One of the games of the season played out at Lakeside Stadium yesterday afternoon as Box Hill United came back from two goals down, only for South Melbourne to pinch a last minute winner to triumph 3-2.
Goals from Brittany Dudley-Smith and Rhea Schreuder were cancelled out by a stunning strike from United skipper Georgia Koutrouvelis and substitute Letizia Sammut.
But Tiffany Eliadis had the last laugh as she sent the boisterous Lakeside crowd into raptures with a last ditch free-kick deep into stoppage time.
The Pink Sports Day initiative saw the crowd sport pink clothes, armbands and balloons in order to raise awareness for the Breast Cancer Network of Australia.
With an occasion to play for, both sides looked up for the fight, a true testament to the battle that many women face across Australia and the world.
Melanie Camilleri looked threatening in the early moments and powered a header into the arms of Lauren Farrugia.
She had another chance soon after as Koutrouvelis fashioned a yard of space on the right wing with some good footwork, but her cross just evaded the forehead of the forward in ominous form.
The first blow was struck at the other end however as a brilliant passage of play saw South strike a dagger through the Pythagoras hearts.
Eliadis had the ball on a string as she twice juggled to beat her opponent before playing a clever one-two and releasing Dudley-Smith with a diagonal ball.
The Kiwi striker made no mistake, taking one touch past keeper Emily Southwell before tapping into a wanting net.
More brilliant football from South saw best on field Natalie Martineau play through Dudley-Smith once again with the outside of her boot.
Unselfishly, Dudley-Smith looked first time for Rhea Schreuder, who poked one past the keeper, but she was comfortably offside by the time the ball came through.
Dudley-Smith was fortuitous in her next chance as her tireless chase saw Southwell clear the ball into her back, with the ball floating for what seemed an eternity on its way just wide of the post.
Schreuder was once again denied by the assistant referee as she looked destined to make it 2-0, only for the flag to bring play back.
Jade Feakes hit the top of the net with a lobbed header and that proved the last meaningful play of the half.
Box Hill had been solid enough in possession that half, but were unable to carve out the opportunities, something they did with much more frequency in the second term.
Camilleri was making herself a nuisance and broke the lines in the 48th minute, only to fire into the side netting.
South however rode the storm and hit home a second in the 53rd minute as Schreuder finally got her reward with a headed goal coming from Dudley-Smith’s cross.
The forward nearly turned provider again as she slipped a ball through for Martineau, who was unable to finish one-on-one with an onrushing keeper baring down on her.
At that moment, Box Hill looked no threat on the counter attack as they patiently worked the ball into midfield, but what their captain did next was truly spectacular.
Spotting Farrugia fractionally off her line, Koutrouvelis tried her luck from range, hitting true to make it 2-1.
The contest between South and the offside trap was also sprung into action again as an incredibly tough call on Eliadis saw her goal chalked off also; Martineau threading the eye of a needle to find her.
Just after the hour mark, Box Hill had their deserved equaliser as substitute Letizia Sammut bundled home from a corner kick to the joy of the Box Hill support crew.
There was plenty of feeling in the game, and the nerves began to show as a both sides found it harder to maintain possession.
South keeper Farrugia was once again called into action as she got a hand on an audacious effort from Camilleri, who struck across the face of goals from the right wing.
The teams exchanged half chances up until the final few minutes, where the desperation stakes kicked up a notch.
With two minutes of normal time to play, Ellie Brush headed just over the bar to waste a golden chance for the visitors.
But match winning duties were left to Eliadis, as the South forward got the chance to hit a free-kick with basically the last kick of the game.
The ball was situated on the right of the box, 30 yards from home, but the angle and distance didn’t deter her.
She curled what appeared to be a mishit free-kick with Southwell happy to see her effort wide, but it snuck into the post by the nearest of margins to cap off an enthralling contest and give South a much needed return to the winners circle.
The Corner Flag are also happy to announce that we’re donating $50 to the Breast Cancer Network of Australia (one for each goal scored at Lakeside). For details as to how you can also help out, go to www.bcna.org.au.
***
South Melbourne 3 (Dudley-Smith 14’, Schreuder 53’, Eliadis 90+3’) defeated Box Hill United 2 (Koutrouvelis 58’, Sammut 61’) at Lakeside Stadium
South Melbourne: 1. Lauren FARRUGIA (GK), 2. Brittany DUDLEY-SMITH, 3. Jade FEAKES, 5. Natalie MARTINEAU, 6. Alex CHEAL, 7. Rhea SCHREUDER, 8. Carol HOWES, 9. Sarah SUMNER, 10. Tiffany ELIADIS, 17. Alison BAKER, 14. Natalie BRAJANOVSKI
Unused Substitute(s): 4. Chloe DRINOVSKI, 18. Caitlin GREISER, 37. Coco MAJSTOROVIC, 31. Jasmine AREZZOLO, 32.
Yellow Card(s): Eliadis 37’
Red Card(s): Nil
Box Hill United: 1. Emily SOUTHWELL, 4. Madelaine RICHARDSON, 6. Renee ZAIRIS, 3. Penny BAKOPOULOS, 12. Angie RASSIAS, 14. Georgia KOUTROUVELIS, 7. Ellie BRUSH, 11. Cristina CARDACI, 5. Alexandra AMORE (9. Letizia SAMMUT 53’), 18. Melanie CAMILLERI, 16. Demi KALLIANIS (2. Selena KARLSON 75’)
Unused Substitute(s): 10. Elise KYRGIOS, 17. Katherine FOTOPOUOS, 15. Hayley GEURTS
Yellow Card(s): Bakopoulos 80’, Cardaci 87’
Red Card(s): Nil