MICHAEL Kapiris saved Melton from a home-ground humbling on Saturday, his late equaliser salvaging a 2-2 draw against Brimbank Stallions.
The draw was a missed opportunity for the Phoenix to climb the FFV provisional league 3 north-west table, remaining fifth and still six points off promotion pace.
Brimbank’s players were jubilant after scoring a late goal for a 2-1 lead, only for Kapiris to equalise after he connected with Carlos Velasquez’s cross.
Chris Briggs drew Melton level early in the half with a solo goal that cancelled out Brimbank’s opener, the only goal in the first half.
Click on the image below for our gallery of the big game.
“[at 1-1], I thought the second goal was only a matter of time,” Melton coach Danny Gnjidic said. “But [Brimbank] got back into the game and got a goal against the run of play.
“We had another half chance in the last minute, but that was it. Brimbank were good opposition but it was an opportunity lost.”
Melbourne Tornado’s shock 4-2 loss against Balmoral meant a Phoenix win would have moved them up to fourth. Instead the Phoenix have 24 points, behind Tornado on 25, while Heidelberg Stars has 30 points for second place.
“We’ve got some tough games coming up. They’re meant to be winnable and we have to go into the last four games of the season with something to play for,” Gnjidic said.
Go to meltonweekly.com.au for more photos
