Image: Smile for Peter
A lot can change in a week. Football fans know that all too well. A triumphant and emphatic 4-1 derby victory over the more-fancied Dandenong City got Gianfranco Impellizzeri’s start to life in the Dandenong Thunder dugout to a flying start.
However the Thunder were brought down back to earth by an energetic Springvale White Eagles outfit who ran out 2-1 winners in a hard-fought contest at White Eagles Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Despite the loss, the 52 year-old Italian felt his side deserved more from the game and were punished for the two mistakes they made.
“I think we deserved a little bit more from the game but they did very well in defence up until the end of the game. The boys never gave up but in reality we lost the game from two shots – one the penalty and two the mistake from our defensive line.”
Goals to Cody Martindale and Tapiwanashe Munyanyiwa had the hosts ahead only for the visitors to reduce the deficit through an own goal from Springvale substitute Luke Parisi. Thunder tried in vain to get themselves an equaliser but were thwarted by a resolute White Eagles defence and an inspired Lajos Oliveira in goals.
Impellizzeri praised the shot-stopper for his performance while also commending his side for not giving up and continuing to persist and pamper the Springvale goal with plenty of shots in the final half hour of the contest.
“Overall it’s only the beginning and there are a lot of games to go, and I can’t fault the boys’ reaction to going 2-0 down as it was very positive in the last 25-30 minutes of the game where we pushed really hard.
“In those last 30 minutes the best player on the pitch was their goalkeeper, who did very well to keep them in the game, so well done to Springvale.
“In the end whoever wins the game has the right to say they played better, but in my opinion I can see the team is progressing the right way. Unfortunately the loss is not healthy but we are going to work on it.”
A passionate figure on the sidelines, the former Fawkner Blues coach was disappointed with the manner in which his side conceded but insisted that was a part of football as he looks ahead to firing his troops up for the visit of Nunawading City to George Andrews Reserve this coming Saturday night.
“When you concede a goal you are always disappointed. But I am more disappointed because I thought the referee failed to award us a penalty in the first half for a foul on the left wing on John [Kuol], which he called a 50-50 but then gave them a penalty for an almost identical incident.
“The second goal, we were running a lot today and chasing up a lot of the ground, and a mistake from our defensive midfielder where he was a little weak on the ball [led to it]. But this happens in games and people make mistakes and others profit from them.
“We know from last year that there is unfinished business to do at the club and we’re definitely going to keep going and stay up near the top right until the end. It’s only two games and you cannot judge a season on two games, so we’re going to work on staying in touch and getting the best we can.”
A Milan native, Impellizzeri migrated to Australia 12 years ago and spent last season coaching the AC Milan Academy in Sydney before moving back down to Melbourne for family reasons. While his appointment to the Thunder hotseat came late in pre-season, Impellizzeri was quick to dismiss any blame for the loss on that factor.
“We were definitely behind preparation-wise and unfortunately it was a last-minute decision by me to come to Dandenong, but I’m not really blaming the loss for our pre-season.
“We are still in pre-season as the season has started early this year, so the team is going to be young, fit and strong so it is good to see the competition has quality too and everyone is enjoying the games.”