Day: May 30, 2016

Male NPL Teams (U12-Seniors)

Seniors: SMFC 0-5 Heidelberg United
U20s: SMFC 8-2 Heidelberg United (Maker 3′, 58′, Marafioti 18′, 61′, Jansz 23′, 53′, Iradukunda 35′, Hussainy 75′)
U18s: SMFC 2-2 Bulleen Lions (Egan, Hawthorne)
U16s: SMFC 2-0 Bulleen Lions (Pignalosa, Dobbyn)
U15s: SMFC 1-2 Bulleen Lions (Garrow)
U14s: SMFC 2-1 Bulleen Lions (Lewis-Hanafin, Abdou)
U13s: SMFC 2-2 Bulleen Lions (Panakos, Own Goal)
U12s: SMFC 1-4 Bulleen Lions (Dzadey)

Female State League Teams (U12-Seniors)

SL1 (Seniors): SMFC 1-0 South Yarra (Alberici 70′)
SL1 (Reserves): SMFC 1-2 South Yarra (Cachia 7′)
SL2: SMFC 2-3 Seaford United (Goal Scorers TBC)
SL3: SMFC 0-4 Mazenod United
SL4: SMFC 0-9 Harrisfield Hurricanes
U16s: SMFC 2-2 Ashburton United (Stoic, Trease-Hemming)
U14s: SMFC 2-2 Pascoe Vale (Nikolaus x2)
U12s: SMFC 2-1 Bentleigh Strikers (Hugh-Jones x2)

The two derby meetings between South Melbourne FC and Heidelberg United in 2016 have been extraordinary to say the least. In the first meeting at Lakeside Stadium back in February, South demolished Heidelberg 6-0 to record the club’s biggest ever winning margin against the Bergers in 82 league meetings since 1964. At the Olympic Village on Sunday evening, Heidelberg brushed South aside 5-0 to also record their biggest ever winning margin against their rivals.

The scoring was opened on the half hour mark. A free kick from the left side was only partially cleared as the ball fell for centre-back Steven Pace to smash home past Nikola Roganovic. The match was then over as a contest just before the halftime break with two quick goals from Kenny Athiu and Harry Noon that put the Bergers in a commanding 3-0 halftime lead. Athiu got on the end of a free kick to head home past Roganovic and Noon capitalised on a loose ball in the South area just two minutes later.

The scoring was completed just before the hour mark as the Bergers scored two early second half goals. Noon scored his second of the evening (and second goal within five minutes) when he reacted first to the loose ball in the area as the South defence failed to clear the ball. On 58 minutes, Jack Petrie scored the goal of the night when he got possession of the ball and fired home from the edge of the area with a low shot that had Roganovic stretching to his right but unable to keep out of the net.

South’s miserable night was completed when Nick Epifano’s late penalty kick curled over the crossbar and out for a goal kick in what was his second penalty miss in three matches. South has now lost two matches in their last three games and a Bentleigh win over FC Bulleen Lions tonight will see the Greens overtake South on top of the PS4 NPL Victoria ladder.

There was an incredible 10 goals scored in the Under 20s as South Melbourne defeated Heidelberg United 8-2. Maker Maker (x2), Giordano Marafioti (x2), Brandon Jansz (x2), Thierry Iradukunda and Nashir Hussainy scored South’s eight goals.

There is not much time for the Senior Team to regroup before facing NPL 1 opposition North Geelong in the Sixth Round of FFA Cup Qualifying in what is simply a must-win game on Wednesday night. The match will be played at Port Melbourne’s SS Anderson Reserve, with kick-off at 7:30pm.

FINAL SCORE: HEIDELBERG UNITED 5-0 SOUTH MELBOURNE (HT: 3-0)

Goal Scorers:
1-0: Steven Pace (29′)
2-0: Kenny Athiu (42′)
3-0: Harry Noon (44′)
4-0: Harry Noon (49′)
5-0: Jack Petrie (58′)

Heidelberg United FC:
1. Chris THEODORIDIS (GK), 2. Josh WILKINS, 6. Lewis HALL, 7. Reuben WAY, 10. Jack PETRIE, 11. Kosta KANAKARIS (24. Emmanuel TSAKIRIS 89′), 12. Kenny ATHIU, 13. Luke BYLES (C), 14. Harry NOON, 17. Steven PACE (21. Andreas GOVAS 66′), 19. Sean ELLIS (4. Johnny LAZARIDIS 62′).
Unused Subs: 8. Andrew CARTANOS, 23. Jack EVANS.

South Melbourne FC:
1. Nikola ROGANOVIC (GK) / 12. Amadu KOROMA, 4. Michael EAGAR (C), 23. Matthew FOSCHINI, 11. Brad NORTON / 77. Stephen HATZIKOSTAS, 99. Iqi JAWADI (17. Marcus SCHROEN 46′) / 18. Matthew MILLAR, 8. Mathew THEODORE (27. Leigh MINOPOULOS 56′), 7. Nick EPIFANO / 9. Milos LUJIC.
Unused Subs: 14. Chris IRWIN, 21. Zaim ZENELI (GK), 23. Andy KECOJEVIC.

SMFC Melbourne City Toyota Man of the Match: Matthew Millar
Venue: Olympic Village
Date: Sunday 29 May 2016

(Photo by Cindy Nitsos)

The Senior Women’s team travelled to Fawkner Park on Sunday afternoon to take on South Yarra FC in what was a top of the table clash.

Coach Socrates Nicolaidis returned to lead the girls in this match, having spent the last week in Canberra pursuing his coaching A-Licence. Rachel Jarvis also returned to the pitch for the first time following her recent injury. Both teams were undefeated in the Women’s State League One North-West and as such, the fixture was expected to be a tough one.

South made an impressive start and had the bulk of possession but couldn’t find success on the scoreboard, though both teams had chances to hit the back of the net. Hayley Drain stood tall in goal, making a number of quality saves to prevent Yarra from scoring in one-on-one situations.

The South girls came out firing after the break and continued to have good control of the ball. Sara Alberici was having a superb game up front, forcing saves from the Yarra keeper consistently. After 70 minutes, Alberici latched on to a poor back-pass and went one-on-one with the keeper to finally break the deadlock and put the visitors in front.

Strong defence was the aim of the game from that point on and in the final few minutes Yarra almost scored the equaliser. It wasn’t to be though and South pushed through for a sixth win to remain the only team undefeated and with a 100% winning record in the division in 2016.

Caitlin Greiser spoke to Eliza Gleadell about the result post-match. “We played a good game, particularly in the second half where we came out raring to go and got the winning goal. Our defence was great today. As always Deryal [Aziz] is our big defender who can get rid of it, clear it out when she needs to but also play it on the ground as well. Renee [Laszczak] did really well in the midfield controlling play. The key positive for us today is that we played our style of football.”

Goal scorer Sara Alberici also took a moment from her post-match celebrations to talk with smfc.com.au. “It was pretty tough until the second half. It was a good start for us. They are a physical side and a good team so we tried to play the ball around as much as you can. Keep the ball on the ground and keep it moving. For my goal, to be honest it was very lucky. But we try and try and try, I am so happy. I think we deserved to win and be first on the ladder.”

The girls continue their journey of three matches in eight days when they travel to the Veneto Club on Wednesday evening for the Team App Cup Quarter Finals. South are one of four State League teams remaining in the competition and now face traditional rivals FC Bulleen Lions, who are currently on top of the Women’s NPL Victoria as the best performing team. No Women’s NPL Victoria team has so far lost to a State League team in the Team App Cup, so the opportunity presents itself for a big upset and also the chance to measure our squad performance against Bulleen.

Next Sunday the women will face the strong attacking Melbourne University team. The uni squad are in form and are certainly a team to watch this year. In their first seven matches they have scored an impressive 31 goals and amassed a goal difference of +20.

Coach Nicolaidis has the girls clearly focused on one match at a time and that means Bulleen at Veneto Club this coming Wednesday night.