LOCAL rivalries renewed at the junior level with the annual Cardinia United versus Bunyip Strikers clash.
A great game was played in the true spirit you’d expect from a derby match – the Bunyip Strikers came out full of fire and really brought their best game against the unbeaten Cougars. Living up to their nickname, the Strikers shocked the Cougars and really threw them off their game plan and scored a goal in the first half and that remained the score at the break.
After some words of encouragement from the coach and the parents at the half time address, the Cougars came out firing, but the Strikers got a goal nine minutes into the second half to go 2-0 up. The Cougars refused to drop their heads and kept fighting, at the 14 minute mark of the second half all the hard work paid off with a free kick that was taken by Jackson Lino outside the 18-yard box on the left hand side to set up Jordan Dunn.
Dunn back heeled it past the keeper and the Cougars got the lift and raised the intensity of the game. Under captain Dylan Raines’ orders, Cardinia United surged and refused to give in and the miracle equaliser came with one minute left in the game. Dunn had no chance to score as the keeper was defending the goal so well, so he side-passed the ball to Jackson Lino who slotted the equaliser away.
The game was a beauty to watch and gave both coaches a restless time on the sidelines. Cardinia United want to congratulate Bunyip on a great game and look forward to the rematch in round 16.
Man of the match for Cardinia was Vince Scacco for his work at centre back to hold together the Cougars defence.
