By JARROD POTTER
NPL VICTORIA 2 EAST – ROUND 2
TAKING home the inaugural Jim Memeti Cup, Dandenong Thunder comprehensively belted its cross-town rivals Dandenong City in an impressive four-goal haul.
The first Dandenong derby didn’t live up to its billing as Thunder rolled City comfortably to take the top spot in NPL 2 East with its second huge victory in a fortnight.
Veton Korcari (12’) cashed in early, swinging the first goal into the top left corner to start the rout emphatically.
It only got worse for City as an early red card to Andres Jerez – given for a last-man violation – left the home side reduced to 10 men for most of the clash.
But the home side didn’t give up – the 10 men created a number of early opportunities that tested the Thunder’s back four and keeper Fraser Maclaren.
A goal-line scramble – kicked away in the end by Simon Colosimo and Faisal Sakhizada – was about the best chance City produced all day as Thunder clamped down defensively once more.
The one-man advantage gave ample opportunity for Thunder to sign off on another huge NPL 2 East victory as Amir Osmancevic (60’ and 76’) pushed to the top of the golden boot rankings with another brace – his second in two weeks.
City’s day ended badly as Mate Eterovic (85’) conceded an own-goal to complete the 4-0 whitewash.
“It has been a good start – when you get a positive response from the group and moving forward into the first two rounds, if you can score eight goals and take two wins it definitely sets the tempo for the year,” Thunder coach Huss Skenderovic said. “We did set it right from the beginning in terms of what we want to do – worked on that with Veton the day before with the finishing and then we opened them up again and then Jerez fouled.
“It did change the game obviously, never helps as tactically they change and you don’t know what they’re going to do, but it helped us and we came back out early in the second half knowing what we had to do.
“We steamrolled them in the end – could’ve had six or seven again and it’s good to create scoring chances.”
The coach praised Dylan Facci, Colosimo and Osmancevic for their perforamnces, but thought they were part of an all-round stellar effort from the squad.
Holding onto top of the table, Dandenong Thunder will host seventh ranked Murray United on Saturday night but the coach doesn’t want anyone to get carried away just yet.
“The Murray game will be tough as well, very competitive, but we won’t change our approach,” Skenderovic said. “We’re there to score goals and entertain and make sure the crowds come back and we want to make sure the work ethics and habits remain.
“Sometimes you win two games like that you become cocky or complacent and that’s not allowed to happen – that’s the message we’ll be driving home during the week.”
Springvale White Eagles held early superiority over Brunswick City, with Damir Stoilovic scoring in the first three minutes, before John Pykett added the second just before the half. The best of White Eagles’ efforts though couldn’t stop a dying seconds’ penalty from levelling the ledger 2-2.
Dandenong City travels yet again- this time to Goulburn Valley – while Springvale White Eagles play Kingston City on Monday night.
