Author: John Kyrou

FFA Cup Round 4 – Hume City v SMFC – Preview

Hume City v SMFC – ABD Stadium – Friday 30 March 2018 at 5pm

South Melbourne FC and fellow NPL Victoria side Hume City meet in a big FFA Cup Round 4 qualification match. South reached the semi final stage of the competition in 2017, whilst Hume has been involved in the cup proper throughout the last three editions, reaching the semi finals in 2015. The 2018 FFA Cup journey will already end for one of these sides on Friday.

Both teams are currently struggling in 2018, with one win each from the opening five rounds. South sit in 7th position on the NPL Victoria ladder with Hume in 10th, with goal difference being the only saving grace for South at the moment. Both teams will welcome the cup tie as a distraction from current league proceedings, with South desperately needing a confidence-boosting win on Friday to get the season back underway.

South’s task will be made tougher with the absence of Andy Brennan, who was sent off in Saturday night’s loss against Northcote City.

March 28, 2018

NPL Scores (March 24-25)

NPL MEN / BOYS

Level	Rd	Opposition	Venue	Result	SMFC Goal Scorers
Seniors	05	Northcote City	John Cain Reserve	2-3	Epifano p, Lujic
Under 20s	05	Northcote City	John Cain Reserve	0-2
Under 18s	05	Nunawading City	Parkmore SC	8-0	K Abdou (x3), Garrow (x2), Mankolli, Kourelis, Pignalosa
Under 16s	05	Nunawading City	Parkmore SC	12-0	Chong (x3), Maramis (x3), Baker (x2),Baki, Lekatsas, Longhurst, Mitsonis p
Under 15s	05	Nunawading City	Parkmore SC	4-1	Andrianakos, Kilbane, Torossian, Vlogianitis
Under 14s	05	Nunawading City	Parkmore SC	6-2	Alcantara (x2), Markovski (x2), Sdregas, Sivritas
Under 13s	05	Nunawading City	Parkmore SC	9-4	Dovison (x6), Eliopoulos, Puebla-Mcwaters, Varelas

NPL WOMEN / GIRLS

Level	Rd	Opposition	Venue	Result	SMFC Goal Scorers
Seniors	05	Calder United	Keilor Park Reserve	2-2	Pollock, Blissett
Under 19s	05	Calder United	Keilor Park Reserve	2-2	Vlahopoulos, Zois
Under 16s	05	Calder United	Keilor Park Reserve	6-0	Louloudis (x2), Saron (x2), Swift, Sofronidis
Under 14s	05	Calder United	Keilor Park Reserve	2-0	Antrobus, Mohammad Ziaa

March 25, 2018

Senior Women Secure Draw at Calder

(Left to right) Maryam Anvari (hidden), Chelsea Blissett, Marianna Anthony and Kathryn Vlahopoulos after Blissett’s equalising goal. (PHOTO: Sam Anfield Photography)

FINAL SCORE: CALDER UNITED 2-2 SOUTH MELBOURNE (HT: 1-0)

Goals:
1-0: Raquel Deralas (42′)
1-1: Jamie Pollock (58′)
2-1: Catherine Zimmerman (81′)
2-2: Chelsea Blissett (83′)

Calder United:
Ayana Aoyagi (GK), 2. Marie Rampal (3. Sarah Lorca 53′), 4. Rachel Binning (c), 5. Kasha Meyer, 7. Raquel Deralas, 8. Alana Burn, 10. Gulcan Koca, 11. Emma Robers (6. Holly Boldiston 71′), 12. Alycia Eicke, 17. Angela Beard, 19. Catherine Zimmerman.
Unused Substitutes: 14. Jasmine Arezzolo, 16. Polly Doran, 20. Mackensy Matthews.
Yellow Cards: None.

South Melbourne:
1. Cassandra Zaffina (GK), 4. Leah Scroggie, 5. Aimee Medwin, 7. Chelsea Blissett, 8. Jamie Pollock, 9. Julia Nicolaci, 10. Natalie Martineau (16. Sofia Sakalis 41′), 12. Sarah Richardson (35. Maryam Anvari 69′), 13. Tiffany Eliadis (c) (40. Kathryn Vlahopoulos 79′), 14. Alex Cheal (2. Marianna Anthony 69′), 17. Melina Ayres.
Unused Substitutes: Elena Holmes (GK).
Yellow Card: Pollock 55′.

March 25, 2018
Late Goal Slumps South

Nick Epifano was a shining light in a dark evening for South (PHOTO: Cindy Nitsos).

FINAL SCORE: NORTHCOTE CITY 3-2 SOUTH MELBOURNE (HT: 1-2)

Goals:
1-0: Charlie Beverley (18′)
1-1: Nick Epifano (23’p)
1-2: Milos Lujic (29′)
2-2: Thomas Barforosh (61′)
3-2: Lucas Derrick (90+4′)

Northcote City:
1. Fraser Chalmers (GK), 2. George Stavridis, 4. Charlie Beverley (c), 5. Alberto Jesus Garcia Balta, 10. Thomas Barforosh (7. Anthony Ramzy 85′), 11. Lucas Derrick, 14. Anthony Theodoropoulos, 16. Jaiden Madafferi, 19. Andrew Doig (6. Bardhi Hysolli 65′), 20. Adrian Boglis, 45. Gerrie Sylaidos.
Unused Substitutes: 15. Adrian Mancini, 17. Otman Benhaddou, 32. Phillip Petrovski.
Yellow Cards: Doig 28′, Beverley 39′, Stavridis 57′, Garcia Balta 64′, Hysolli 70′, Boglis 81′.

South Melbourne:
1. Keegan Coulter (GK) / 23. Matthew Foschini, 3. Kristian Konstantinidis, 39. Christos Intzidis, 11. Brad Norton (c) / 12. Iqi Jawadi (16. Josh Hodes 74′), Luke Pavlou / 17. Andy Brennan (sent off 75′), 7. Nick Epifano, 18. Matthew Millar / 9. Milos Lujic.
Unused Substitutes: 15. Ben Djiba, 20. Ajdin Fetahagic, 21. Amir Jashari (GK).
Yellow Cards: Norton 42′, Pavlou 48′, Jawadi 71′, Hodes 78′.

March 24, 2018
NPLW R05 – Preview

Calder United v SMFC – Keilor Park Recreational Reserve – Saturday 24 March 2018 at 2:30pm

Last Four League Meetings – click individual game for highlights
2017 (QSF): SMFC 4-2 Calder United (Lakeside Stadium)
2017 (R21): SMFC 2-2 Calder United (Lakeside Stadium)
2017 (R12): SMFC 2-1 Calder United (Lakeside Stadium)
2017 (R03): SMFC 4-2 Calder United (Keilor Park Reserve)

Overall Head to Head:
Played: 4
SMFC Wins: 3
Calder United Wins: 0
Draws: 1

March 22, 2018
SMFC Men vs Northcote – Preview

Northcote City v SMFC – John Cain Reserve – Saturday 24 March 2018 at 6:30pm

Last Five League Meetings – click individual game for highlights

2016 (R15): SMFC 3-1 Northcote City (Lakeside Stadium)
2016 (R02): Northcote City 0-4 SMFC (John Cain Reserve)
2015 (R26): SMFC 3-0 Northcote City (Lakeside Stadium)
2015 (R13): Northcote City 1-2 SMFC (John Cain Reserve)
2014 (R24): SMFC 2-1 Northcote City (Lakeside Stadium)

Overall Head to Head (League & Finals):
Played: 15
SMFC Wins: 6
Northcote City Wins: 5
Draws: 4

March 22, 2018

NPL Scores (March 17-18)

NPL MEN / BOYS

Level	Rd	Opposition	Venue	Result	SMFC Goal Scorers
Seniors	04	Pascoe Vale	CB Smith Reserve	2-2	Minopoulos, Lujic
Under 20s	04	Pascoe Vale	CB Smith Reserve	0-0
Under 18s	04	GV Suns	John McEwen Res	6-1	Garrow, Giannakarios, Fogel, Loutrakis, Mankolli, Pegoli
Under 16s	04	GV Suns	John McEwen Res	5-0	Chong (x2), Baker, Maramis, Panakos
Under 15s	04	GV Suns	John McEwen Res	4-1	Vlogianitis (x3), Thomson
Under 14s	04	GV Suns	John McEwen Res	4-5	Markovski (x2), Gonzalez, Karasavidis
Under 13s	04	GV Suns	John McEwen Res	11-3	Dovison (x4), Froelicher (x2), Kritikos (x2), Gregory, Papastergiadis, Pedruco

NPL WOMEN / GIRLS

Level	Rd	Opposition	Venue	Result	SMFC Goal Scorers
Seniors	04	Heidelberg Utd	Olympic Village	3-2	Eliadis (x2), Ayres
Under 19s	04	Heidelberg Utd	Olympic Village	1-1	Josefski
Under 16s	04	Heidelberg Utd	Olympic Village	8-2	Moseshvili (x3), Murray (x2), Saron (x2), Mazzeo
Under 14s	04	Heidelberg Utd	Olympic Village	2-3	Demaria, Own Goal

March 18, 2018

South Women Back to Winning Ways

Celebrations as Tiff Eliadis scores against Heidelberg at Olympic Village on 17 March 2018. (PHOTO: Cindy Nitsos).

FINAL SCORE: HEIDELBERG UNITED 2-3 SOUTH MELBOURNE (HT: 1-0)

Goals:
1-0: Stephanie Galea (8′)
1-1: Tiffany Eliadis (62′)
1-2: Tiffany Eliadis (71′)
2-2: Elise Mamanu-Gray (86′)
2-3: Melina Ayres (90′)

Heidelberg United:
11. Melissa Barbieri (GK) (c) (1. Christine Fonua 90+2′), 4. Michelle Verzi, 5. Elly Torre, 7. Stephanie Galea, 9. Emma Langley, 12. Daniella Galluccio (3. Katrina Tsalikidis 56′), 15. Caitlin Storay (10. Maja Markovski 46′), 16. Sarina Vallese, 17. Elisa Mamanu-Gray, 18. Lisa Fonua, 20. Monica Fonua.
Unused Substitutes: 22. Samantha Black, 23. Mikayla Lazic.
Yellow Cards: Torre 34′, Markovski 67′.

South Melbourne:
1. Cassandra Zaffina (GK), 4. Leah Scroggie, 5. Aimee Medwin, 7. Chelsea Blissett, 8. Jamie Pollock (c), 9. Julia Nicolaci, 12. Sarah Richardson, 31. Sophie Papatsanis (17. Melina Ayres 59′), 34. Paige Zois (10. Natalie Martineau 59′), 40. Kathryn Vlahopoulos (13. Tiffany Eliadis 46′), 49. Emily Rayment (16. Sofia Sakalis 68′).
Unused Substitutes: 11. Alexia Karatzikos (GK).
Yellow Card: Medwin 83′.

March 17, 2018
South Suffer Disappointing Draw

Nick Epifano (7) and Christos Intzidis congratulate Milos Lujic (9) after the centre forward’s header put SMFC 2-0 up against Pascoe Vale at CB Smith Reserve on Friday 16 March 2018. (PHOTO: Cindy Nitsos).

FINAL SCORE: PASCOE VALE 2-2 SOUTH MELBOURNE (HT: 0-2)

Goals:
0-1: Leigh Minopoulos (35′)
0-2: Milos Lujic (42′)
1-2: Joseph Youssef (56′)
2-2: Davey Van’t Schip (62’p)

Pascoe Vale:
1. Yaren Sozer (GK), 2. Adrian Talarico, 4. Matthew Hennessey, 5. Ethan Docherty, 8. Joseph Youssef (c), 9. Michael Ferrante (30. Luka Prelevic 90′), 10. Davey Van’t Schip, 20. Gonzalo Abascal Munoz, 23. Amir Osmancevic (11. Philippe Bernado-Madrid 72′), 29. Matteo Ballan, 77. Stephen Hatzikostas.
Unused Substitutes: 14. Samuel Logozzo, 19. Nicolas Gonzalez, 35. Alexander Pavlidis (GK).
Yellow Cards: None.

South Melbourne:
1. Keegan Coulter (GK) / 23. Matthew Foschini, 3. Kristian Konstantinidis, 39. Christos Intzidis, 11. Brad Norton (c) / 12. Iqi Jawadi, 18. Matthew Millar / 17. Andy Brennan (19. Oliver Minatel 79′), 7. Nick Epifano, 27. Leigh Minopoulos (8. Luke Pavlou 84′) / 9. Milos Lujic.
Unused Substitutes: 16. Josh Hodes, 20. Ajdin Fetahagic, 21. Amir Jashari (GK).
Yellow Cards: Lujic 43′, Brennan 53′, Intzidis 61′, Jawadi 90+2′.

March 17, 2018
NPLW R04 – Preview

Heidelberg United v SMFC – Olympic Village – Saturday 17 March 2018 at 3pm

Last Five League Meetings – click individual game for highlights (2017 only)
2017 (R20): SMFC 4-0 Heidelberg United (Lakeside Stadium)
2017 (R11): SMFC 3-0 Heidelberg United (Lakeside Stadium)
2017 (R02): Heidelberg United 0-2 SMFC (Olympic Village)
2015 (ESF): SMFC 2-1 Heidelberg United (Lakeside Stadium)
2015 (R22): Heidelberg United 2-2 SMFC (Olympic Village)

Overall Head to Head (since 2005):
Played: 23
SMFC Wins: 13
Heidelberg United Wins: 9
Draws: 1

March 15, 2018