SOCCER

STATE LEAGUE

By ALLAN ROBERTS

 

ROUND 3 of the 2026 Veto Men’s State League saw Fortuna ’60 play its second home game of the season against Templestowe Wolves.

The Wolves sat one place below the Lions on the table and were keen to tear the Lions’ 20-plus game winning streak to shreds.

With one change to the starting 11, Jordan Campbell returned to the line-up after last weekend’s solid cameo off the bench for Fortuna.

Fortuna was on a high after taking the three points in the reserves match against a competitive Templestowe squad.

The Wolves were the dominant species at the end of 90 minutes of senior football, handing Fortuna its first loss in 23 games of league football.

The visiting Wolves ran out 3-1 winners after a spirited performance.

The home side was left to contemplate what could have been in a game that they controlled for the majority of the day.

The game kicked off in what could only be described as horrid conditions – strong winds and sideways rain was going to be a challenge for both teams. Fortuna looked pumped up in front of another decent home crowd given the average weather conditions.

Three minutes in, the Wolves let the air out Fortuna’s tyres, scoring on their first forward foray.

The Wolves’ keeper pumped a ball from the edge of the 18-yard box with a stiff breeze behind it, which travelled well into the Wolves’ half where it was picked up by a Wolves forward who put a shot on goal after catching Fortuna’s full back out of position.

Fortuna’s keeper got a hand on the shot, but he was not able to control it and the ball spilt in front of Simopoulos from Templestowe, who duly slotted the ball home to give the visitors a 1-nil lead.

Both sides started to go at it ‘hammer and tong’, with the home side creating numerous opportunities but failing to convert on the scoreboard.

In the 31st minute, Fortuna midfielder Nonda Lazaris broke through the middle of the park and laid a ball off to Damon Scott, who took on and beat the last man, only to spray his shot wide to the left – a goal he would score on any other given week.

Two minutes later, Fortuna would benefit from an interesting handball call in the box after a corner kick, the result being that Rory Wagner stepped up and slotted home the spot kick to level the scores 1-all.

The rest of the half played out with half-chances from both sides, but no change to the scoreboard.

Scores were tied at 1-all at the halftime break, both teams ruing not being able to convert their opportunities. Fortuna headed into the sheds facing an uphill battle to keep the streak alive for another week.

The second half kicked-off, and the home side came out breathing fire in the inclement conditions as they tried to assert themselves on their home track.

Fortuna created multiple chances early in the second half, with the best being a strike from Lazaris in the fourth minute that was well saved by the Templestowe keeper.

The Wolves however ripped the throat out of the Lions in the 52nd minute of the game.

The Wolves, with two unmarked and free players, fired a shot at goal from 35 yards out that was parried down by Fortuna’s keeper, only for the loose ball to be again picked off and put into the back of the goal by the Wolves to extend their lead to 2-1.

Fortuna tried to lift in front of its loyal home crowd, but with 20 minutes to go they looked a defeated team on the park and were offering little resistance or creativity for the remaining minutes of the game.

The Wolves banged another nail in the Fortuna coffin – converting a penalty spot kick two minutes into injury time to give them a 3-1 lead.

After some shenanigans prior to the restart from the goal, several yellow cards were dished out by the match referee and also a red to Fortuna’s Jordan Campbell, who got his marching orders with only minutes left.

With the final whistle blowing, Templestowe took the three points and also become a State League Football trivia answer – being who was the first team to beat Fortuna 60 on State League competition games?

Fortuna coaches, Ash Ross and Robbie Stephen, were left mulling over what could have been.

“Wet and windy conditions made it a difficult game to judge the flight of the ball,” they said.

“Found ourselves 1-nil in a matter of minutes from a long kick into the wind and we still hadn’t adjusted.

“Fought back from an early 1-nil deficit to level the scores and started to take control of the game but couldn’t capitalise on our chances created and went into the break 1-1.

“Came out in the second half creating numerous chances, but couldn’t seem to find the back of the net. Was just one of those days where we couldn’t buy a goal.”

The seniors will be hoping to regroup this Saturday as they hit the road to face off against the Sandown Lions – King of the State League Jungle edition!

Earlier in the day, the Fortuna reserves won 4-1.

Fortuna will be hoping to see this team hit its stride in coming weeks now that player numbers have settled.