Friday, 17 June 2011 9:31 AM
South Melbourne FC has an enormous opportunity to reduce the gap between both teams in Round 16 of the Victorian Premier League when it hosts the Oakleigh Cannons at John Cain Memorial Park on Sunday afternoon.
The match pits the Victorian Premier League’s third placed team against first and should other results go favourably, a South win could see the Club take second spot at the conclusion of the round.
South goes into Sunday’s match with mixed form coming off a difficult match in Singapore which saw it lose to Albirex Niigata Singapore FC in an undeserved scoreline of 3-0 in the first round elimination match in the RHB Singapore Cup. The match was played in difficult conditions, with the temperature and humidity playing a role. South started the stronger of both teams, and was unlucky not to score two goals in the opening twenty minutes. Prior to the RHB Singapore Cup match, South was unexpectedly knocked out by Port Melbourne Sharks in the Fifth Round of the Mirabella Cup. Sunday’s game is seen as an opportunity to get its season back on track as the Football Department can focus exclusively on the Victorian Premier League.
The Oakleigh Cannons enter the match after a hard fought win over the Bentleigh Greens on the Queens Birthday long weekend. Hayden Doyle scored against his former side in the 52nd minute which gave the Cannons the three points and reclaim top spot. However, the Cannons did go down to VTC Football by 3-2 the previous week. Over the previous five games, the Cannons have recorded three wins, one draw, and a loss to the Dandenong Thunder in Round 11.
In the last meeting between both sides, South Melbourne FC defeated the Cannons at Jack Edwards Reserve 2-1, with goals to both Marinos Gasparis and Steven O’Dor giving South the three points on the day.
Sunday’s match kicks off at 3pm at John Cain Memorial Park