In a pulsating contest at Wembley Park, Dandenong Thunder continued their barnstorming start to the NPL2 East season with a 3-1 win over hosts Box Hill United.
The match was highlighted by a fourth consecutive league brace to starlet Amir Osmancevic, with Thunder’s other goal coming from a Simon Colosimo header; Box Hill’s only strike coming through Kobbie Boahene.
Michael Kariuki helped set up the first opportunity of the afternoon for Lucas Johns – who netted a brace in last week’s 2-0 triumph over Eastern Lions – but his shot from just outside the area was well palmed away by Thunder keeper Fraser Maclaren.
The lively Brandon Barnes broke through on 16 minutes and opted to round Box Hill stopper Keegan Coulter, but his touch took him well wide of the post.
Instead of shooting, he fired a quick cross back the way he came, with Veton Korcari unable to find the target from point blank range.
While it was a let off for the Thunder, they didn’t have to wait long for their breakthrough as Osmancevic burst the net open with a powerful finish.
Played through on the left wing, Osmancevic aimed a precision strike in between the left post and the covering Coulter, smashing the ball into upright on its way in.
The forward should have had a second soon after but was denied by a save from Coulter, as the mini battle between the pair continued to flare.
That resulting corner led to the game’s second goal, as former A-League pair Kristian Sarkies – swinging in a shallow set-piece – and Simon Colosimo – glancing towards goal from the near-post – combined to double the visitor’s advantage.
Box Hill soon had one back as a floating Alex Dao free-kick saw a couple of bodies fly up to out leap Fraser Maclaren, with Kobbie Boahene adjudged to have gotten the last touch as the ball flew into the net with speed.
Thunder should have restored their two-goal buffer on 36 minutes, with a string of chances going unrewarded.
A ball across the face from Osmancevic caused momentary panic in the United defence, only for the ball to find its way back to Barnes; Coulter doing well to stop the shot as it took a wicked deflection towards the bottom corner.
He was however only able to parry, and Korcari sniffed out the opportunity, rushing to meet the ball before Coulter only for his shot to go over, while also accidentally catching the keeper in the face on the way though.
The game paused for a brief moment as Coulter was attended to – he sported tape around his nose in the second half – which took the sting out of the contest as both sides helped see the half peter out.
A number of opportunities from range opened up the second half, with Barnes forcing a corner with a stinging drive and Sarkies missing from a short corner routine, while Johns for Box Hill had two opportunities which were both comfortably held by Maclaren.
Veteran pairing Faisal Sakhizada and goalscorer Colosimo were proving a stone wall in defence, with Box Hill struggling to break their resolve.
Their defensive efforts were well backed up at the other end, as Barnes and Osmancevic combined to put the game to bed on 65 minutes.
Barnes lofted a first time cross onto the penalty spot for Osmancevic, who initially miscued his first effort, but his defender was sold in his effort to block the shot, allowing the Thunder hitman to regain his bearings and fire past Coulter into the right side of goal.
Osmancevic then saw his best opportunity for a hat-trick go to waste as he crunched the crossbar from substitute Lewis Foster’s cutback.
The end of the contest was marred with minor controversy as Box Hill coach Greg Kassidas was given his marching orders for what the referee saw as an offensive hand gesture from the sidelines.
84′ Sarkies goes narrowly wide from a dangerous position #PS4NPLVIC #BHUvDT pic.twitter.com/A49KyHgCpW
— The Corner Flag (@CornerFlagOz) March 12, 2016
As the red mist came down from the late incident, it was all Thunder once again as Osmancevic scuffed another effort wide of the post before seeing a late penalty shout also turned down.
***
Box Hill United 1 (Boahene 26′) defeated by Dandenong Thunder 3 (Osmancevic 16′ 65′, Colosimo 28′)
Box Hill United: 1. Keegan COULTER (GK), 2. Joey CALDERONE, 5. Alex SCHROEN (18. Kazuki OKADA 80′), 6. Alex DAO, 7. Caleb LUDLOW, 9. Michael KARIUKI (10. Rinor MURIQI 68′), 12. Adrian DEL MONACO, 14. Lucas JOHNS, 15. Kobbie BOAHENE, 20. Patrick THIAKANE (17. Ben OSEI-SAFO 58′), 25. Michael GODFREY (c)
Unused Substitute(s): 35. Enes UNAL, 11. Sebastian BARRERO
Yellow Card(s): Calderone 20′
Red Card(s): Nil
Dandenong Thunder: 1. Fraser MACLAREN (GK), 6. Nicholas MADAFFARRI, 4. Faisal SAKHIZADA, 24. Simon COLOSIMO, 2. Dylan FACCI, 13. Daniel BENNOTT, 12. Brendan ELMAZOVSKI (c), 8. Kristian SARKIES, 11. Amir OSMANCEVIC, 9. Veton KORCARI (7. Yusef YUSEF 86′), 10. Brandon BARNES (18. Lewis FOSTER 69′)
Unused Substitute(s): 41. Jeremy SANDOVAL, 5. Antonio BARBARO, 17. Fitim IBRAIMI
Yellow Card(s): Osmancevic 29′, Barnes 45′, Facci 78′, Yusef 90+2′
Red Card(s): Nil
Photos: Sonia Licciardi