Melbourne Victory Youth have held on against the FFA Centre of Excellence, triumphing 2-1 after finishing the contest with 10 men.
Cristopher Cristaldo opened the scoring in the first half before Makarounas doubled the lead just after the break, with Victory nervously holding on a man down for the final half an hour after Milos Ridesic’s dismissal, with Cameron Joice’s 81st minute strike proving mere consolation for the visitors.
The hosts mounted early pressure when Damian Miskulin was played through into the path of an onrushing Brandon Osipov, but the lob over the ‘keeper also cleared the crossbar.
Connor Pain was the next player to threaten the goals, marauding from the left wing into the box, but his low shot was turned away for a corner.
Jesse Makarounas was also threatening in attacking midfield, dribbling into the box and teeing up Miskulin, but Osipov was again able to deny the home side.
The Centre of Excellence custodian could do little to deny Victory’s next counterattack in the 19th minute, as Pain’s killer ball found Cristaldo one-on-one with the ‘keeper, who rounded him to find an open net.
Victory kept attacking, with Ridesic denied from a scrambled corner, and Pain also kept out seconds later.
The second half commenced in the same fashion as the first, with Jesse Makarounas virtually walking the ball in to extend Victory’s lead after being found in the six yard box by Connor Pain from near the byline.
Lucas Spinella was called into action for the first time minutes later to deny a headed corner, and when Milos Ridesic earned an early bath for a second bookable offence, the visitors wrestled back some of the ascendency, fashioning a number of half chances on goal.
The Centre of Excellence did pull a goal back in the 81st minute via substitute Cameron Joice, who volleyed home a cross from the left wing.
Spinella then pulled off a top save to preserve Victory’s lead, saving a similar volley from Josh Hope following captain Malcolm Ward’s delivery into the area.
The hosts held on for a nervy win, keeping the visitors at bay for the final minutes of the contest.
Melbourne Victory Youth 2 (Cristaldo 19′, Makarounas 53′) defeated FFA Centre of Excellence 1 (Joice 81′) at Lakeside Stadium
Melbourne Victory Youth: 1. Lucas SPINELLA (GK), 8. Jordan BROWN (14. Reece Caldecourt 88′), 7. Chris CRISTALDO (12. Lucas Derrick 78′), 4. Thomas DENG, 7. Joseph KATEBIAN, 10. Jesse MAKAROUNAS, 9. Damian MISKULIN, 5. Dylan MURNANE, 6. Stefan NIGRO (13. Jonathan VAKIRTZIS 70′), 3. Milos RIDESIC, 15. Connor PAIN
Unused Subs: 20. Stephen HATZIKOURTIS,
FFA Centre of Excellence: 12. Brandon OSPINOV (GK), 8. Daniel ARZANI, 3. Henry Davies (14. Solomon-John MONAHAN-VAIIKA 82′), 10. Jamie DIMITROFF (24. Jackson BANDIERA 76′), 15. Joshua HOPE, 16. Danny KIM, 17. Nicholas PANETTA, 23. Kosta PETRATOS, 21. Jamal REINERS (27. Cameron JOICE 46′), 5. Zachary SPETH, 2. Malcolm WARD
Unused Subs:, 18. James DELIANOV (GK),