In a tightly contested encounter, South Melbourne maintained their undefeated streak in the league after a hard-fought 0-0 draw against Oakleigh on Friday night.
South Melbourne opted for two changes in their starting lineup, bringing in the experienced duo of Andy Brennan and Ross Archibald. However, their plans were disrupted early on when Nahuel Bonada was forced off the field due to injury following a dangerous challenge.
Despite the setback, South Melbourne started brightly, creating early opportunities that they failed to convert into goals. Goalkeeper Javi Lopez proved pivotal for South Melbourne with a crucial save to deny Oakleigh, ensuring the score remained level at half-time.
The second half continued in a similar fashion, with both teams struggling to break the deadlock. Long-range attempts from either side lacked precision, failing to trouble the opposing goalkeepers.
Ultimately, neither team could find the breakthrough, and the match ended in a stalemate. With this result, both South Melbourne and Oakleigh maintain their unbeaten records after seven rounds of the season.
Looking ahead, South Melbourne will shift their focus to the Australia Cup, where they are set to face Melbourne Knights in a highly anticipated derby at Knights Stadium on Thursday, March 28th, with kick-off scheduled for 7:30 PM.