Two goals in injury time were enough for South Melbourne to sneak a 4-2 win over Boroondara Eagles in their Round 2 WPL clash on Saturday afternoon.
Goals to Emma Hubbard and substitute Racheal Quigley scrubbed South Melbournes 2-0 lead, delivered via a Selin Kuralay brace, but they weren’t able to hold out, with Tiffany Eliadis assuming the role of match winner in injury time before Laura Spiranovic made the points all but safe a minute after.
A scrappy first half at Ralph Reserve saw the two teams head into the break scoreless, with a surprising lack of clear-cut chances for both sides.
Louise Mason was at the centre of everything good for Boroondara, and she fashioned the first chance of the game in the third minute.
The fleet footed winger skipped past a pair of challenges before her shot inside the box hit the side netting.
It was then South’s turn to attack and in what was a sign of things to come, player of the match Kuralay had the opportunity to help her side open the scoring.
The central midfielder stared down a free kick in the sixth minute with her shot well blocked by the wall. She then recovered to deliver a teasing cross into Jess Au from the right, who despite her small stature, made contact with the ball only to see the floating header wide.
Melbourne Victory’s Laura Spiranovic also showed her class throughout the match, showcasing pace and strength aplenty to break free of her opponent on the right before forcing Eagles goal-keeper Anna Lanning into a sharp save to her near post.
The ball then broke into the middle of the box, where Kuralay had another chance to break the deadlock, but her goal bound strike was blocked by a resilient Boroondara defence.
The game began to open up late in the first half and again it was Mason who was looking the most threatening on South’s goal.
Winning her own ball in midfield, her driving run into the box forced her into a shot from the angle, which missed the target accordingly.
Her tight dribbling allowed her to fashion a further two chances for the half, but she couldn’t capitalise on her good work.
Despite the Eagles momentum leading into break, it was South Melbourne who drew first blood seven minutes from the restart through Kuralay.
The first of her two goals was set up immaculately by Spiranovic, who’s curled through ball fell to her feet on the left of the box before leaving the keeper no chance with a delicate top corner strike.
Eight minutes later she had a brace, as a good run and strike from Tiffany Eliadis saw the ball cleared to the midfielder, who’s shot from distance rocketed off the Boroondara defence and into the net.
With their backs well and truly to the wall, the Eagles found a way back into the match, courtesy of a 66th minute wonder goal from Emma Hubbard.
Her striding run took her from left midfield to the right edge of the box, as her pace, control and strength left no defender spared.
She then held off the South Melbourne centre-back to unleash a low strike past a rushing Beth Mason-Jones in goals.
Counterpart Anna Lanning then kept her side in the contest with a remarkable save off the boot of Spiranovic.
The striker was perhaps fortuitous to not give away a foul in the process of holding off Boroondara’s Ally Gayfer but playing the whistle, she waltzed unchallenged into the box before her powerful shot from close was met with an immense diving save from Lanning.
Rubbing salt into the wounds was the sucker punch to come as the impressive winger Mason was tugged down in the box, with substitute and fellow Adelaide recruit Racheal Quigley converting from the penalty spot.
With the game seemingly destined for a draw it was Tiffany Eliadis who stole the points at the death, as she poached to perfection, tapping in from 2 yards.
Spiranovic then got her just rewards as she sealed the game a minute later, running onto a through ball and curling the ball into the bottom right corner.
FT: South Melbourne Womens 4 (Kuralay 52’, 60’, Eliadis 90’, Spiranovic 90’) defeated Boroondara Eagles 2 (Hubbard 66’, Quigley 83’)
HT: South Melbourne Women’s 0 Boroondara Eagles 0
South Melbourne: 1. Beth Mason-Jones (GK), 4. Demi Mihaloudis, 6. Alex Cheal, 20. Natalie Brajanovski, 8. Lauren Farrugia, 3. Natalie Martineau, 2. Selin Kuralay, 7. Jess Au, 10. Tiffany Eliadis, 11. Jessica Calder, 5. Laura Spiranovic
Subs: 9. Sarah Sumner, 12. Kamilla Lille-Jaere, 14. Tijen Hussein, 16. Genia Avram, 19. Cristina Caldaci
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil
Boroondara Eagles: 1. Anna Lanning (GK), 3. Ally Gayfer, 12. Sarah Petty, 38. Leah Barrett, 9. Anna Townsend, 10. Emma Gross, 17. Emma Hubbard, 19. Alex Gummer, 34. Greta Loki, 8. Ellen Turner, 35. Louise Mason
Subs: 4. Racheal Quigley 11. Sophie Landgren, 13. Marie Smith, 22. Riahannon Jacobs, Alex Pocklington (GK)
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil