1, Dandenong City hosts third ranked Box Hill United on Saturday.
In other matches Springvale White Eagles was knocked off easily by Richmond SC in a 0-3 drubbing at home.
