Above: Heatherton United’s Edin Ahmetovic holds off Doveton powerhouse Veresa Toma during United’s 4-1 win on Saturday.By Paul Pickering
IF the Dandenong Thunder succeeds in earning a promotion to the Premier League for next season, it may look back on Saturday as the moment its destiny was revealed.
After 85 minutes at Chaplin Reserve, the home town Sunshine Georgies led 1-0 and looked set to establish an eight-point break atop the State League Division One ladder.
Then, in 10 minutes of inspired football, second-placed Dandenong turned the season on its head, scoring a pair of stunning goals to steal an improbable 2-1 away victory.
First it was midfielder Marcus Stergiopoulos who netted from six metres out in the 85th minute.
Stergiopoulos’ left-side strike capped a pinpoint passing exchange between Alfonso Opazo and Joe Dilorio, giving the Thunder the momentum for a late tilt at the three points.
With extra time ticking away, Dandenong earned one final corner kick and was faced with the dilemma of whether to load the attacking box or protect against the rebound.
Teenage Thunder recruit Benjamin Vahid, who has just transferring from Premier League club South Melbourne, sought advice from coach Zoran Tracjeski.
“He asked me, ‘Coach, do you want me to push up or go back?” Tracjeski said.
“I said, ‘Go in there and score a goal’. And he did.”
Vahid surged forward to win the aerial ball and calmly head in the match-winner, leaving Tracjeski to laugh about the simplicity of his directive.
The Thunder boss said his charges were under no illusions about how crucial the game was in the context of the season.
“It was a very important game for both teams – for us to catch up and for them to make it a little more difficult,” he said.
“So it was definitely a big celebration after the game.”
The win put Dandenong two points shy of top spot.
Meanwhile, the frustration continues to build for the Southern Stars, who played out a scoreless draw with ailing Langwarrin at Ross Reserve on Saturday.
On Sunday, the Springvale White Eagles came from a goal down to defeat last-placed Keilor Park 2-1.
In State League Division Three South East, Heatherton United made light work of its clash with a dangerous Doveton, winning 4-1 at Springvale’s Bosnia and Herzegovina Centre.
Heatherton frontman Jusuf Pekmezovic made a welcome return to form, scoring two of his side’s three goals in the opening 25 minutes as the home side surged to a 3-0 lead – Meldin Klehic netting the other.
Miles Tidd got one back for the Doves after half-time, but Pekmezovic struck again to complete his hat-trick and restore the margin.
Heatherton coach Senad Volader was delighted with the number of chances his team created, and is now eyeing a testing away fixture against top-ranked Morwell Pegasus.
“They’re going to be tough because they play a hard game, but we’re going there to win,” Volader said, rejecting any thoughts of settling for a draw.
“If we’re going to be on the top of the ladder, this is the game we have to win.”
Elsewhere, Franco Bove scored twice in the second half to lead Springvale City to a 3-1 away victory against Croydon City.
South Springvale was equally impressive in Division Two South East, trouncing the Eastern Lions 4-1 on the back of a hat-trick from goal-machine Ilias Diniotis.Round 13 match-ups: Division One: Springvale White Eagles at Langwarrin, Southern Stars at Westgate, Bentleigh Greens at Dandenong Thunder. Division Two South East: South Springvale at Knox City. Division Three South East: Heatherton United at Morwell Pegasus, Southern Suburbs at Springvale City, Berwick City at Doveton.
