Altona North was left deflated after conceding a messy stoppage-time goal in Saturday’s entertaining 3-3 draw with local rivals Melbourne City in the Football Federation Victoria men’s state league 4 west.
North held the lead throughout the second half and it looked like an upset was on the cards until a mistake from rookie goalkeeper Mathieu Loncaric in the dying seconds offered a lifeline to City – and the highly fancied home side needed no second invitation.
North coach Rick Piccinelli told Star Weekly Loncaric had been solid in goal as a replacement for absent first choice Nick Epifano, until that key moment.
“He made some good saves before but made a mess of that one,” Piccinelli said, not wanting to lay the blame at the feet of his young custodian.
He admitted the equaliser had been coming from midway through the second half.
North’s defence had invited pressure from City’s strike force and was made to pay.
“We should’ve almost been able to park the bus and finish them off,” Piccinelli said.
“We went too deep. That allowed them to put us under the pump for the last few minutes.” North was good for its 2-1 lead at half-time. Junior Irineu Cutrim Mota produced a miraculous goal, scoring directly from the corner flag. North’s second goal was more conventional, but no less spectacular, with winger Yousef Abu-Zidan executing a perfect cross for David Dennerley to confidently head home.
North’s third goal came from the penalty spot, with Dennerley scoring his second of the game.
North went into the match as underdogs but Piccinelli said they gave a good account of themselves.
“When you’ve got 10 seconds to go, you think it’s in the bag,” he said.
“Considering how much we were under the pump in the last few minutes, a draw is a fair result.
“With the type of players they have, what they’ve done in the last season and how they performed at the Hobsons Bay Cup, it’s a good result. The boys did very well.”
In state league 1, Altona Magic is top of the charts after a 2-1 win over Westgate at Paisley Park on Sunday. Both of the Magic’s goals through Habib Musa and Steven Thomson came in the second half.
Altona East Phoenix was pipped 1-0 on the road by the Preston Lions.
In state league 2, Yarraville Glory lost its top-of-the-table stoush 2-1 to Sporting Whittlesea at McIvor Reserve.
In state league 3, local rivals Williamstown and Altona City played out a 1-1 draw under lights at JT Gray Reserve on Friday night.
