Two minutes from hell for Altona City may be remembered as the turning point in the Football Federation Victoria men’s state league 3 title race.
With scores locked at a goal apiece in the top- of-the-table showdown with Hoppers Crossing Reds at Grange Reserve, City had the chance to score the go-ahead goal deep into stoppage time, but usually reliable captain Matt McKay put his shot over the crossbar.
Picture gallery
Altona City v Hoppers Crossing
The Reds took the ball up the other end and found the back of the net through Liam McDermott, who produced a wonder strike from the edge of the penalty area.
Hoppers Crossing won 2-1 to take a six-point lead at the top of the standings.
City coach Sam Borg was left to lament. “We didn’t take our opportunity and when theirs presented to them, they took it.”
There are still 10 rounds to go, but this was a major body blow to City’s title push.
Borg could see the collective deflation of his players in the rooms after the game but implored them to refocus with promotion hopes still in their own hands and the possibility existing of the Reds slipping up at some point.
“I believe we’re travelling as well as anyone in the league,” Borg said. “We’ve got 10 games to put it together to get promoted and we believe we still can do it.”
The most frustrating part for City was the game’s evenness.
Even Reds coach Steve Iosifidis conceded his side stole victory in a game that looked like
ending in a draw.
“To be honest, it was pretty cruel on them,” Iosifidis said. “It should’ve been a draw, to be fair.”
Altona City capitalised on its early possession with James Neighbour drawing first blood with a headed goal from a corner.
City looked in control until one of its former players, John Little, scored an equaliser for the Reds at the half-hour mark.
The game became an arm wrestle with both sides having periods of dominance.
The Reds were happy to absorb pressure, play on the counter and use a long-ball, while City stuck to its possession game to dictate the tempo.
The execution of both game plans cancelled each other out – until McDermott’s late winner.
City has a short six-day turnaround for Friday night’s home date with North City Wolves at HC Kim Reserve.
In the same division, FC Williamstown moved to within a point of the promotion places after a 4-0 thrashing of the Western Eagles.
Italo Arcelino De Carvalho was the star of the show for the Blues with a hat-trick.
In state league 2, Yarraville Glory returned home from Westvale with a vital three points after a 1-0 win. In-form striker Goran Jozeljic scored his fourth goal in three games to prove the difference between the two sides.
The Glory is just two points outside the promotion spots.
State league 4
Melbourne City scored for fun in a 6-3 win over Sebastopol Vikings at Edwards Reserve. Branko Durand struck twice for City to make it four goals in two games and a league-best 10 for the season.
Altona North played a 1-1 draw with Melton Phoenix, while Laverton Park had the same scoreline away to Keilor Wolves.
Maribyrnong Greens relinquished top spot after a 1-0 slip-up at home to Brimbank Stallions.
