Men’s Match Report: Royals fall to third straight defeat in heartbreaking loss to Eagles

Essendon Royals’ senior men have fallen to their third consecutive defeat in the league, after surrendering a late advantage in a 3-2 loss to Boroondara-Carey Eagles at Wilcox Field.

Royals battled back from a goal down to take the lead after Jordan Adeyemi and Ethan Georgopoulos found the net either side of half-time, before the Eagles scored twice late in the game to come away with the win.

After an undefeated start in their opening seven games, Royals have been on the end of consecutive defeats against Brunswick Juventus, Altona City and now, Boroondara-Carey, leaving them in sixth spot on the ladder and seven points behind league leaders North Sunshine Eagles.

Michael Ferrante named a relatively unchanged starting lineup from the side that lost to Altona a week before, but within minutes Royals found themselves behind.

Royals failed to clear their lines from an Eagles free-kick which fell into the path of Lachlan Nichols who opened the scoring for the home side.

Essendon found their way back into the contest after they won a penalty following a challenge on Georgopoulos which saw him brought down inside the penalty area.

Adeyemi stepped up and buried the penalty to score his fifth goal in the league this season.

Georgopoulos continued to cause havoc and had his free kick cleared off the line in the 28th minute.

After half-time, Royals made the most of their dominance and took the lead after a brilliant bit of work from Adeyemi teed up Georgopoulos to give Essendon the lead.

Essendon came close twice to doubling their lead, with Adeyemi first having a great chance saved before Dean Clarke’s long range free kick was parried into the path of Georgopoulos, who just put his effort wide.

Despite the number of chances that fell Essendon their way, they soon after found themselves on level pegging again when Yudai Kumasaka did brilliantly to cut inside and fire an effort home at Andre Russo’s near post.

Shortly after, Boroondara took the lead as a corner was whipped in to Nichols whose header ricocheted off the post and fell into the path of Josh Stadnicki to bury from close range.

Essendon are back in action in the Dockerty Cup this Tuesday when they face Bentleigh Greens at Cross Keys Reserve.