La Fiamma go two in a row with comfortable win over Sutherlands Park FC

Ugle Fabrications La Fiamma are right back in the hunt for promotion following a comfortable 3-0 victory over Sutherlands Park on Saturday night.

It was expected to be a physical clash at Salvatore Sciuto Stadium and it was a fast start from both teams as the ball went end to end both teams keen to play the ball on quickly to catch each other in transition.

Both sides had to make changes inside the first 15 minutes with Sutherlands losing a defender early before the Reds lost Wiehan De Bruyn after going down in a challenge and was forced to limp off with a knee injury.

Following the opening salvos, La Fiamma found themselves in the ascendancy as they had the Spartans under siege beginning with a cross that went just over the head of Al Mupotaringa before captain Lachlan Gray rattled the crossbar minutes later.

It looked like a Reds breakthrough was coming at any moment but the Sutherlands goalkeeper was standing firm including two back-to-back acrobatic saves which drew the “oohs” from the Reds faithful that had gathered.

But eventually, the Reds found a way past as a low cross into the box went through everyone including the goalkeeper to land at the feet of Luke Hancocks who tapped home to break the deadlock.

They kept the pressure on throughout as Mupotaringa fired off his long-range effort, forcing another excellent save from the Spartan goalie who just managed to top it over the bar.

Hancocks then almost doubled the advantage after an attempted cross curled inwards and rebounded off the inside post to be punched away by the goalkeeper.

The Reds were extremely unlucky not to be up by more and they were almost dealt a cruel blow just before halftime when a Spartan free kick on the edge of the box almost found the top corner, but just rebounded off the bar to be scrambled away by keeper Harry Mccann.

They took a 1-nil lead into half-time which belied just how dominant they were for that first half.

Mupotaringa finally got the reward for hard running all night with a second-half double.

The first came after he picked off a poor pass in the back and drilled a low effort to beat the keeper at his near post from just outside the box to spark wild celebrations.

The second was more fortunate as the keeper did not clear a cross and allowed the ball to bounce up to Mupotaringa who headed it home.

They now sit just three points out of second place as for the second week in a row other results went their way to set up a huge crunch clash against Baldivis SC this Sunday at 3pm.

The reserves also got the win with a 2-1 victory before the league match.

With just minutes to go Sutherlands scored late to set up a nervy finish but the Reds held on to ensure La Fiamma got the double triumph for the second week in a row.