Back on the winners’ list, Green Gully host Altona Magic on Friday night know a win could lift the Cavaliers into the top six.
Gully confidently dispatched the Melbourne Knights 4-1 on Friday, snapping a two-game goal drought and a four-game winless streak in emphatic fashion.
The visitors opened the scoring from a set piece scramble as Jalil Regague tucked in his first league goal for the club, before Josh Hope added a second on the stroke of halftime with a sumptuous curling effort from the edge of the box.
Gianluca Iannucci’s third, however, stole the spotlight. As a clearance from a Gully corner fell out of the night sky with snow on it, Iannucci caught the dropping ball flush on the volley from the top-right corner of the penalty area, sending a spectacular looping shot back over the head of the backpedalling Knights goalkeeper and into the far corner. With an acrobatic celebration to match, the special strike will surely feature among the goal of the season contenders.
Josh Hope completed his brace from close range after a superb Gully breakaway and a pinpoint low cross from Declan Wynne, before Ciaran Bramwell netted a late consolation for the Knights from the penalty spot.
Friday’s opponents, Altona Magic, are still firmly locked in a relegation battle after losing 2-1 away to Dandenong City in Round 19. A first-half brace for Hajduk’s Tim Atherinos proved decisive, despite Saad Moukachar pulling a goal back through a bizarre deflected free kick in the shadows of halftime. The ball appeared to take a strange bobble off the turf on its way in, leaving goalkeeper Pierce Clark rooted to the spot.
Clark soon redeemed himself after the break, denying Bilal Habib from the penalty spot in the 48th minute – the first of a string of saves to keep Altona at bay. Magic will be left rueing their missed opportunities after registering five shots on target in the second half for no reward.
Altona will be without head coach Goran Lozanovski on the touchline on Friday, after he received two yellow cards for dissent in the space of 30 seconds.
The visitors have struggled for goals all season, scoring just 16 in 19 games. Journeyman striker Anthony Frangie is the team’s top scorer with four, followed by Habib on three.
However, Altona boast one of the competition’s sturdiest defences, keeping six clean sheets this season and conceding 29, 10 of which came in heavy away defeats to Dandenong Thunder and Avondale. Three of their six draws have ended scoreless, including in their last meeting with Gully in Round 7.
Gully has faced Altona 11 times since their return to the top flight in 2019, winning seven and drawing once. The Magic did win on their last visit to Keilor Downs, however – a 4-2 victory in March last year.
Gully’s Scott Lochhead will return from suspension after picking up his fifth yellow card of the campaign against Dandenong City in Round 18. Plus, with the transfer window opening this week, keep an eye out on our socials for any new additions!
Kickoff on Friday is set for 7:30pm, with the Gully Bistro open for your pre-game meal. Get behind the Gully boys as they step up the chase for a spot in the finals!
