South Melbourne FC will be hoping to make it three wins from three PS4 NPL Victoria matches in 2016 when it faces Port Melbourne at Anderson Reserve on Friday night.
Chris Taylor’s side has opened the 2016 campaign with two straight victories, 10 goals scored and none conceded. The most recent result was the professional 0-4 victory against Northcote City at John Cain Reserve last Saturday, with three second-half goals securing the three points. Nick Epifano has already registered four league goals in 2016, whilst Marcus Schroen and Milos Lujic have two goals each.
Eric Vassiliadis’ Port Melbourne side has enjoyed a solid start to 2016, with an opening-round draw against the Oakleigh Cannons followed by a 1-0 victory against Melbourne Victory last Friday night. Port hasn’t conceded a goal so far in 2016 – like South – and will be hoping to continue that record on Friday night. 2015 South players Bonel Obradovic and David Stirton will feature for Port and will be keen to get three points against their former side.
Taylor tends to not change a winning side and therefore it is expected that South will start Friday night’s game with the same eleven players for a third week in succession.
Should Lujic score against Port Melbourne, he will outright join South Melbourne’s top ten leading goal scorers in the club’s league history. Lujic is currently level with 1980s crowd favourite Dougy Brown (1983-86) in equal tenth position, with both players having scored 48 league goals for the club.
Friday night’s match at Anderson Reserve in Port Melbourne kicks off at 8:30pm.
SMFC v Port Melbourne – Head to Head (League & Finals)
Matches Played: 6
Wins (SMFC): 4
Wins (PMFC): 1
Draws: 1
First match: South Melbourne 0-1 Port Melbourne (30 June 2013, Lakeside Stadium)
Last match: South Melbourne 4-2 Port Melbourne (7 August 2015, Lakeside Stadium)
Biggest Winning Margin (SMFC): 4-0 (22 September 2013, Anderson Reserve)
Biggest Winning Margin (PMFC): 1-0 (30 June 2013, Lakeside Stadium)
Most Goals in a Match (SMFC): 4 (4-0 win) (22 September 2013, Anderson Reserve)
Most Goals in a Match (PMFC): 2 (3 times) (2014, 2015 x2)
Biggest Finals Win (SMFC): None
Biggest Finals Win (PMFC): None
| NPL | Home | Away | Finals |
|
2013 |
0-1 | 4-0 | – |
|
2014 |
2-1 | 3-2 | – |
|
2015 |
4-2 | 2-2 | – |