By Greg Blake
It was a gripping two-act drama. in front of 1,500 spectators in miserable conditions. With a couple of plot twists thrown in towards the end. Part cautionary tale as they trailed at the interval, the second stanza produced a thumping comeback by Heidelberg United Alexander and an eventual 1-1 stalemate against Greek rivals, South Melbourne Hellas.
Comeback undersells Heidelberg’s final 30 minutes, in which Ngor’s brave 65th-minute headed equaliser – from an Asahi Yokokawa corner -balanced the scales against Charlie Leech’s first-half go-ahead goal for a South Melbourne team which presented in vastly better shape than they did at Lakeside earlier in the season.
Despite a break-even first half Heidelberg headed toward the interval facing a very rare mid-game deficit. And it may have been worse, if not for Yaren Sozer’s reflex stop to turn away a belter by Menelaou in the shadows of first half stoppage time averting any further scoreboard damage.
Alexander ratcheted up the pressure into the second half and their barnstorming finish was as powerful and compelling as any they’ve played this season, sullied only by a couple of disallowed goals.
The second – which cost Alexander an 88th minute winner – was perplexing at best. South’s Brayden Spink sprayed a back-header looping over his off his line goalkeeper, Javier Lopez, and Spink’s desperate sprint to keep the ball out of an open goal was matched by Sebit Ngor.
They hit the goal line shoulder to shoulder, the ball trundling over the line, Spink tumbling to the ground and Ngor keeping his feet. Go figure!
Controversy aside, playing on fast forward, the breathless and desperate Warriors flew about with a relentless intent and by game’s end undermanned Hellas were on the ropes, sagging and simply holding out for that final bell.
It was one of those hold-your-breath finishes for an increasingly vocal crowd. Fist pumps and a chorus of “yeeeeeeessssss”, followed by “oohs” and “aaahs”, an emotional tug of war raging between anguish and elation. Terrific stuff.
Oh, and anger, expressed through colourful invective The first decision to set the fans fuming coming 73 minutes in as Ngor – who was marvelous at times – danced his way past two defenders along the goal line and speared a pass into the hot spot.
Ryan Lethlean adjusted the trajectory and Bul Juach forced the ball through a throng of defenders and over the line, only for a flag presumably alleging Ngor had over-stepped the goal line in the build up.
Just on Lethlean, just when you think you’ve seen his best game yet, he strolls along and plays a better one. He was outstanding again against Hellas on Saturday, as was Max Bisetto. Bisetto’s withering 30-plus metre sprints into enemy territory were a constant threat and thrilling to witness.
Bisetto’s ‘don’t argue’ disposal of an opponent before powering into the front half 30 minutes in was electrifying, Bisetto hitting Fletcher Fulton as he shadowed him outside and Fulton’s square ball into Hellas’ goal face was only just cleared off the line on the half hour.
Records are now of little consequence, given the games to come are the ones that actually count. But it’s worth noting that Alexander equalled another decade old NPL-era record with the draw on Saturday. And how our own senior coach, Johnny Anastasiadis, is linked to it.
The Hellas draw means 18 consecutive league games without defeat this season. This equals the NPL record run set by Anastasiadis’ former club, South Melbourne, in 2014. The 18-game streak was equalled in 2015, by a Bentleigh Greens team coached by none other than our own Johnny A.
The premiership will likely be decided at Avondale next Saturday. Then it’s on to the Dockerty Cup final, NPL finals series and Australia Cup Round of 16. It doesn’t get easier. But it’s the hard that makes it so good.
