Free-kick controversy overshadows Hume City’s comeback win over Dandenong Thunder

Hume City rallied from a goal down to start the NPL Victoria season with a win, sealed with a goal that even the winning coach questioned.

Hume City celebrates a goal against Dandenong Thunder.

The NPL Victoria season didn’t waste any time producing late-game drama.

Hume City’s come-from-behind win over Dandenong Thunder at George Andrews Reserve on Saturday, delivered the year’s first big controversy.

In the 93rd minute of the match, City was awarded a contentious indirect free kick inside the penalty area after Thunder defender Jay Romanovski’s miscued clearance attempt was picked up keeper Pierce Clark.

Referee Daniel Ilievski deemed it a back-pass, awarding the kick just to the left of the penalty spot.

Hume’s boom recruit Lloyd Isgrove then stepped up to smash the ball through a sea of red and black shirts and secure a stunning 2-1 victory.

Hume coach Cam Watson said it was an unfortunate way to decide the game.

“I would have been unhappy if that got called against us, to be honest,” Watson said.

“I don’t think the boy meant to play it back to the keeper, I just looked away and didn’t think anything of it and then the ref blew for the indirect free kick.

“Definitely controversial, I wouldn’t have been happy to be on the other end of it, especially so late in the game but it is what it is.

“Issy still had a bit to do and with the quality he has he managed to put it in the one spot I thought was impossible.”

After Isgrove scores, almost the entire Hume City bench sprints from the other side of the field to celebrate.

Watson said it was great to see the jubilation from the squad.

“I was celebrating the goal and then I realised the whole bench was on the other side of the field,” he said.

“When it’s that late in a game, emotions are running high, and people do whatever they think is right at the time.

“I was surprised there were no bookings because it took them a while to come back over but it was great to see, the joy and excitement of scoring late, and grabbing three points.”

Ironically it was a back-pass that helped Dandenong Thunder take the lead in the 25th minute.

Fletcher McFarlane left his pass to Jacson Riley short and Thunder recruit Wade Dekker pounced on the loose ball, rounding the keeper before slotting home.

However, Hume was back level just minutes after the half-time break.

A perfect one-time pass from Josh Gulevski put City debutant Aamir Abdullah in behind and he calmly rolled it past Clark.

The match then looked to be heading for a stalemate before the controversial call and Isgrove’s maiden NPL goal.

“I thought we deserved the win, that’s NPL or football in a nut shell, it doesn’t always go your way and a quality strike from Issy got us the points,” Watson said.

“We started the second half really strong, which is a credit to the boys not putting their heads down, and especially Fletcher McFarlane. It’s a collective but he had the nerve to put his hand up for the goal.

“Everyone was exceptional, obviously Issy grabs the plaudits for his goal at the end.

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“The back four was very solid and the midfield was very good, they obviously got tired and the players that came on – Oskar Karlsson has only been in the country for four or five days – they were all good.

“Mickel (Platt) came off the bench, coming back from a little hammy, and had a good presence.

“I didn’t expect (Josh) Bingham to get through 90 (minutes) and he did and Aamir with the first goal, he came into the game nicely.”

After South Melbourne defeated Melbourne Knights in the season opener, there were also wins for reigning premier Avondale, Green Gully, Oakleigh and Heidelberg United, while Port Melbourne and St Albans drew.