Disappointing season start

Dandenong City's Shaun Filipovic negotiates his way past an Eastern Lions' defender. 134860 Picture: ROB CAREW

By JARROD POTTER

NPL – Round 1

IT WAS not the start to the season Dandenong City would have dreamed about as Eastern Lions claimed the win in a 2-3 nail biter.
The Lions roared into life first as Tommy Falconer opened his season tally in the 25th minute – finding holes in the defence before slotting it past Dandenong City’s newly recruited goalkeeper Damir Salcin.
The visitors would boost the margin through Phil Ajao – who would double his tally late in the match to take the victory from a dogged City.
David Dilorio – fresh to the club – combined well with Keegan Ziada at the front to create havoc for the Lions’ back four.
Dilorio struck his first for City to keep the margin within a goal before Ricardo Gonzalez stepped off the bench to thread the other goal for the Endeavour Hills-based soccer club.
Dandenong City’s next NPL1 clash will be against Melbourne Victory’s youth team on 7 March at home.
In other NPL Round 1 fixtures this week, Dandenong Thunder will face Werribee City on Sunday evening.
Round 2 in the NPL kicks off with Dandenong Thunder hosting Bentleigh Greens on Saturday night from 7pm, while Springvale White Eagles will kick off their season with an away clash against Murray United.