NC pulls off stunner
NORTH Caulfield Maccabi stunned opponent Croydon, overcoming a 2-0 deficit with four unanswered goals to pull off a spectacular come-from-behind 4-2 win.
NORTH Caulfield Maccabi stunned opponent Croydon, overcoming a 2-0 deficit with four unanswered goals to pull off a spectacular come-from-behind 4-2 win.
Jason Tasker scored just prior to half-time to reduce the deficit to 2-1 at the break. But it was all North Caulfield in the second half, with goals to Guy Ben-Ahron and a brace from Amgad Marieh completing the rousing win.
With both sides desperate to avoid sliding into the relegation zone at the pointy end of the season, it was Croydon who started better and was on the board inside four minutes, thanks to some slack North Caulfield defending. A similar mistake led to the second goal minutes later and North Caulfield looked to be in disarray.
In the dying minutes of the half though, Ari Ritz, Josh Braver, Adam Rischin and Marieh combined in midfield to win back some possession for the home side.
Tasker, who had earlier sustained a suspected broken nose, was the beneficiary, nodding home from a lovely cross.
At half-time, coach Andrew Freund challenged his experienced defenders to lift in the second half.
The players responded accordingly, while at the other end of the pitch Tasker was brought down in the penalty area after turning his opponent inside out. The referee had no hesitation in awarding a penalty. Ritz stepped up to the mark, but uncharacteristically shot agonisingly wide, with the ball ricocheting into the corner of the upright and cross bar.
With the opportunity to equalise beckoning, Maccabi remained focused. Graham Evans pushed up to take a free kick from a wide position on the touch line. His delivery into the box was perfectly weighted for Leftheri Arhontogiorgis to rise from the pack and head goalwards. The ball hit the cross bar and fell to Ben-Ahron, who knocked in the rebound for the equaliser.
Laurence Miller was brought down in a heavy tackle and was carried from the field with a serious ankle injury, and was replaced by Greg Sacks.
Marieh turned up the heat when he took a corner kick midway through the half. The curling ball put Croydon under sufficient pressure and the miscued clearance deflected off a defender for an own-goal to gift Maccabi a 3-2 lead. Three minutes later and Braver was taken down by a vicious tackle about 25 yards out from goal. Marieh lined up for the free kick and brought the crowd to its feet when his superb curling shot snuck inside the far post to complete the comeback.
The reserves eased to a 3-1 victory over Croydon, marking a return to form for Paul Miller, who scored a cracking goal in the first half. Phil Krynski pounded home another headed goal, while Dion Esterman slotted the third to seal the victory.
Avi Morrison hit the post with his shot on goal, while Franklin Ngwa and Jono Michaels put in excellent efforts to guide their team to a win.
North Caulfield Maccabi plays Mornington on Sunday at 3pm at Dallas Brooks Park (Melway: 145 H3).
DANIEL OPAT
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