NJL Match Report: Arigato Usui as the Royals bank three crucial points against Brimbank
The Essendon Royals were saying “arigato” to Japanese forward Nobu Usui, after the pacey frontman’s diving header secured an incredible 2-1 win over Brimbank Stallions.
The unbelievable come-from-behind win came in treacherous conditions at Club Italia on Saturday, with Will Abbott scoring the equaliser to cancel out the opener from Brimbank after 25 minutes..
The Royals have struggled at Club Italia on recent visits, and when they turned up today to find strong winds accompanying the usually difficult pitch, there was no denying the match would be a battle.
Battling against the wind in the first half, the Stallions utilised their long throws and set pieces to pin the Royals into their half.
Despite their efforts, the Royals posed the bigger goal threat in the opening 20 minutes, with Usui, Matteo Ballan and Abbott all having chances.
In the end, the Stallions took the lead when the Royals defence gifted them an open net, as Ballan’s backpass to German Schacht fell victim to the uneven pitch and windy conditions forcing an unfortunate miskick that opened the door for Adamson Ajayi to score after 25 minutes.
The Royals struggled to recover from going a goal down, creating just one chance for the remainder of the half via a great run from Usui, whose cross had just too much on it for Luca Simeoni.
Luca Santilli was at the back post but couldn’t beat the keeper.
The second half was a different story.
With the wind at the backs, the Royals pinned the Brimbank defence in its own half from kick-off.
The Stallions had to defend several set-pieces early on but weathered the storm, successfully frustrating the Royals for much of the second half.
However, the equaliser was eventually delivered by Graham Kelly, who teed up Abbott at the far post with an inch-perfect corner that the defender smashed home with his head in the 72nd minute.
With their tails up, the Royals looked like the only likely winners and their hunger and determination to chase every lost cause paid dividends in the 83rd minute, when Kelly robbed a Stallions defender who had been trying to see the ball out of play.
Having won the ball back, he smartly played it back to Santilli, who put in a beautiful ball to find the diving header of Usui to score a spectacular winner.
The Royals easily saw out the rest of the game, securing a valuable three points that will see Essendon finish Round 18 of the competition in second place, clear of third place by three points and a superior goal difference.
In the earlier kick-off, the top-of-the-table Royals Reserves were handed a 2-0 defeat by the Stallions.
Thankfully for the young Royals, second-placed Corio also suffered a defeat this week, meaning the Royals remain top despite the hiccup.