NJL Match Report: Essendon Royals undone by Keilor Park fightback
The Essendon Royals could not make a 2-0 lead stick as they fell to a late Keilor Park comeback in a 2-2 draw at Cross Keys Reserve on Friday night.
Despite seemingly cruising to three points, Keilor showed tremendous spirit to score from two set-pieces in the final 15 minutes to level the scores.
The Royals really should have been well and truly out of sight before Keilor scored its first, however, with only the two goals in the bank courtesy of Mario Piraino and Ryan McEvoy, the 2-0 lead was not enough for the home side.
The game opened to a strong battle in midfield, with neither side getting much joy in the final third.
From the early exchanges, set pieces always looked like the most fruitful route to goal. McEvoy almost teed up the game’s first goal from a corner when his curling delivery just evaded the head of Kristian Konstantinidis after nine minutes.
The Royals took the lead five minutes later when another wicked McEvoy ball was knocked back across goal at the far post, where Piraino was waiting to head home his first goal of the campaign.
German Schacht had to be sharp at the other end to save at a Keilor Park set-piece.
The Royals perhaps should have gone 2-0 up in the 23rd minute when the returning Graham Kelly was found at the back post, but he just couldn’t keep his header down.
Davey Van’t Schip almost teed up Luca Santilli at the far post after some more good play in the 28th minute, but the ball just evaded the onrushing winger.
Perhaps the best chance of the half came after 31 minutes when a beautifully timed McEvoy run was found with a quality ball.
McEvoy was clean through in the box, but decided to try and squad to Van’t Schip instead of taking it on himself giving Keilor a chance to clear their lines.
Keilor finished the half with a flurry of half-chances, but failed to significantly test Schacht, ensuring the Royals took the lead into the break.
The second half got off to a roaring start for the Royals with McEvoy putting Essendon 2-0 up within five minutes.
The Irish midfielder struck cleanly home from just outside the box after Keilor failed to clear its lines.
The home side looked comfortable for much of the half, but failed to make much in the final third. The best chances falling to Van’t Schip, Kelly and Usui having the clearest sights on goal but failing to force saves from the keeper.
The missed chances came back to haunt the Royals as Keilor found the net via Michele-Emanuele Crazia from a corner.
With the deficit reduced to one, the visitors piled the pressure on the Royals.
Still, Essendon had chances on the break with Keilor desperately throwing numbers forward, but despite two more quality chances – first to Kelly and then to Van’t Schip – the Royals could not find a way past the Keilor keeper, who made two critical saves in quick succession in the 89th minute.
With almost the last play of the day, Keilor equalized from another corner via Christopher Coleman in the fourth minute of stoppage time..
The Royals Reserves won the earlier kick-off defeating Keilor Park 2-0.
The goals came in both halves. The first in the 15th minute via Marcus Medina and the second via Luke Croce in the 80th minute.