Melbourne Victory’s Senior NPL side came within seconds of claiming a point against league-leading Avondale FC, suffering a 3-2 defeat at the Home of the Matildas.
Hosting the dominant Avondale FC on the King’s Birthday public holiday, Melbourne Victory were up for a big clash.
Just one change was made to Boris Seroshtan’s XI that was beaten by South Melbourne, with fullback Linus Bourke making his first start for the season.
Hashing it out in the rain, early chances fell for both sides.
Stefan Zinni came close to opening the scoring in the 7th minute before striking the woodwork, while the slippery playing surface sabotaged Daniel Lazarevski’s superb ball through to Patrick Wall just a few moments later.
In the 19th minute, Zinni was found in space on the left wing and forced an excellent stop out of Yona Sultan, but a fortunate rebound allowed Zinni to kick off the scoring for the night.
With Avondale largely controlling the action in the opening 45 minutes, a big response was needed from the boys in navy blue in the second half.
Attacker Alexander Houridis was brought on at the break, indicating an attacking approach from the coaching staff.
However, it would be the visitors to score again on the hour mark through in-form striker, Manyluak Aguek.
Immediately after, substitutes Tommaso Minutoli and Damien Bozinovski were brought into the action.
Returning to the team after last playing in March, Bozinovski was quick to make his impact known.
Receiving the ball outside the box, captain Jack Mihailidis delivered a well-weighted ball into the back post that met the desperate lunge of Damien Bozinovski, scoring his first goal of the season to provide the Young Vucks a lifeline.
Speedy winger James Lackay was next to enter as momentum grew for Victory, defending well and controlling possession and territory with time ticking down.
After a minimum of four additional minutes were indicated to be coming, Seroshtan’s side had the belief they could find a leveller.
Stepping up to the corner kick, Jordan Hoey’s beautiful corner delivery into the penalty area was headed home exceptionally well by Bozinovski, with the towering centre-half netting a brace off the bench.
Joy filled the air as the young squad fought back against the league’s top team to equalise in stoppage time, but it was quickly cut short.
Going up the other end a few minutes later, a cross from wide could not be dealt with by the Navy Blue defenders, allowing Yusuf Ahmed to win the game for Avondale with one of the final kicks of the game.
Going from pure elation to heartbreak within the space of a few minutes, NPL Victoria’s league leaders ultimately found a way to sink the aspiring Young Vucks.
Coming seconds away from claiming a well-needed point, Melbourne Victory’s losing streak has been extended to seven games in Victoria’s top flight.
Battling against one of the league’s finest, the Young Vucks will ultimately need to pick up their heads and take on the fourth-placed Oakleigh Cannons at Jack Edwards Reserve on Friday, June 13.
Match Details
NPL Victoria Men Round 17
Melbourne Victory 2 (Bozinovski 72′, 90+2′)
Avondale FC 3 (Zinni 19′, Aguek 60′, Ahmed 90+5′)
Melbourne Victory Starting XI: 40. Yonathan SULTAN (GK), 2. Linus BOURKE, 10. Jack MIHAILIDIS (C), 11. Daniel LAZAREVSKI, 14. Jordan HOEY, 16. Anastasios GEORGAKOPOULOS, 20. Parker WILLIAMS, 22. Patrick WALL, 28. Charlie GOREVSKI, 29. Tobenna OBANI, 36. John RADIMISIS
Substitutes: 42. Kasper FONSBOEL (GK), 4. Damien BOZINOVSKI (61′), 9. Tommaso MINUTOLI (61′), 24. James LACKAY (75′), 32. Aaron BAZENSKI, 38. Alexander HOURIDIS (46′)
