SALE United opened its Latrobe Valley soccer season account with a 7-0 victory over Tyers at home.
Following a round one loss to Traralgon Olympians, Sunday’s win moved the Swans into sixth place on the ladder.
Tommy Nguyen scored four goals, while a Kristian Phillips brace followed his round one goal. Callum Clancy also scored a goal.
In the reserves, Sale is in third place after a 5-1 win.
The Sale women’s team, back after a year’s absence, lost 15-0 to the Lightning, which is aiming for a hat-trick of league championships.
After the Easter break, Sale United will host Trafalgar Victory on Sunday, April 3.
FORTUNA won a fiery clash against Traralgon Olympians 3-1.
Coach Luke Cheney sent the visitor 1-0 up in the first half before tempers took over and cards came out in abundance late in the match.
Evenly matched in the centre of the pitch, Fortuna was more piercing in the final third, with Cheney often the architect of forward thrusts.
A neat flick from the coach to Nick Waring led to the former Pegasus midfielder chipping the keeper to double the Orangemen’s lead early in the second half.
A Tony Pardo goal from a cross brought Olympians back into the match.
The Traralgon side continued to press for an equaliser, but found itself a man down when striker Alradi Ismail received a contentious straight red card for a high foot in the penalty area. He was not the only Olympian to be dismissed, with coach George Fkiaras ejected from the technical area because of his remonstrations.
Fortuna made the most of its numberical advantage when Cheney rifled in a late free kick to take the three points back to Crinigan Rd.
DEFENDING men’s champion Falcons, coming off a round one bye, lost its opening match to Churchill on Saturday night.
Falcons began the slower of the two sides but as the half wore on, the Birds lifted, hitting the crossbar three times. The home side took the lead on the stroke of half-time when Jesse Kennedy was felled in the box and duly converted the penalty.
Falcons looked in control until the 55th minute when coach Nick D’Alessandro was sent off after receiving a second yellow card.
Churchill equalised with 20 minutes to go when a cross from Ray Myers floated in to the top corner from the by-line.
With 10 minutes remaining, Falcons went down to nine men when young wing back Isaac Abas reacted angrily to some on field banter and received a straight red card.
Churchill nabbed the winner at the death with a free kick evading defenders to nestle in the bottom corner of the net.
