South Melbourne FC will be looking for a return back to winning ways when it travels to Hume City on Saturday evening. Following the shambolic second-half performance against Richmond, coach Chris Taylor will be looking for an immediate positive response from his side.
Richmond played excellent attacking football in the second half of last Thursday’s match and deservedly won the three points. The manner of South’s second-half collapse – in which it conceded five goals in half an hour to lose 6-3 having been ahead 1-3 – is a cause of major concern and is something that needs to be immediately rectified. Taylor acknowledged that fact in his post-match interview and indicated wholesale changes for the Hume match.
Lou Acevski’s Hume side have begun their 2016 season with three wins, a draw and a loss. Although they have not won any silverware, Hume have been in the upper echelons of the league standings in recent years and reached the semi finals of the Westfield FFA Cup in 2015.
Key players for South to watch out for on Saturday include Theo Markelis, Nick Hegarty and Hernan Espindola, whilst former South captain and championship player Rama Tavsancioglu will line up against his former side.
Saturday evening’s match at ABD Stadium (Broadmeadows Valley Park) kicks off at 7pm.
SMFC v Hume City – Head to Head (League & Finals)
Matches Played: 17
Wins (SMFC): 11
Wins (HCFC): 5
Draws: 1
First match: South Melbourne 1-2 Hume City (24 February 2008, Lakeside Stadium)
Last match: South Melbourne 5-2 Hume City (19 August 2015, Lakeside Stadium)
Biggest Winning Margin (SMFC): 6 goals (6-0 win, 25 April 2010, Broadmeadows Valley Park)
Biggest Winning Margin (HCFC): 5 goals (5-0 win, 17 April 2011, Broadmeadows Valley Park)
Most Goals in a Match (SMFC): 6 (25 April 2010, Broadmeadows Valley Park)
Most Goals in a Match (HCFC): 5 (17 April 2011, Broadmeadows Valley Park)
Biggest Finals Win (SMFC): None
Biggest Finals Win (HCFC): 2-0 (23 August 2009, Epping Stadium)
| NPL | Home | Away | Finals |
|
2008 |
1-2 | 3-2 | – |
|
2009 |
0-1 | 2-1 | 0-2 |
|
2010 |
2-2 | 6-0 | – |
|
2011 |
3-1 | 0-5 | – |
|
2012 |
2-1 | 1-0 | – |
|
2013 |
6-1 | 2-3 | – |
|
2014 |
2-0 | 3-0 | – |
|
2015 |
5-2 | 1-0 | – |