Sunshine George Cross had to fight back from two goals down to earn a 2-2 draw with Moreland Zebras in the National Premier League 2 west season soccer opener at CB Smith Reserve on a steamy Saturday.
Georgies coach Tony Ciantar was in two minds about the performance and result after the game.
“Disappointed to be honest – and delighted at the same time with the result, after going 2-0 down,” he said.
“My disappointment was with the first half – we just gave them too much respect in the middle of the park and got punished for it.
“I always knew we had it in us to come over the top. The fightback was incredible.”
The Zebras scored twice in seven minutes before the break through Josh McMonagle-Ihasz and Regsan Watkins.
“Their goals were well-struck goals, well deserved,” Ciantar said, attributing little blame to his goalkeeper Rob Santilli, who was solid in goal and damaging with his distribution from the back.
Sunshine came out with a positive mindset in the second half, immediately putting the home side on the back foot.
Adrian Logozzo, Brandon Scerri, Dom Falla were outstanding in the midfield, while Teddy Yabio presented an option up front.
“They all worked their socks off,” Ciantar said. “We had chance after chance in that second half.
“It was just a matter of when was that first goal going to come and how many were we going to put away.”
It was new recruit Adam Hodor who turned the game in Sunshine’s favour.
Brought in from top-tier side Avondale, Hodor impressed in pre-season trials. He carried that form into the season proper with a stand-out game on the wing.
“He’s one of the hardest-working wide players you’re ever going to see,” Ciantar said.
“He just showed over time [in pre-season], every time we put him on the park, time and time again he was causing problems.”
Hodor’s efforts were rewarded with a double on his Georgies debut.
He halved the deficit with a goal in the 81st minute, then produced a cracking equaliser five minutes later that sent the crowd into raptures.
Sunshine will play its first home game of the season against Moreland City on Saturday, at their spiritual home Chaplin Reserve.
The Georgies time at Chaplin Reserve was thought to be up at the end of last season due to a takeover of the venue.
But they came to an agreement with Brimbank council to continue playing games at the ground until construction begins on the site.
