South Melbourne FC scored a dramatic 98th minute free-kick to ensure they overcame a dogged Tahiti United on Match Day 2 of the OFC Pro League.
After the excitement of the opening day on Saturday, it was finally time for the sides from French Polynesia and Australia respectively to stake their claim.
South Melbourne FC especially were of interest, as the only non-OFC representative. The Oceania Club of the Century keen to make their presence felt.
Certainly making his presence felt was South Melbourne’s Max Mikkola, whose impressive long throws were the highlight of a quiet opening period and of some concern to the Tahiti United backline.
The Australians were in charge for most of the opening period but despite their dominance, it was Tahiti United who opened the scoring and in spectacular fashion.
Manuarii Shan stood over a free-kick almost 30 yards from goal and his whipped left-footed effort was too much for goalkeeper Ilia Shalamanov-Trenkova, as the ball nestled in the corner.
Whatever head coach Sinisa Cohadzic said to his charges during the break certainly worked, as South Melbourne came out of the blocks at full tilt for the second-half.
Less than two minutes were on the clock when they found a deserved equaliser. Japanese forward Yuki Uchida taking advantage of Tahiti United’s inability to clear from a corner, firing low past a thicket of bodies and past Jackson Gardner.
Gardner unfortunately wouldn’t last the distance, the ‘keeper suffering an injury that saw him replaced by Teave Teamotuaitau. Head coach Samuel Garcia will be hoping it’s not a long-term absence for his no.1 stopper.
Both sides threatened to take the lead, but chances were limited as a draw appeared inevitable.
Due to a number of injuries, ten additional minutes were signalled by referee Calvin Berg and it was in the eighth of these that South Melbourne found the winner.
Substitute Andrew Mesourouni was given the chance from a free-kick just outside the box and he matched Shan’s earlier effort, curling the ball up and over the wall and past Teamotuaitau to clinch a dramatic victory for Hellas.
Tahiti United: 1 (Manuarii SHAN 36′)
South Melbourne FC: 2 (Yuki UCHIDA 47′, Andrew MESOUROUNI 90+8′)
HT: 1-0