Image: Kingston City FC
It was all on the line for Kingston city on Saturday afternoon at Dunstan Reserve. Kingston City only needed a draw to secure promotion into the NPL. In saying that their opponents Brunswick City were always going to be a difficult opponent for the league leaders. The home side was 12 games unbeaten prior to last weeks away loss to Box Hill United.
The first half saw Brunswick with the better set of chances. The first real chance of the game went to Brunswick – Jose Potillo’s cross found Welsh striker Adam Wright in the 29th minute, whose glancing header just went wide.
Kingston danger man Mouad Zwed looked threatening for the visitors. In the 34th minute the technically gifted winger went on a darting run, beating a host of Brunswick players only to be denied by Brunswick City goalkeeper Greg Lascaris.
The deadlock was broken in the 42nd minute after Ali Turgut collected the ball in the centre of the pitch. The city midfielder found Portillo, whose strike deflected off Zdenek Koukal, which resulted in a Kingston own goal.
Brunswick found themselves leading at half time in somewhat comfortable fashion.
The second half began and danger man Zwed continued to threaten the Brunswick defence.
In the 52nd minute Brunswick city could have doubled their lead. Adam Wright found Ali Turgut, who snatched at a golden opportunity for the home side.
Kingston slowly worked their way into the game, but were still unable to create any real chances. Everything was on the line for the visitors and that began to show as they took control.
Young attacker Damian Iaconis grew into the game for Kingston and had a shot saved by Lascaris.
Time was running out for Kingston City and Brunswick found themselves doing all the defending. Kingston went close in the 90th minute with a shot just going over the bar.
Four minutes of added time were all that was left for Kingston to snatch a late equalizer. Automatic promotion was slipping away for the visitors.
Kingston launched a long throw into the box, which was cleared by the Brunswick City defence.
Unfortunately for Brunswick City, the clearance fell to a Kingston player whose looping cross found substitute Iaconis, who headed the ball into the back of the net.
Iaconis’s 94th minute goal sent the Kingston City faithful into absolute pandemonium. It’s a moment the young attacker will never forget. The final whistle blew and Kingston were champions.