Mounties produced a stirring comeback on Tuesday night to force a 3-3 draw in the League Two Round 9 rescheduled fixture at Cook Park.

It was an action-packed start to the match as Mounties got off to the perfect start albeit, a little fortunate. Yuki Kanai let loose from range however his shot through a crowded Flame defence took a defection off Jacob Poscoliero and wrong footed Jordan Bruce.

Flame almost fired straight back just two minutes later. Sam Alston played a neat ball through to livewire Genki Iwata however Robert D’Angelo smothered the opportunity.

On six minutes, a Kanai on the edge of the box forced Bruce into a flying save.

Flame was back level on 11 minutes. Some nifty footwork from Matthew Mazevski on the right saw him turn his defender and swing a cross to the far post for Michael Trajkovski who did incredibly well to get a strong header that went back across goal and nestled into the corner.

It was a battle in midfield for the majority of the half and both sides were keen for maximum points.

On 34 minutes, Kanai pierced the Flame midfield and ran at the defence forcing another strong save from Bruce. It was a great bit of individual brilliance.

Just a minute later, Iwata intercepted a stray ball across the back line and was gifted an opportunity that he didn’t pass up putting Flame ahead as he tucked it past D’Angelo.

Mounties came out of the sheds from the break with more intent and greater possession as they looked get themselves back into the game.

Just two minutes after the restart, it was Kanai again who had a good chance from six yards out as he latched onto a loose ball however his shot skied over the cross bar.

On 54 minutes and perhaps slightly against the run of play, a Flame free kick was swung into the box. Mounties failed to clear their lines and James Baldacchino was on hand to dispatch it from five yards out and put Flame 3-1 ahead.

Kanai was the dangerman for the home side and all chances seemed to be going through him. He had another chance just a few minutes later however his shot went wide.

Flame showed a strong resolve defensively and were absorbing a lot of the Mounties pressure as the minutes ticked by.

As we ventured to the last ten minutes, there was greater purpose to Mounties’ raids as they rolled the dice and pushed players forward and continued to pepper the Flame box with crosses.

On 88 minutes, a cross was not dealt with by Flame and the ball bounced fortuitously to Eijin Kishimoto who bundled it over the line from close range.

All of a sudden, it was game on and Mounties continued their forward pressure pegging Flame deep in their own half.

With virtually the last kick of the game, another long ball deep into Flame box bounced to substitute Anthony Vastag who nodded home from two yards out and salvaged an unlikely draw for Mounties.

The points were shared in what was an important fixture for both sides and a draw didn’t really help either side although it perhaps on the balance of play, was a fair result.

Flame were guttered post-game and now need to pick themselves up as they take on their bogey team Granville Rage this Saturday.

Match Stats

The U20 was an equally entertaining and wild game.

Mounties opened the scoring through Mastafa Elbrizri on 11 minutes and then managed to double their lead just before the break through Vince Romeo.

Flame were defending the top of the table position and this was in jeopardy as things weren’t quite going to plan.

Just two minutes after the restart, a defensive error saw Flame punished again through Zachary Daffin.

It looked like it was going to be a disastrous evening until Willem Robaard popped up to tap in an easy opportunity on 57 minutes and give Flame some hope.

Just five minutes later, Chayden Vasquez went on a terrific run driving through the Mounties and let rip a shot that snuck inside the near post.

Incredibly, on 66 minutes, Robbard sealed the comeback with a neat strike to make it 3-3.

Flame had a couple of opportunities to get the go ahead goal but in the end had to settle for the draw.