Friday, 25 February 2011 9:51 AM
By John Kyrou
South Melbourne FC enters the unknown tonight when the team travels to the Serbian Sports Centre to face newly-promoted Springvale White Eagles.
Springvale enjoyed last season in State League 1 and spent the majority of 2010 on top of the ladder before St Albans won the State League Championship on goal difference following the final day of the season. Nevertheless, the White Eagles finished in second position on the ladder and were promoted into the Premier League along with their big rivals St Albans. This is the first season back in the Premier League for Springvale since their disastrous 2007 season, which saw them win only five points from 26 Premier League matches and get relegated with an enormous goal difference of -60.
South has not played Springvale at the Serbian Sports Centre in League competition as the two sides have only had one previous meeting against each other, with that match played at Lakeside Stadium. On that occasion (played on Sunday 13 May 2007), South destroyed Springvale 6-0 thanks to a double from Nathan Caldwell (9′, 59′), and goals from Fernando De Moraes (24′), Yusuf Yusuf (25′), Ricky Diaco (73′) and substitute Gianni De Nittis (85′).
South will go into tonight’s match confident of getting three points following a solid opening round performance against reigning League Champions Green Gully last Sunday. Whilst the match finished in a 1-1 draw, South were superior to Gully for the majority of the 90 minutes but ultimately failed in turning this dominance into goals. Coach Eddie Krncevic will be expecting a much tighter defensive performance against the White Eagles and for more of the chances created in the attacking area to be put away. The away side will also be boosted significantly with the signings of Kliment Taseski and Kamal Ibrahim overnight. Both players arrive from A-League team Melbourne Heart and will add more depth to an already talented team. It is expected that both players will make their South Melbourne FC debuts against Springvale tonight.
Springvale should not be treated lightly however, as the home side will no doubt make the venue a tough place for South’s players to win in. Despite losing their opening two matches of the season, Springvale will be keen on defeating one of the bigger clubs in the League in order to kick-start their own season and ensure that their first Premier League season in 3 years doesn’t end like it did in 2007.
The match kicks off tonight at 20:30 tonight at the Serbian Sports Centre.