By JARROD POTTER
FFA CUP – Round 2
IT ALL went pear-shaped for Dandenong South as it bowed out of the FFA Cup campaign with a four-goal loss to Melton Phoenix.
FFV State League 5’s reigning premier was put on the back foot early as Melton Phoenix found its way through the defences to take the lead in the opening five minutes.
Dandenong South dictated play entirely from that point on in regulation time – peppering the Phoenix goals with dozens of strikes.
A spree of second-half chances went begging as strikers Vendurim Mustafai, Neil Baki and Malik Sulemani failed to take their chances from inside the box.
The home side continued to charge at the Phoenix defence and it looked like the equaliser, and potentially a go-ahead goal, was inevitable rather than hopeful.
Striker Sulemani was the first to err as he was sent from the field after kicking it away after the whistle.
With time ticking down and only 10 men on the field, the equaliser was finally found as Taulant Mane lobbed a shot over the keeper before ramming it home to level the ledger 1-1 and force extra time.
Some sensational goal-work from Dandenong South kept the home side in the clash throughout the first period of extra time, but even their best efforts would soon be quashed. A handball call inside the box resulted in a Phoenix penalty, which was put top left and with that effectively an end to Dandenong South’s hopes.
A second yellow card also went to Bujar Thaqi as he also kicked the ball away after the whistle, leaving Dandenong South with only nine men on the field.
From there it was mathematical for Melton as it romped in three extra goals to boost the margin and their confidences ahead of the third round.
Hampton Park United Sparrows were the only City of Casey/Greater Dandenong area team to escape the second round, with a 3-2 win over Spring Hills.
Harrisfield Hurricanes – the beneficiary of last week’s clash of socks controversy – didn’t have the same luck against Old Scotch, downed in extra time 4-2. That was the same margin for Lyndale United as it suffered a two-goal defeat against Kings Domain.Yarraville rolled Doveton 3-1 in extra time, Maribyrnong Greens thumped the living daylights out of Parkmore 9-0 and Sporting Whittlesea comfortably eliminated Noble Park 5-2.
FFA CUP – VICTORIAN PRELIMINARIES
ROUND 3 FIXTURE
Noble Park United v Langwarrin SC
Old Trinity Grammarians/Heidelberg Stars v Casey Comets (TBC)
Hampton Park United Sparrows v Westgate FC
Altona Magic Soccer Club v FC Strathmore/Berwick City (TBC)
South Springvale Aris v Western Suburbs SC
