Wasteful Lions punished in the derby

Metalurg Lions FC
Jul 10, 2017 · 3 min read

ROUND 1 REPORT

RMIT PlayFutsal (Bundoora), Division 1 (Winter Season ‘17)

Barca Boys FC 6–4 Metalurg Lions FC
(HT: Barca Boys FC 2–4 Metalurg Lions FC)

Venue: RMIT University Futsal Stadium, Bundoora
Attendance: 18

Our boys in red have suffered a third opening round defeat in four seasons, after narrowly going down in the Macedonian derby to Barca Boys FC.

With up to seven players out due to injury and overseas, the depleted Lions had six days to turn it around physically and mentally from an epic Grand Final battle from the week before. Having enjoyed an extra week break, Barca Boys FC were fresh and ready to battle in the second edition of this rivalry.

It started extremely well for our boys in red as we took the lead after just one minute on the clock. Bozinovski’s rare mistake at the back handed the Lions’ and Stankovski’s first goal of the season. Soon after, Todorovski doubled our lead with a sublime finish. He made it 3–0 within the first seven minutes and the Lions looked in control, showing no sign of fatigue. Futher chances went begging for the Lions as Nikoloski and Jovanovski came close, as Barca had Petrevski to thank for making miraculous saves. A mix up at the back between Nikoloski and Todorovski handed Barca a lifeline, but the game then looked out of reach when Stojanovski’s wonderful finesse finish made it 4–1 to the Lions with only five minutes to go in the half. Just before half time, a good finish by Pendovski for Barca Boys FC ensured a great contest for the second half.

Petrovski’s magnificent form looks to continue as he was keeping our boys in red in the contest by making great early saves in the second half. The Lions’ inability and deficiency in front of goal was punished when two goals in two minutes brought Barca Boys FC level, leaving Petrovski with no chance in our goal. The Lions’ chances went begging and were rattled by Barca’s persistence and positive play. As the Lions fatigued near the end of the match and Petrevski was simply unbeatable, Barca Boys FC made us pay when Trajceski teed up Kyriakou to put the boys in green infront for the first time in the match with three minutes to go. A dubious penalty call by referee Lachlan Keevers with a minute to go was the dagger in Lions’ hearts, as Pendovski coolly converted it in the bottom left corner to round up a huge victory for our sister club.

We’d like to thank everyone who attended and cheered our boys in red and for those who tuned into our live stream of the game. Your support does not go unnoticed, and it’s always greatly appreciated.

Hапред Металург!

Round 1 Starting Line-Up:
33. Alexandar PETROVSKI (GK)
7. David JOVANOVSKI
9. Aleksandar NIKOLOSKI
17. Steven STANKOVSKI
39. Vladimir TODOROVSKI

Interchange Substitute:
5. Goran STOJANOVSKI

Goalscorers:
2 — V. Todorovski
1 — S. Stankovski
1 — G. Stojanovski

Man of the match: Mende Petrevski (gk) — Barca Boys FC

#WeBelieve

Metalurg Lions FC

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