SOCCER

STATE LEAGUE

By ALLAN ROBERTS

 

ROUND 2 of the 2026 Veto Men’s State League Season saw Fortuna ’60 play its first home game against the Yarraville Jets.

The Jets were keen to drop some bombs and cause an upset on the Lions’ home turf.

With one change to the starting 11, Caleb Deluca’s return home from a season in State 1 with Gippsland United was welcomed by the home crowd, with the young defender putting in a serviceable performance.

The Jets were confident after taking the three points in the reserves match against a competitive Fortuna squad, but the Jets crashed and burned at the end of the 90 minutes of senior football, meaning Fortuna continued its unbeaten league streak.

The Lions ran out 4-3 winners on the back of a Rory Wagner hat-trick. The Jets were left contemplating what could have been after gaining an early 3-1 lead in the game.

The game kicked off in beautiful autumn conditions at The Den, with the Lions looking primed early. It did not take long for the visiting Jets to rattle the home side, with a goal around seven minutes into the game. Next minute, Wagner put away his first for the day to level the scores.

The Jets scored another goal not long after to take a 2-1 lead, then at around the 22 minute mark, fired another rocket of a goal past Fortuna’s keeper.

Wagner calmly slotted home a penalty spot kick in the 30th minute after Damon Scott was bought down in the box, giving the home-side some hope.

Fortuna was 3-2 down at the halftime break with plenty of work to do to get back into the game and keep the streak alive for another round.

To both teams’ credit, the second half started intensely, with both sides trying to assert physical and scoreboard dominance.

The visiting Jets pushed hard, creating several chances, but it was the home team that converted their opportunities.

Wagner got his head onto a delightful corner ball from Nonda Lazaris and nodded it into the Jets’ goal to square up the scores three a piece with five minutes left on the clock, securing his first hat-trick for his new club.

With the final whistle pending, up stepped Robbie Stephen. Big Bob found himself at the pointy end of the park and fired a shot on goal that deflected off the outstretched leg of a Jets defender to give the home team a 4-3 advantage.

The home crowd was now in full voice and screaming for the final whistle, which duly blew and extended Fortuna’s unbeaten streak to 20 games in the league competition.

Fortuna coaches, Ash Ross and Robbie Stephen had the following to say about the game:

“Great team win and belief to fight back from an early 3-1 deficit.”

“Really impressed with the boy’s attitude and desire to not let the home crowd down and secure the three points for our first home game.

“Nonda (was) strong again and pleasing to see (Jordan) Campbell get some minutes in his legs. The young brigade of players are developing well.”

Earlier in the day, the Fortuna reserves were on the end of a tight 2-1 loss, but there was plenty of positives to take out of the game.