Bulla Recap: United fall in Game 2, remain one win away from Grand Final

With a spot in the Grand Final up for grabs, Melbourne United was unable to put the South East Melbourne Phoenix away on Sunday afternoon and it will now all come down to Game 3 on Tuesday night.

After leading at every break, United faltered late as Mitch Creek took over the game and led the Phoenix home.

United’s offence was run through Chris Goulding in the early stages of the opening quarter as the superstar guard was on fire to start the game, scoring in a variety of ways.

He scored in the paint, from beyond the arc and the free throw line to have nine points in just over three minutes of game time, leading United to an eight-point advantage, 11-3.

Keifer Sykes helped the Phoenix get back into the game, while two fouls for Jock Landale saw him have to sit halfway through the first quarter. South East Melbourne took advantage and when Yannick Wetzell scored with three and a half minutes left in the term, Phoenix had a three-point lead, 17-14.

The final minutes of the term belonged to Scotty Hopson as he took control of United’s offence, scoring eight points in the final two minutes to see United take a two-point lead, 28-26, into the first break.

Both teams traded baskets in the opening minutes of the second term, but the big moment of the quarter was when Landale picked up his third foul after four minutes of play.

Free throws by Shea Ili, Hopson and Jo Lual-Acuil Jr. kept the scoreboard ticking over for Melbourne and when Mitch McCarron dished a perfect pass to Lual-Acuil Jr. for a dunk, United’s lead stood at seven points, 44-37, with just under four minutes to play in the first half.

The Phoenix, led by Wetzell and Creek wouldn’t go away and closed the half strongly to see Melbourne hold a four-point lead, 50-46, at the main break.

Goulding and Hopson (12 points each) led the way for United, while Creek (14 points) and Wetzell (12 points and 5 rebounds) were impressive for the Phoenix.

With many fouls called throughout the first half, that trend continued in the second half as both teams had players in foul trouble.

A tough take to the bucket saw Goulding score a lay-up through contact, before Mason Peatling made two big plays within a minute by scoring a triple and then winning the ball back for his team with a great hustle play and dish to Landale for a power dunk and his first points of the afternoon.

Halfway through the term, Melbourne held a seven-point lead, 61-54. Things quickly changed though as Sykes caught fire for South East Melbourne and led the Phoenix back with a 7-0 run to even the scores at 61, forcing Dean Vickerman to call a time-out.

Ben Moore scored for South East Melbourne to give them the lead, then a huge triple from Hopson saw Melbourne regain the lead. A late Yudai Baba three-pointer saw United head into the final break with a four-point lead, 70-66.

Creek scored for the Phoenix on the first possession of the final quarter and it was a sign of things to come as he put his team on his back.

While Hopson and Lual-Acuil Jr. scored buckets to keep United in the lead, things changed in the game when Landale fouled out with 5:55 on the clock.

Creek really got going without Landale’s presence in the paint and scored nine points in a row to make it a nine-point lead for the Phoenix, 86-77, with three minutes remaining.

Despite their best efforts, Melbourne was unable to fight their way back as South East Melbourne claimed a 90-79 win, forcing a win-or-go-home Game Three.

Hopson (19 points, 4 rebounds and 2 blocks) was again great for United, while Goulding (14 points and 3 rebounds), Lual-Acuil Jr. (11 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 blocks) and Peatling (11 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists) played important roles.

Creek (26 points, 4 rebounds and 2 assists), Sykes (26 points, 4 assists and 4 steals) and Wetzell (20 points and 8 rebounds) were impressive for the Phoenix.

Attention now turns to Tuesday night in a do-or-die Semi-Final Game Three that will see the winner qualify for the Grand Final. Tip off is at 7:30pm (AEST) from Qudos Bank Arena.

 It’s time to unite, Melbourne!