Brandon Giaccherini’s 34th minute strike was the split, all but securing the Suns a top four spot while condemning Geelong to relegation in a fiery McEwen Reserve hit-out.
The game was night and day in comparison to the Australia Cup tie days before.
Geelong, needing a win to secure NPL3 football in 2024, was stronger off the bat, but failed to sting the gloves of Suns keeper Jake Angelovski.
In a cagey first 20 minutes neither side was able to prise open the other’s defence, but a red-mist moment from Geelong centre back Jye Spiteri became the game’s turning point just before the half hour.
Russell Currie craftily moved past his marker and was clean through on goal when Spiteri halved him down.
The last-man challenge left referee Daniel Isaac no choice but to whip a red card from his back pocket and reduce Geelong to 10.
Seven minutes later the hosts made the most of the man advantage.
Fullback Greg Nash fed Taku Hishida on the left flank, who prodded it once more down the channel to Currie.
His pass dribbled across the face of goal and ghosting in at the back post was Giaccherini, making no mistake from close range for his seventh goal of the season.
The Suns almost went 2-0 up in the first half’s closing minutes as Hishida’s superb volley cannoned off the cross bar with Geelong custodian Tomas Josifovski rooted to the spot.
A string of chances then went begging for the Suns after the break as Geelong defended desperately in attempt to save its season.
Currie was denied in a one-on-one opportunity by Josifovski, then substitute Declan Kinnane saw his shot bounce off the post before being cleared by Geelong’s Masahiro Mitsuda.
Mitsuda was excellent all game, but produced a brain fade when he dragged Giaccherini down inside the box in the 88th minute.
However, the Suns would not have their 2-0 buffer as Currie’s penalty was saved and the follow up missed, adding an extra spice to the final minutes of the game.
Craig Carley’s side would hold on to see out a hard-fought three points, providing a gust of wind to its sails ahead of this weekend’s final game against Melbourne Victory Youth.
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