Melbourne Victory suffered a 1-0 loss to Oakleigh Cannons in Round 20 of the PlayStation 4 NPL Victoria on Friday night.
Dusan Bosnjak’s 47th-minute goal proved the difference at Jack Edwards Reserve, with Victory unable to find an equaliser despite battling gallantly.
In just his second game in charge, Gareth Naven made three changes to Victory’s starting XI, promoting Callum Goulding, Andre McNamara and Michael Holden.
Both sides started brightly but neither was able to break the deadlock in a tense opening half.
Bosnjak put the hosts in front early in the second half, firing a loose ball past Lucas Spinella after the Victory goalkeeper had blocked an earlier shot on goal.
Victory went in search of a quick reply and nearly levelled proceedings through stand-in skipper John Maclean, whose fierce shot was well saved by John Honos.
Spinella made a brilliant save to deny a curling free-kick in the 75th minute, though chances were otherwise few and far between as the Cannons prevailed.
Earlier, Victory’s under-20 side returned to winning ways after taking one point from its previous two matches, beating Oakleigh 4-2.
Next up for Victory is a clash with Avondale FC at Epping Stadium on Saturday, July 16.
Seniors
Oakleigh Cannons 1 (Bosnjak 47′)
Melbourne Victory 0
Under-20s
Oakleigh Cannons 2
Melbourne Victory 4
