LIONS LOSE THRILLER
GEELONG was stunned by two late goals as Whittlesea Ranges turned a 2-1 deficit with less than 10 minutes remaining into a 3-2 win in a drama-filled clash at Genis Steel Park on Saturday night.
The result was a devastating blow for the Lions, who now drop a spot to eighth on the ladder, overtaken by the Ranges, albeit with a game in hand.
It was the visitors who managed to trouble the scoreboard attendant first, registering the game’s opener in the seventh minute through Andrew Kiir.
But the home side settled and replied quickly, with the returning Kyle Markham finding the equaliser in the 25th minute.
The scoreboard attendant needn’t have worried about getting off his chair for the remainder of the opening half, as both sides retreated to the sheds locked in a 1-1 stalemate.
The Lions took the lead when Markham doubled his tally for the evening just seven minutes into the second half, slotting home the ball after getting on the end of a delightfully floated Denis Yongule cross to the back post.
Following somewhat of a lull midway through the half, the home side had a further two chances to score with just over 10 minutes remaining.
Unfortunately for the locals, it wasn’t to be and the missed opportunities proved costly when Geelong conceded a penalty in the 81st minute.
Jose Ramirez stepped up to take the spot kick as major drama was to unfold.
Ramirez guided the ball past Geelong ’ keeper Dylan Nikolovski but a fellow Ranges player was adjudged to have encroached into the penalty box too early.
Nikolovski superbly saved the re-take, but the ball rebounded straight back to Ramirez who managed to once again strike the ball past the Geelong custodian.
Bad luck was to strike in the 86th minute as an Anthony Taranto goal saw the Lions go behind 3-2.
Nikolovski was subsequently stretchered off the field after crashing into the upright trying to save the ball. To further add salt to the wounds, key Lions midfielder Louis Bentley received his second yellow card deep into injury time and will miss next week’s crucial clash against Moreland City.
Lions coach Dom Barba was a particularly dejected figure after the match.
“I am really disappointed with the result. We have put ourselves into winning positions in most games that I have coached this year only to fall down due to individual errors,” he said. “We have nine games to go, including our game in hand. In those nine games we have every opportunity to succeed. We just have to keep moving forward and not focusing too much on the past.”