The home side came out firing, exerting pressure on a strong Wisla side from the outset. HU had numerous opportunities in the first half, including an open net, yet could not manage to score. The teams went into halftime scoreless.
Undaunted, Hellenic United came out strong in the second half and took the lead ten minutes in on a Nermin Dautovic header. HU pressed on looking for an insurance goal and repeatedly pinned Wisla deep in its own zone. Alen Smjecanin hit the woodwork with a shot while the score was still 1-0, squandering a golden opportunity to bag an insurance goal. Ironically, it was the visitors who scored next after a botched clearance by one of Hellenic United's midfielders led to a tying goal.
Not to be denied, Hellenic United once again took the lead a few minutes later when newly signed Zekail Gazafer sent a beautiful through ball from the left flank to a streaking Alen Smjecanin. Smjecanin's perfectly placed shot beat Wisla's onrushing keeper to the far post, making it 2-1.
Smjecanin had subsequent opportunities to make it 3-1, yet hit the post with one shot and missed an open net from a wide angle on another. Just as it appeared HU would secure its first home victory of the season, Wisla scored a very controversial goal three minutes into stoppage time to steal a point from the home side. An inswinging corner that appeared to have gone over the end line was headed back into play by Wisla's attacker to a teammate, who slotted it home for the 2-2 tie while most of HU's squad stood frozen waiting for the referee's whistle.
A visibly upset HU coach Andy Sotiropoulos commented after the match:
"I'm not sure if I've ever been involved in a more disappointing match in my 35+ years in soccer. This a game we should have won going away. We scored two goals, hit two posts, missed two open nets, and created a boatload of other opportunities, yet came away with only one point. Wisla had two shots on goal, and they both found the back of the net. And the worse part is, both Wisla's goals were a result of our errors. Absolute gifts.
It's very disappointing to concede a goal with a 2-1 lead seconds before the final whistle. I really don't care if my players thought the ref and his assistant missed the call on that play. Missed calls are part of the game. They happen. That doesn't mean you stop playing because you think the ref is going to whistle. That's inexcusable.
I take part of the blame, though. I wanted to make a substitution right before Wisla took that last corner, just to break their rhythm and give my guys a chance to get organized. Unfortunately, I couldn't get the substitute ready in time.
As far as the match is concerned, I was really pleased with the play of Ziggy (Gezafer) and Danilo (Acamovic). Ziggy gave us the energy and work rate we were looking for on the flank. Danilo gave us another dimension up top, a big target forward who could hold the ball.
I also have to mention our makeshift center back duo of Alen Malkoc and Firas Abraham. This is the fourth week in a row we've played with a different center back combination. It's very difficult to develop any continuity and communication in the back when it's a different set of four every week. Injuries have really taken a toll on us. We played without any of our four regular center backs today, so I had to pull Firas and Alen out of the midfield to play back, and they did a great job.
The only positive to be drawn out of all these injuries is that center back Yannie Moraitis had a chance to sit on the bench with me in his capacity as assistant coach. What a help he was. He pointed something out tactically in the second half, I made the necessary change, and it helped us dominate the last 45 minutes. Yannie is going to be a hell of a coach when he decides to hang up his boots.
I just hope to get healthy at some point in the season so I can put a full team out there. We have to put this one behind us and look forward to Gazelle. Congratulations to Wisla for playing to the end. They have a nice squad."
Game Lineup:
Barszczowski-Nanic, Mahmutovic, Abraham, Malkoc-Prses, Villanueva, Dautovic, Guzina-Litos, Smjecanin (Gezafer, Acamovic, Vranic)
1:0 Nermin Dautovic (Danilo Acamovic) 2:1 Alen Smjecanin (Zekail Gazafer)