It may have started off shakily, but Bentleigh Greens have gotten their 2019 NPL Victoria campaign off to the best possible start after defeating South Melbourne 3-1 at Kingston Heath in the opening round of the season.
Things didn’t appear promising for the Greens in the first half, with a spirited South clearly looking the better side, despite Mathew Thurtell’s early opening goal putting Bentleigh ahead.
When Nicholas Krousoratis restored the game to equilibrium with a stellar bit of individual work in the 23rd minute it appeared as though South was in a position to run away with the game.
Nevertheless, the Greens were able to weather the storm to halftime came out looking a different. The Greens, once again through Yuel, made it 2-1 and in the 94th minute Yuel dribbled the ball past a diving Roganovic to make it 3-1.
Reigning NPL Champion Heidelberg United kicked off the NPL season with a 1-1 draw at home against Pascoe Vale on Valentine’s Day evening, whilst Port Melbourne and Kingston City played a 0-0 draw in the other Greek derby of the opening round.
Round 1 results:
Heidelberg United – Pascoe Vale 2-1
Bentleigh Greens – South Melbourne 3-1
Port Melbourne – Kingston City 0-0
Oakleigh Cannons – Melbourne Knights 1-2
Dandenong City – Avondale 1-4
Altona Magic – Green Gully 0-1
Dandenong Thunder – Hume City 0-4
Next round fixtures:
Friday, February 22
Hume City – Oakleigh Cannons, 7.45 pm.
Melbourne Knights – Altona Magic, 7.45 pm.
Pascoe Vale – Bentleigh Greens, 7.45 pm.
South Melbourne – Dandenong City, 8.30 pm.
Saturday, February 23
Avondale – Port Melbourne, 3.15 pm.
Green Gully – Heidelberg United, 3.00 pm.
Monday, February 25, 8.30 pm.
Kingston City – Dandenong Thunder
