Day: September 27, 2013

Friday, 27 September 2013 10:36 AM

Major Sponsor Star21 swept all before it as it clinched the 2013 SMFC Corporate Cup last weekend.

On a glorious day on Fields 18 and 19 near the Club’s recently opened Junior Pavilion, twelve teams were divided into three groups of four teams. The SMFC Corporate Cup was a seven a side tournament, with the first placed team in each group, plus the best second placed team across the three groups would progress to the semi-final round.

Group 1 consisted of GPZ Legal, MW Group, Global Gypsum, and Hardcore FC. Group 2 was headed by Star21, Commonwealth Bank, Symmetry, and All Stars FC. The third group was comprised of IBM, SMFC Media Team, Vent Air Legends, and K&A Accountants.

At the conclusion of the preliminary matches, the best four teams which qualified for the semi-final round were Star21, IBM, Global Gypsum, and GPZ Legal. In a pulsating and end-to end affair, Star21 did enough to knock off the current holders IBM and claim bragging rights until next year’s competition.

South Melbourne FC would like to congratulate all the participants of the 2013 SMFC Corporate Challenge Cup for making it a fun, enjoyable and successful day.

Friday, 27 September 2013 9:32 AM

By John Kyrou

South Melbourne FC hosts Green Gully in the 2013 Victorian Premier League Elimination Final at Lakeside Stadium on Sunday afternoon. It is the first time that South has played in the finals series since 2011 and the first time it has hosted a finals match at Lakeside Stadium since 2006. The winner of the match will play the loser of the Melbourne Knights and Bentleigh Greens in the Minor Semi Final next weekend.

Both South and Green Gully won their respective matches on the final day of the regular season last Sunday to secure a finals position. Gully defeated Dandenong Thunder 3-1 at Green Gully Reserve and South put on a commanding display to defeat Port Melbourne 0-4 at SS Anderson Reserve. Tyson Holmes’ header in the first half sent South on their way before a second-half double from Trent Rixon (including a penalty) and a late header from substitute Brad Norton secured the three points for the away side and the right to host the Elimination Final this weekend.

The two sides have met three times already this season across League and Cup competitions and the results have been mixed. South took first honours on the opening day of the VPL season on Saturday 6 April with a 0-3 victory at Green Gully Reserve thanks to goals from Brad Norton, Marinos Gasparis and Renco Van Eeken. Gully returned the favour with a 1-3 victory at Lakeside Stadium on Sunday 7 July thanks to goals from Osagie Ederaro, Jason Hayne and Daniel Jones, with Andy Vlahos’ thunderbolt free kick being South’s only goal of the afternoon. The two sides then met in the Semi Finals of the State Knockout Cup on Wednesday 21 August, with Hayne’s second half goal proving to be the difference as Gully won 0-1 before defeating Dandenong Thunder in the Cup Final a few weeks later.

Lakeside Stadium plays host to a South Melbourne FC finals match for the first time since Sunday 24 September 2006, when Gianni De Nittis’ header from Fernando De Moraes’ cross in the 63rd minute proved to be the difference as South beat Altona Magic 1-0 in the VPL Grand Final to secure its eighth Victorian State League championship in front of 5,125 fans. Since that wonderful day, South missed the finals in 2007 and 2008 before losing the 2009 Elimination Final against Hume City at Epping Stadium. South missed the 2010 finals series before it hosted (and defeated) Heidelberg United in the 2011 Elimination Final, however the match was played at SS Anderson Reserve due to Lakeside Stadium being redeveloped at the time.

Ironically, South’s Championship year saw it host Green Gully in the First Elimination Final at Lakeside Stadium on Friday 1 September 2006. Late goals from Fernando De Moraes’ free kick (83’), George Tzirtis (89’) and an Andreas Oliveira penalty (90’) sent South on its way to the Championship. South coach Chris Taylor will be more than delighted with a similar score on Sunday afternoon.

Sunday’s match kicks off at Lakeside Stadium at 5pm. South fans are reminded that 2013 membership cards cannot be used for entry to the match, with free entry only for those with 2013 FFV Media Passes.

Last time we met

Friday, 27 September 2013 9:14 AM

By Brandon Galgano

On a fine Sunday afternoon for football, South Melbourne’s U18 side was been crowned Victorian state champions following an emphatic 2-1 victory over the Caulfield Cobras.

Under the guidance of former back to back Under 21’s championship winning coach Gus Caminos, South Melbourne went into the match full of confidence following an enthralling penalty shootout victory over Diamond Valley in the Semi Final last weekend.

It wasn’t all smooth sailing early though as Caulfield took the lead after twenty minutes with a superb cut back and finish proving too much for South keeper Jordan Gifkins. South Melbourne rallied late though and equalised right on half time with a superb header from Michael Sdregas making it 1-1. And following a tense second half in which neither side could get a winner the match went into extra time.

In true South fashion though, the boys stepped up a gear and came close to taking the lead ten minutes into extra time with a long range strike hitting both posts before bouncing out. They were not to be denied for long though as Josh Pulvirenti, scorer of the winning penalty a week before against Diamond Valley, slotted home into the bottom corner late in the first half of extra time to make it 2-1 South Melbourne.

And just as it looked like South had the title in the bag a late opportunity opened up for Caulfield but a superb one on one save from Gifkins ensured that South wouldn’t be denied with the final whistle sounding just a few minutes later crowning South Melbourne 2013 Victorian U18 champions.

Coach Gus Caminos was understandably delighted come the final whistle with the former Dandenong Thunder senior assistant having guided the side to victories in the Hellenic Cup, the League and now the State Finals in 2013 alone. Caminos lauded his side following the victory, stating that that this is a team of ‘’talented individuals who have represented South Melbourne FC with pride and honour throughout the whole season’’.

Congratulations to the SMFC U18 squad and their coach Gus Caminos for a sensational 2013 season.

Go South!!

Friday, 27 September 2013 9:10 AM

The 2013 South Melbourne FC Most Valuable Player of the Year Award was held at Principal Partner Beachcomber Cafe shortly after the match against Port Melbourne. Fans, players, and officials mingled and celebrated the Club’s qualification for the finals series.

The MVP Award was voted on by the coaching staff, with awards on a 3-2-1 basis.

Goalkeeper Peter Gavalas was awarded the 2013 Theo Marmaras Medal for Most Value Player of the season. In total, Gavalas made 20 VPL and 2 State Knockout Cup appearances in 2013, with the South custodian making a number of timely saves to keep his team in many matches. Gavalas was gracious in accepting the award, thanking his team mates and former coach Peter Tsolakis.

The Golden Boot Award was won by Trent Rixon with 9 VPL goals who hit a rich vein of form in the second half of the season. Two goals against Port Melbourne in the final match of the home and away season secured Rixon the top goal scorer award at the Club.

The SMFC Media Team Award was presented to Bryan Bran for his formidable presence in the back line, and playing a pivotal role in assisting his team mates in their resurgence in the second half of the season. Accepting the award, Bran mentioned he was shocked and very honoured to have been nominated for the award. He thanked the coaching staff, team mates, and the Media Team for their hard work throughout the season.

South Melbourne FC wishes to congratulate all winners in what was a fantastic evening.

Theo Marmaras Medal (top vote-getters)
17 – Peter Gavalas
14 – Tyson Holmes
14 – Nick Soolsma

Golden Boot Winner
Trent Rixon – 9 goals

SMFC Media Team Award
Bryan Bran