Photo: Steve Starek
A Kenny Athiu brace salvaged a point for Heidelberg United in an entertaining 2-2 draw against the Melbourne Knights while the Bentleigh Greens surged to the top of the table following a 3-0 win over the Bulleen Lions on an eventful evening in the top flight of Victorian football.
At Somers Street Stadium, the home side were looking to return to winning ways following last week’s 3-0 defeat against Avondale while the Bergers were looking to continue their rampant form having dismantled North Geelong 8-0 last week despite playing much of the game with ten men.
The visitors were on course to continue their winning ways after opening the scoring in the 19th minute through the feet of in-form marksman Athiu who netted his fifth of the season having beaten Jason Hicks to the ball before turning and launching a curling effort from just outside the box.
Andrew Marth’s men were back on level terms only two minutes later when a Hicks corner found its way to Knights captain Milan Batur at the back post who squared his cutback across goal and into the path of Tom Cahill who touched the ball across the goal line for the leveller.
The home side took the lead just after the hour mark when a defensive mistake saw winger Elvis Kamsoba pounce by powerfully poking the ball into the back of the net from the edge of the area before producing a stunning celebration which involved multiple back-flips.
The two-time NSL Champions were on the cusp of taking all three points only to be undone in injury time when a high searching ball into the area was met by Athiu who latched onto the ball before scoring a superb half volley on the angle and evoke celebratory scenes on the visitors’ bench.
The result sees Heidelberg hold onto their place in the top four while the Knights are still in the top six but could slip out of it if results elsewhere this weekend don’t go their way with the fixture in North Sunshine also showcasing the NPL’s best African talent.
Burundi-born Kamsoba has been a revelation for the Knights since his off-season move from South Australia and netted his fifth of the season while the prolific Athiu took his league tally to six goals in seven games as both continue to stake their claim for a professional opportunity in the near future.
Over at the other end of town in Cheltenham, a rampant Bentleigh secured a largely one-sided triumph over Bulleen thanks to goals from Trent Clulow, Lambros Honos and substitute Matt Thurtell.
That scoreline might have looked very different had Ryan Scott’s alert reflex save not denied ex-Green Luke Gallo from opening the scoring after some delightful solo work saw him beat two opponents near the corner flag before cutting inside into the area and launching a fierce shot at goal.
Clulow opened the scoring in the first half with an excellent effort from outside the box before the lead was doubled by Honos on the stroke of half-time as his free-kick caught Lions goalkeeper Wyatt Chant out at the near post with the veteran netting his fourth goal of the campaign in the process.
The comprehensive nature of the victory was sealed in second-half injury time when Thurtell reacted quickest to a deflection inside the area to blast the ball home from close range to join Athiu on six goals for the campaign, one behind front-runner Davey van’t Schip.
John Anastasiadis’ men will hold onto first place on the ladder if Avondale FC loss away to Hume City tonight and if Pascoe Vale fail to secure victory against the Port Melbourne Sharks at CB Smith Reserve.