Recap

Hume went into this game looking to get back on track after its most shocking loss of the season to relegation-battlers Ashburton. It came up against tougher opposition this time as it faced fourth placed Balwyn, who is fresh off its win over fellow top-four challengers Brunswick.

The first half started off faster than Usain Bolt in the 200 meter Olympic final, with Hume’s Ubeyde Cicek opening the scoring 18 seconds into the game. Balwyn equalised barely a minute later, setting the tone for what was to be a thoroughly pulsating game. The rest of the half was filled with chances for both teams to take the lead, but both goalkeepers were at the top of their games, ensuring the nets behind them would not be required for the remainder of the half.

Balwyn came into the second half looking the more menacing of the two teams, and its effort was rewarded when it took the lead a quarter of the way into the half. A timely time-out call and subsequent team-talk by Hume’s manager seemed to rejuvenate Hume’s players, as they found an equaliser not long after, once again through Cicek. The game seemed destined to be headed for a penalty shoot-out, not a great omen for Hume after its loss on penalties under 48 hours earlier, when Hume found an opening. Man of the match Cicek was apparently in no mood to take a penalty, as he broke free of Balwyn’s defence and completed his hat-trick with less than two minutes on the clock. Hume scored a fourth when Moe Matar lobbed the ball into an empty net to secure the three points for his side.

Man of the match: Ubeyde Cicek