Darwin Olympic coach Louis Buntin credits winger Louis Da Costa for 2-1 win over Casuarina

Darwin Olympic coach Louis Buntin has praised his team’s defensive efforts after bouncing back from an abysmal fortnight not long ago.

Darwin Olympic coach Louis Buntin has lauded his team’s defensive efforts and ability to come from behind following a thrilling 2-1 win over Casuarina.

It follows “bad results” last month where Olympic conceded 14 goals in two games against University Azzurri (6-4) and Hellenic Athletic (8-1).

But the Olympic defence featuring Adam Davies, Samual Kwana, Christos Dionysiou and Harry Brill have clicked back into gear in the last two games where they have recorded back-to-back wins and only conceded one goal.

“Our defensive ability was a lot better,” Buntin said about his side’s Round 10 triumph over the second-placed Casuarina.

“We were a lot more compact, following our man and just doing the basic things right again.

“And more importantly when it comes to when we concede a goal and going 1-nil down, we have that ability to score quickly again and then to go on to win the game.”

Louis Da Costa set up both goals to get his side over the line on Sunday. Picture: Daniel Abrantes Photography

He described his team’s third win of the season at Darwin Football Stadium as “a step in the right direction” for his young side which has up to three players older than the age of 24.

“I think the game changers really were the back four, also Louis Da Costa had a great second half,” he said.

“He set up both goals and he was the biggest influence in that second half, Louis Da Costa.”

It was Da Costa’s assist with five minutes to go in the game which led youngster Ponloue Yin to scoring the match winner in his first full 90 minute-game of the season as he continues to work back to full fitness after copping an ACL injury more than 12 months ago.

“I was pretty happy he got the winner in the end, it was the first time he has played the full 90 so it was kind of deserving of him,” he said.

“He played pretty well throughout the game and he managed to get a goal to win it for us so I was pretty happy with that.”

Darwin Olympic winger Billy Kathopoulis. Picture: Daniel Abrantes Photography

Before Yin’s matchwinner, it was winger Billy Kathopoulis who levelled the scoreline in the 65th minute to give Olympic a chance of coming away with an eventual victory which was their third win of the season.

At the midway point of the season, Olympic sit in fifth position on the table with a 3-1-4 record.

Buntin, who won premierships with the club before moving into coaching, said the future “is looking very bright” at Olympic with the young talent coming through.

“We have got very youthful players now and we should hopefully be back to our best soon,” he said.

“We got a lot of youthful talent especially through our juniors as well so it is looking really bright for us.

“We just need to keep the main players with us for the next couple of years and it is looking bright, we should be hopefully challenging for premierships.”

He said his side’s goal “has always been top four as a minimum” this season with a few players expected to boost the side as they return from injury while chemistry and understanding the system has also provided a spark.

In other MPL games, Hellenic defeated Port Darwin 4-1 and University Azzurri defeated Darwin Hearts 2-nil. Mindil Aces had the bye.