By Dejan Kalinic
FORMER Socceroos captain Kevin Muscat made his comeback for Sunshine George Cross, but not even a goal from the veteran could help it avoid a dramatic 3-1 loss against Altona Magic in State League One on Sunday.
The 51-time Australia international struck a first-half penalty at Chaplin Reserve in his first appearance for the Georgies since the 1989/90 National Soccer League season.
But Magic, who has not lost to George Cross since 1999, left with three points, thanks to a brace from midfielder Rinor Muriqi and a Milos Lujic goal. And this was despite being reduced to 10 men, when defender Sime Kovacevic was sent off with a quarter of an hour to play.
Muscat, who turned 38 on Sunday, said he had pulled up sore, but was delighted to have given something back to the club.
“It was good. I’m in a little bit of pain. It’s nice to come back, the whole idea was to give something back to the club where I started my career,” Muscat told Star.
“I’m grateful that they offered me the opportunity and very happy – obviously disappointed we didn’t get the right result, but that’s life.”
Muscat’s last competitive appearance had been for Melbourne Victory in its Asian Champions League clash against Japanese side Gamba Osaka on 4 May.
Magic striker Lujic had put the visitors ahead on 13 minutes, when he hammered a low shot past goalkeeper Antony Loncaric after a lovely long pass from Benjamin Vahid.
When Georgies defender Barry Devlin won a penalty five minutes before the interval, Muscat, renowned for his ability to convert from the spot, was called up to take it, much to the delight of a home crowd.
“When it was given, I just thought I’d let the normal taker take it,” Muscat, who was deployed in a holding midfield role, said.
“But I saw the boys look in my direction so I thought I’d take the responsibility and fortunately enough it went in.”
After the teams resumed the second half on level terms, it looked as though the script had been written on 75 minutes when forward Reginald Davani appeared to win another penalty that resulted in Kovacevic’s dismissal for denying a clear goal-scoring opportunity.
But a free kick was awarded on the edge of the area and Muscat’s curling set piece skimmed the post.
The impressive Muriqi gave Magic the points with a late double, first capitalising on a rebound before his free kick from the right evaded everyone and found the net.
Muscat, an assistant coach at Melbourne Victory, is unsure whether he will make another appearance due to his work commitments ahead of the start of the A-League season in October.
“If I can play another game, I’d love to, but we’ll have to wait and see,” he said.
Sunshine George Cross football operations manager Jason Xerri said Magic, who moved into fourth, was a warranted victor.
“Obviously, it’s not a great result, especially on this occasion,” he said.
“Full credit to Altona Magic, they deserved to win, I thought. It was obviously disappointing after coming off two wins in a row.”
