Left: Springvale White Eagle Miroslav Karac battles Southern Stars opponent Rasim Sergi during the local derby at Ross Reserve on Saturday. By Stuart Teather
THE Southern Stars and the Springvale White Eagles fought out a thrilling contest in Men’s State League Division One play on Saturday, with the Stars taking the points in a high-scoring affair.
Seven goals were scored in the Stars’ 4-3 win, with both Sercan Doganay for the Stars and Grujo Mrdic for the Eagles scoring doubles.
The Eagles got the first goal halfway through the first term with a free kick from Mrdic, who beat the goalkeeper with a beautiful strike.
The goal seemed to awaken the Stars, who replied quickly through Tierry Boi off a Colin Quirk set-up.
Quirk had a hand in the next goal too, after his shot rebounded off the crossbar and Doganay headed in the first of his two goals.
The Eagles fought back just before half-time, with an easy header in the square tying the scores with a goal Stars coach Sean Hennessy described as ‘soft’.
“In the first 25 minutes they were the better team, and that woke us up and we scored two quick goals,” he said.
“We let another soft goal in before half-time to make it 2-2, and, to be fair, I gave the boys a bit of a roasting at half-time.”
Quirk continued his excellent game, securing the lead after half-time with his only goal for the match, but the Eagles quickly pounced back, capitalising on another defensive mix-up.
“When we scored another after half-time, I thought ‘here we go’, but then we let another soft goal in,” Hennessy said.
Doganay was the difference in the end, playing as the lone striker up front for the Stars, and he converted in the dying minutes to secure the victory.
Hennessy was full of praise for his side’s attacking effort after the game, and he highlighted Doganay and Quirk as two stand-outs.
“Since we’ve had Colin Quirk back, he’s played in our last three games and we’ve won three. I don’t think there’s any coincidence there,” he said.
Hennessy said he was more pleased that his side scored four goals rather than being worried about conceding three.
He did, however, say he was disappointed all three of the Eagles’ goals came from set pieces, and said his side did not defend well.
Dandenong Thunder, meanwhile, held onto second spot on the ladder with a comfortable 3-1 win against bottom side Kingston City.
Dandenong skipped out to an early lead through Louis Brain, but Ilya Grin scored for Kingston not long after to tie the match.
Alfonso Opazo then scored before half-time to give the Thunder the momentum heading into the break, and he repeated his effort with another goal not long after to secure the victory.
In State League Division Two South East, South Springvale went down 2-1 to Port Melbourne on Friday night.
Chris Androicou was the lone scorer for South Springvale, but the side could not find an equaliser.
In State League Division Three South East, Springvale City and Doveton fought out a 2-2 draw at Waratah Reserve.
Muaz Omerdic and Franco Bove both scored for Springvale, while Leon Buhic continued his good form with two for Doveton.
Heatherton United had a hard-fought 3-2 victory against the Boroondara Eagles. After leading 3-0 at half-time United held off a fast-finishing Eagles side to take the points.
