SORRENTO remains unbeaten after five rounds of the National Premier Leagues WA (NPL WA) after snatching a point in the 96th minute against Bayswater in a 4-4 thriller at Percy Doyle Reserve on Saturday.
Sorrento opened the scoring with an early goal from Sean Canham; Scott Bulloch beat his man out wide and Canham latched on to the cross, putting the home side ahead in the 19th minute.
Sorrento doubled its lead just before half time when Jack Salter beat his man after a precise through-ball and fired his shot into the bottom corner.
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READ NOWBayswater started the brighter of the two teams in the second half, with BorBor Sam getting a goal back for his side after a quick counter attack.
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Sorrento soon restored its two goal buffer with Reece Vittiglia placing the ball into the corner of goal after a good piece of attacking play.
Nine minutes later Bayswater began its comeback; after a routine corner hit into the box Jason Mirco managed to get to the ball first and bundle it over the line.
Things got worse for Sorrento with Ryan Pearson receiving his second yellow card for a raised elbow when challenging for the ball.
Bayswater then pegged another goal back after a handball in the box by Jordan Brown; Gustavo Giron Marulanda made no mistake from the spot to score Bayswater’s third goal of the game.
With only minutes of injury time remaining, Luka Ninkovic finished the comeback for Bayswater, scoring in the 93rd minute to give them the lead.
His goal celebration unfortunately ended with him receiving a second yellow and being sent off.
Down to 10 men and with only seconds remaining, Bayswater gave away a penalty with Brent Griffiths receiving his second yellow card in the aftermath.
Bulloch stepped up to score Sorrento’s fourth goal and snatch a point for his side with the last kick of the game.
Despite his side throwing away a two goal lead, Sorrento coach Jamie Harnwell was happy with his team’s late effort.
“I don’t think we deserved to lose the game, we were in control for most of it,” he said.
“The character the team showed going down 4-3 and coming back to draw, not many other teams can do that.”
In other round 5 matches, Inglewood United and Mandurah City shared the points after a 2-2 draw at Inglewood Stadium, while Perth SC and Floreat Athena took advantage of Sorrento’s draw to move into a shared spot atop the league.
Perth came from a goal down to dispose of Perth Glory 2-1 at Dorrien Gardens, while later that evening Floreat left it late against ECU Joondalup to win 1-0 at E&D Litis Stadium.
Joondalup United continued its solid run with a 3-1 away win against Balcatta, a five goal first half gave Cockburn City a 3-2 win over Armadale at Alfred Skeet Reserve and Subiaco grabbed its first win of the season with a 3-1 result over Stirling Lions at Macedonia Park.
NPL WA results round 5 Saturday, March 18
Armadale 2 (White 15min, Tumoe 24) Cockburn City 3 (Grant 20min, Albano 38 Pen, Lazzaro 43)
Perth SC 2 (Catarcione 52min, 61) Perth Glory 1 (Knowles 4min)
Balcatta 1 (Zaw 73min) Joondalup United 3 (Wild 21min, Howles 68, Marsden 78)
Stirling Lions 1 (Rubidge 38min) Subiaco 3 (Candish 57min, Lawson 61, Feely 87)
Sorrento 4 (Canham 19min, Salter 42, Vittiglia 61, Bulloch 90+6) Bayswater City 4 (Sam 57min, Micro 72, Marulanda 82, Ninkovic 90+3)
Inglewood United 2 (Woodall 60min, 90) Mandurah City 2 (Thompson 42min pen, Bright 66)
Floreat Athena 1 (Stynes 87min) ECU Joondalup 0