TWO goals in two minutes was enough for Cockburn City to salvage a 2-2 draw with Armadale in round 18 of the National Premier Leagues WA (NPL WA) season at Dalmatinac Park on Saturday.
Armadale stunned its opponents with two quick goals in the second half, but its lead was short-lived as Cockburn responded with two goals of their own just minutes later.
Cockburn coach Scott Miller said a draw was a fair result in the end but was disappointed his side could not find a winner.
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READ NOW“In the first half I thought the game was even and there weren’t many chances for either side,” he said.
“But in the second half they sucker-punched us with two goals and then I thought we took control of the game and dominated from thereon.”
Following a tight first half, the opening goal came nine minutes after the break when Ali Gholami curled a free kick around the wall and past Cockburn keeper Luke Radonich.
James Atkins doubled his side’s lead just two minutes later when he headed home a cross from Charlie Kenna.
The two-goal buffer was short-lived as Cockburn’s Gian Albano drilled a low shot past the keeper to peg the score back to 2-1.
Just a minute later, Julian Teles finished comfortably to draw his side level.
Armadale coach John O’Reilly thought his side should have won the game but was pleased with their attacking performance.
“We just switched off for two minutes and that’s what cost us two points in the end,” he said.
“I think for the last couple of weeks we have been really progressing with how we play as a unit, and that could be seen today with some really nice passages of play.”
In other round 18 matches, 10-man Floreat Athena beat ECU Joondalup 1-0 at ECU Joondalup Football Stadium, Subiaco upset Stirling Lions 1-0 at Rosalie Park, and league leaders Inglewood United disposed of Mandurah City 10-2 at Peelwood Reserve.
Bayswater City’s narrow 1-0 win over Sorrento has it knocking on the door of the top four, while Joondalup United beat Balcatta 2-0 at Percy Doyle Reserve and Perth SC took all three points with a 2-1 win against Perth Glory at Ashfield Arena.
NPL WA round 18 results
Cockburn City 2 (Albano 59min, Teles 60) Armadale 2 (Gholami 54min, Atkins 56)
Perth Glory 1 (Mustafa 51min) Perth SC 2 (Sabatini 23min, De Leo 33)
ECU Joondalup 0 Floreat Athena 1 (Stynes 37min)
Bayswater City 1 (Mitchinson 25min) Sorrento 0
Joondalup United 2 (Howles 29min, 88) Balcatta 0
Subiaco 1 (Diaz 63min) Stirling Lions 0
Mandurah City 2 (Francis 23min, 66) Inglewood United 10 (Salmon 7min, Brauner 16, 47, Hina 26, 56, 78, Dau 74, 83, 84, Barrera 90)
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