Monday, 23 May 2011 2:17 PM
By John Kyrou
South Melbourne FC regained its position in the top five of the Victorian Premier League standings following a scrappy 1-0 victory over relegation-threatened Springvale White Eagles at John Cain Memorial Park on Sunday afternoon. A first half header by Jesse Krncevic was enough to settle the match that saw few chances created by both sides. The match broke a horror month for South in Victorian Premier League competition, with South winning for the first time in the League since the 1-0 win over Richmond on Sunday 10th April.
South made wholesale changes to the team that was defeated by Green Gully last week, recalling Zaim Zeneli in goal and starting all four May transfer-window signings in Thomas Matthews (right wing back), Daniel Dragicevic (midfield), Junior Camargo (defence) and Jean-Charles Dubois (forward). Missing for South was Fernando De Moraes (hamstring injury) whilst Kyle Joryeff and Rhodri Payne started the match on the bench. Springvale went into the match confident of getting a good result, with the White Eagles registering four points from its last two Victorian Premier League matches to move out of the relegation zone.
South began the game stronger, however it was the White Eagles who had the best chance to open the scoring but put the ball wide of Zaneli’s goal. Yet it was South that got the all-important goal, when Dragicevic crossed from the right for Krncevic to head the ball over goalkeeper Scott Augustin and into the back of the net. The home side had a couple of half chances to double their lead but seemed more content in playing conservative football to maintain their one goal advantage instead of pressing to increase their advantage.
Springvale opened the second half positively and went close with a couple of shots that narrowly went past Zeneli’s far post, however that was as close as they got to scoring, with Zeneli looking comfortable back in the South Melbourne goal. The home team showed glimpses of positive football in the second half but again were more content with holding rather than increasing their lead. After six minutes of injury time, the full-time whistle finally ended a scrappy game in which South had done enough to notch up its first Victorian Premier League win in over five weeks and jump back into the top five. A concern however was influential centre-half Ljubo Milicevic hobbling off in the final minutes with what looked to be an ankle injury.
In the Under-21s match, South Melbourne FC also triumphed 1-0 over Springvale.
Next Friday, South Melbourne FC travels to Kingston Heath Soccer Complex to play the Bentleigh Greens, with the match kicking off at 8:15pm.
FINAL SCORE: SOUTH MELBOURNE 1-0 SPRINGVALE WHITE EAGLES (HT: 1-0)
Goal Scorer:
1-0: Jesse Krncevic (30′)
South Melbourne FC
2. Thomas MATTHEWS, 4. Steven O’DOR, 5. Daniel VASILEVSKI (23. Sebastian PETROVIC 70′), 6. Steven TOPALOVIC, 9. Jean-Charles DUBOIS (3. Rhodri PAYNE 89′), 11. Jesse KRNCEVIC, 13. Ljubo MILICEVIC, 16. Trent WATERSON, 20. Daniel DRAGICEVIC (24. Kyle JORYEFF 81′), 21. Zaim ZENELI (GK), 80. Junior CAMARGO
Springvale White Eagles
2. Adam EWIN, 4. Boris BAJIC, 6. Gojko PONJEVIC, 7. Tome RACUNICA, 8. GORDAN MRDIC, 9. Milos LUJIC, 12. Dusan NIKOLIC, 16. Dominic D’ANGELO, 17. Zoran VUKAS, 19. Goran ZORIC, 23. Scott AUGUSTIN (GK)
Subs: 1. Bojo JEVDJEVIC, 11. Rados TOMIC, 14. Paul MAGHIAR, 21. Dejan ERAKOVIC, 24. Lewis KARANICOLAS
SMFC Man of the Match: Steven Topalovic
Venue: John Cain Memorial Park
Date: Sunday 22 May 2011