Sunday, 6 May 2012 9:36 PM
By John Kyrou (Photo by Cindy Nitsos)
Southern Stars handed South Melbourne FC a footballing lesson on Friday night as the newly-promoted side impressed in a 2-0 victory at Lakeside Stadium. A wonder strike by Mark Leech and a goal from former South player Yanni Galanos were enough to see off a thoroughly disappointing home side.
South went into the match knowing that three points were vital in gaining momentum in the League following some inconsistent results in recent weeks. A 3-1 loss away at Green Gully was followed by a 1-1 draw at Richmond before South got back into winning ways with a 2-1 victory over Malvern City in the State Knockout Cup last Sunday. The Southern Stars knew that three points against South would take them to seven points from five League matches, a solid start by a promoted side.
The first half was an end-to-end affair, with Southern Stars taking the game to the home side early. Both sides created a number of chances, with South coming the closest when Fernando De Moraes hit a fierce shot from the right that goalkeeper Frazer Siddall got a glove to before the ball smashed the crossbar and stayed out. A minute later, Glen Trifiro was set free down the left and was in a great position to shoot, however he unselfishly elected to cut the ball back into the six-yard box and the danger was cleared by the South defence. Dimi Tsiaras also missed a golden opportunity by hitting a shot at the back post way over the crossbar.
Despite South’s possession, Southern Stars had been busy creating opportunities as well and they punished South right on halftime. Stars broke down a South forward move and counter-attacked by playing the ball over Leech to run onto and then chip Peter Gavalas beautifully from 30 metres and send the away supporters wild. The goal was just reward for a side who had worked very hard for each other in the first half.
South started the second half well and almost levelled when Trifiro hit the post from a shot on the right. However once more it was the Stars who delivered a sucker-punch blow to South, when a bad mix-up in defence resulted in Tsiaras’ poor clearance to fall straight to Galanos and he smashed the ball into the unguarded goal. This was the killer blow to the home side, who really struggled to create any meaningful chances afterwards. Kyle Joryeff was substituted onto the field and his intensity and freshness immediately gave South another forward option. With 10 minutes to go Joryeff went down in the penalty area after a challenge however the referee did not award a penalty and Southern Stars saw the game out comfortably to record a memorable 2-0 win and severely embarrass South at home.
South has a horror run of fixtures coming up, with games against Hume City, Melbourne Knights and leaders Dandenong Thunder in the next few weeks. With key players Tom Matthews (leg injury) and Joe Keenan (hamstring injury) potentially missing, South coach Peter Tsolakis will need to fix up his defensive problems as soon as possible, as well as finding out a way to break through opposition defences.
In the Under 21’s match played, Southern Stars came from a goal down to defeat South 3-2.
FINAL SCORE: SOUTH MELBOURNE 0-2 SOUTHERN STARS (HT: 0-1)
Goal Scorers:
0-1: Mark Leech (45′)
0-2: Yanni Galanos (59′)
South Melbourne FC:
1. Peter GAVALAS (GK), 4. Steven O’DOR, 6. Dimi TSIARAS, 8. Dimi HATZIMOURATIS (25. Kyle JORYEFF 69′), 9. Trent RIXON (20. Gianni DE NITTIS 80′), 10. Glen TRIFIRO, 11. Brad NORTON, 13. Luke BYLES, 15. Fernando DE MORAES, 17. Matko BUDIMIR (16. Marinos GASPARIS 73′), 23. Jason TRIFIRO
Southern Stars:
1. Frazer SIDDALL (GK), 2. Ryan DARRAGH, 3. Patrick SULLIVAN, 5. Luke FITZPATRIC, 6. Alan MULCAHY, 8. Keiren FITZGERALD, 11. Yanni GALANOS, 12. David STIRTON, 13. Halil GUR, 16. Alan KEARNEY, 22. Mark LEECH
Subs: 20. Nick ABOUGELIS, 15. Karl BROWN, 9. Ridvan SAGLAM, 14. Satt GULER, 19. Liam MCCORMACK
SMFC Man of the Match: Kyle Joryeff
Venue: Lakeside Stadium
Date: Friday 4 May 2012