Above: Thunder keeper Stuart Webster flies to block a shot.AFTER 22 rounds, three gripping finals and two periods of extra time, Dandenong Thunder’s Victorian Premier League (VPL) season came to a heart-breaking end in a penalty shootout on Saturday.
Taking on the reigning premier Altona Magic in the VPL grand final at Bob Jane Stadium, the Thunder fell at the final hurdle in their quest for glory, going down 5-4 in the shootout after tying in regular time 1-1.
Altona keeper Nikolas Roganovic saved two penalties and 18-year-old Magic gun Kliment Taseski slotted the match-winner past Dandenong’s Stuart Webster, denying the Thunder what would have been a fairytale finish to an incredible season.
The action in the first half was tight and tense as the two teams worked their way into the clash, though Altona had the only real chance of the period, with Taseski striking the woodwork.
By half-time the teams had relaxed and Dandenong broke the game open shortly after the break, with skipper Veton Korcari heading in a rebound from a Joe Di Iorio strike.
For 15 minutes it seemed Dandenong was on track for success as Altona reshuffled to try and find a way back into the game, and the side eventually got a breakthrough.
Marcus Stergiopoulos got in the way of a Magic strike in the 65th minute inside the box and was called for a contentious hand ball, and Nicholas Kalmar slotted the subsequent penalty to tie the scores.
Thunder coach Stuart Munro was less than pleased with the penalty decision.
“The goal we lost, it was very, very soft, the guy took a shot from long distance, the players turned their backs and the referee said it came of Stergiopoulos’ arm,” he said.
“There was no way he handled the ball intentionally, (but) that’s the way it went.”
Following the goal Altona fell back into a defensive game-plan as fatigue set in, and looked content to push the game to extra time.
Dandenong went on the attack but could not break through Altona’s back line.
“The longer the game went on, in extra time they just gave up trying to win the game, they were quite happy to go to penalties,” Munro said.
“We were pressing, doing all the attacking, they were just trying to catch us on the break.”
Altona’s defensive mindset continued through the two extra-time periods, forcing the game to a shootout.
Stergiopoulos and Levent Osman both missed penalties and then Taseski iced the game for the Magic, leaving a dejected Munro to console his players.
“It was a bit of a sad case to lose the way we did, (but) I suppose that’s the way it’s done in Australia.
“It makes it a shame, to say you lose on penalty kicks after you play 25 games for the season and you only lose there, it’s a sad way to lose because you get nothing from it.”
Reflecting on the season, Munro said the club had achieved more than anyone expected.
“In a couple of weeks’ time when it all dies down and I’ll reflect on it, it’s been a very good season,” he said.
“My intention was for us to become a solid Premier League club, we had no thoughts that we’d be as successful as we have been.
“They’ve got a really solid foundation now, they’ve done their reputation no harm.
“(Last year) we had trouble attracting quality players to the club … I think now we’ll find the reverse will be there, we’ll be chasing players away from the club now.
“There’s very, very few minuses to the season to be honest, the only minus could be not getting that winning goal against Altona.”
