Image: Smile for Peter
Bentleigh Greens have continued Victoria’s struggles at home in the national NPL Finals Series, losing 1-3 to Edgeworth Eagles at Kingston Heath
After South Melbourne had succumbed to MetroStars and Hobart Olympia in the past two years, the Greens become the next to squander a change to progress.
Keanu Moore’s second-half strike was cancelled out by John Maclean just before the 90, while Aden Gardner and Sam Maxwell sealed their side’s progression in extra time.
Perfect conditions greeted the clubs, with Ryan Paczkowski creating the first clear chance with a cross into the box that Matt Thurtell headed into the post.
A similar opportunity minutes later presented itself, while Kieran Dover also had a shot that missed wide.
Edgeworth started to get into the game later in the half, and perhaps one of their best opportunities came when Moore looked to have been bundled over in the box, however the referee waved play on.
The visitors raced out of the blocks in the second half. Moore was dangerous and a great combination between Domenico Bizzarri (whose run from his defensive half set the foundation for the goal), former A-League man Daniel McBreen and Brody Taylor saw the latter tee up the dangerous front man for the finish.
Moore’s goal sparked the Greens, but Tyson Holmes’s header and Liam McCormick’s strikes after the restart didn’t trouble the scorers. Jack Webster was also pushing forward to add another dimension to attack, to no avail.
Dion Kirk then crossed to Paczkowski, whose header hit the woodwork and evaded John Maclean.
At the other end, substitute Keigo Moriyasu and Daniel McBreen almost combined later on, but the latter sent in a tired shot that missed wide as the Eagles continued to sit deeper.
Just as it looked like the Greens ran out of ideas, however, a ball from defence from Ross Archibald found Kieran Dover, teeing up former Melbourne Victory teammate John Maclean who buried his opportunity.
Samuel Maxwell was introduced late on and had a shot for Edgeworth which Ryan Scott held comfortably.
Kieran Dover had the first shot of extra time as Bentleigh looked to take the lead for the first time. However it was a Mcbreen cross to Gardner that undid the Greens as a looping header found the back of the net.
As the hosts pushed once more to fight back from a deficit, a Kamal Ibrahim free kick was saved.
But the killer punch came when Dylan Holz’s through ball was latched onto by Gardner for a finish at the near post.