Image: Drazen Jurina
Two significant upsets headlined last night’s Round 6 FFA Cup action when two NPL2 outfits eliminated their top-tier opponents in high-scoring encounters.
Dandenong City knocked out Croatian counterparts Melbourne Knights in a nailbiting finish at Frank Holohan Soccer Complex while Moreland City had all the answers against Oakleigh Cannons in an entertaining 4-2 victory.
South Melbourne got through but didn’t always have it their way against Box Hill in a 2-1 victory, while there were no such problems for Bentleigh Greens on Tuesday after a 6-0 win over state league outfit Morwell Pegasus.
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Dandenong City are equal top of NPL2 pushing for promotion and showed their credentials with a 3-2 victory over a Melbourne Knights outfit struggling with injuries and poor league form.
The visitors had the running early, however, with Damir Salcin forced into two saves to deny Ben Surey and Jason Hicks.
But in the 24th minute ex-A-League man Mate Dugandzic got around a defender and fired in the opener against his former club.
He was running red hot in freezing conditions moments later, making it 2-0 when he curled it in past youngster Gabriel Matti from outside the box.
The game looked done and dusted when Shaun Filipovic tapped home to extend the lead to 3-0 in the 58th minute but the Knights had a few tricks up their sleeves.
Elvis Kamsoba’s attacking prowess set up a chance for substitute Damien Miskulin, who made it 3-1 in the 84th minute, also netting past his former club.
Less than 60 seconds later a long-distance Jason Hicks effort had the Knights storming home with all the momentum. But it wasn’t to be as a nervy City held on, with Miskulin missing a chance later to send the contest to extra time.
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At CB Smith Reserve, Moreland City got on the front foot early.
Lisandro Paz had the first after 21 minutes, tapping in Apai Ukuno’s ball across the face of goal, before Ukuno himself turned scorer minutes later when breaking through on goal and finding the back of the net despite John Honos getting a touch on the shot.
Oakleigh had a way in just before the half-hour mark when Dimi Hatzimouratis’ shot off the post was turned in for an own goal.
City restored their two-goal buffer in the second half when Jay Kelly’s work in the box led to a tap in for Trent Rixon.
The Cannons weren’t done yet and had their sights on a grandstand finish when Konstantinos Stratomitros rocketed in a bullet from distance for 2-3.
However, the contest was killed off when Corey Thomas’ pass to Rixon was met with a neat turn and finish past Honos for his seventh goal against Oakleigh in 12 games in Victorian football.
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South Melbourne were up against the NPL2 East’s bottom side but it wasn’t the type of mismatch many were expecting.
At least in the first half it looked like a fairly straightforward night when Nick Epifano had the hosts up with a rocket from distance.
But after the break a good passing move had the visitors all level with fullback Ryan Go applying the finish in the 62nd minute – not reminiscent of a side that has scored three goals in 11 league games.
But all their hard work was undone minutes later Marcus Schroen was allowed in on goal to get South in front again, a lead which they held onto despite Nikola Roganovic called into action deeper into the contest.
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Bentleigh had a trouble-free encounter on Tuesday night, seeing off state one side Morwell Pegasus 6-0 at Kingston Heath.
Ross Archibald started proceedings in just the second minute with a header from a corner, before Matt Thurtell added to the scoreboard with a shot from the edge of the area.
Andy Brennan beat the keeper at the near post to get in on the scoring action, and minutes later involved in Thurtell’s double to make it 4-0, before completing his own brace before the break as Bentleigh enjoyed a 5-0 lead.
Only one more goal was added after the break, with Trent Clulow putting the finishing touches on proceedings in the 70th minute.
FULL TIME: Goals to Archibald, Brennan (2), Thurtell (2) and Clulow give us a 6-0 win in the @FFACup #MagicOfTheCup #BGRvMOR #Green17 pic.twitter.com/Fyg3S7eX4M
— Bentleigh Greens SC (@BentleighGreens) April 25, 2017