Friday, 3 August 2012 9:22 AM
South Melbourne FC hosts Hume City at Lakeside Stadium this Sunday evening in what is simply a must-win game for the home side in its quest to make the Victorian Premier League finals in 2012. With six rounds of the regular season remaining, South are currently in eighth spot on the VPL ladder with 21 points, four points behind fifth-placed Northcote City. A victory against Hume could see South end the round only a point from finals contention.
South goes into the game on the back of a thrilling 3-2 victory against Southern Stars at Kingston Heath Soccer Complex last Saturday night. South were 1-0 down at halftime and 2-1 down in second-half injury time before a 91st minute leveling goal by Steve Burton was followed by a 94th minute Nick Jacobs header that won the match for the Blues. Most pleasing for South was the combination of three youth players – Phil Petrevski, Andrew Cartanos and Jacobs – in setting up the winning goal. South was forced to use youth due the amount of injuries and suspensions that the Senior side was carrying but the move paid off dramatically.
Hume City go into Sunday’s game unbeaten in three matches (including two wins) with the most recent result being a 3-1 home win against Heidelberg United last Friday night. That win lifted Hume into sixth position on the VPL ladder on 24 points (three points ahead of South), making Sunday’s game all the more interesting. Hume will also be keen on revenge, having conceded an 87th minute goal against South at Epping Stadium earlier this year on Friday 11 May. Captain Steven O’Dor turned in Glen Trifiro’s cross to win the game for South 0-1.
Dimi Tsiaras and Shaun Kelly are both available for selection this week after both players served their automatic one game suspension against Southern Stars. O’Dor is likely to miss again with a hamstring injury. Trent Rixon had his 12 game suspension reduced to a 6 game suspension mid-week at the Tribunal and he will not be available until the last round against Heidelberg United. Coach Peter Tsolakis was handed a 2 game touchline ban and a fine for his send-off against Richmond on Friday 20 July and he will have to sit in the stands for Sunday’s match as well as next week’s game against Melbourne Knights at Somers Street. Finally, Tom Matthews will serve the third of his four game suspension against Hume. He will also miss the Knights game next Sunday before being eligible to play the following week against Dandenong Thunder.
Sunday’s match kicks off at 5:00PM at Lakeside Stadium. South fans are encouraged to attend and support their team as it strives to hit the top five again.