Author: SMFC Media

Tuesday, 25 March 2008 9:40 AM

By George Kouroumalis

A wasteful South Melbourne has been defeated by the AIS 0-2 in their Easter Monday clash at Bob Jane Stadium.

Going into the game, South coach John Anastasiadis was forced to make a couple of changes to the starting line-up, with the suspension of Steven O’Dor and the injury to Adam Van Dommele, who also missed out on the match.

Replacing the two in the back four were vice captain Ramazan Tavsancioglu and youngster Robert Wynne, who was looking to impress with a rare starting eleven position given to him. Wynne was instructed to play in the central defensive position, an area in which he was given an opportunity to play in throughout the pre-season competition in January.

South commenced the game as the more aggressive of the two sides, launching an early raid on the AIS goal in the fourth minute. A storming run on the left hand flank by Goran Zoric finished with the speedster launching his shot wide of the target. Minutes later, South had yet another opportunity to take the lead, only for another Zoric run and cross being headed over the bar by Hamlet Armenian.

In response the AIS showed their speed and quality in a sweeping counter attack move, with the ball ending up at the feet of exciting winger Kofi Danning. Danning received the ball on the right hand flank, cut back into the centre of the park, darted past a host of South defenders as if they were witches hats and hit a swinging left footed drive just wide of the target.

In the 23rd minute Danning continued to pester the South Melbourne defence. On this occasion, the winger opted to launch an early cross into the box, beating Sam Poutakidis on the right hand side. With the South defence poorly positioned, Jason Naidovski rose above all defenders and slammed a well struck header inches over the cross bar.

In the 33rd minute, South had a golden chance to take the lead after a swinging corner by Bill Natsioulas was met by Shane Nunes just outside the six yard box. With no-one around him, Nunes hit a timid header into the prying arms of the AIS keeper Mark Birghitti.

South thought it had received the lifeline it needed in the 43rd minute after an inviting run into the area by Gianni De Nittis saw the striker fouled just inside the area. With the failure of the AIS player to win the ball, the referee awarded a penalty, much to the disgust of the AIS defenders.

With all South fans up on their feet in anticipation, Fernando hit his penalty to the right hand side of the goal, beating Birghitti who dived to his left hand side. Unfortunately though for the Brazilian and for the blue and whites, his shot swung past the right hand goal post and out for a goal-kick.

In an attempt to rectify his earlier error, Fernando had the final opportunity of the opening half in the 45th minute, when he recovered a loose ball in the middle before running unmarked and launching a drive from 25 yards out. The goal-bound strike was superbly collected by keeper Birghitti, who ensured that his side would go into the game on even terms.

South had numerous opportunities to take the lead in the early stages of the second half, with both Fernando and Natsioulas spooning chances into the arms of Birghitti, after both hit timid shots onto the target.

With the home side being so wasteful in front of goal, the determined AIS side were intent on punishing South and did so in the 56th minute, when a ball was floated into the path of the ever reliable youngster Naidovski. Naidovski, who is tipped to be the next big thing in Australian football, made room before latching onto a cross in typically deadly fashion to give his side the 0-1 lead.

South continued to push forward in an attempt to equalise, but it seemed as if there was no spark or luck for the home side. A sweeping move by the home side in the 73rd minute appeared to be the last major effort. A lovely lay-off ball by substitute Nathan Caldwell found Hamlet Armenian in space with only the keeper to beat. To the dismay of the home support, Armenian completely fluffed the chance, spooning the ball over the bar and into the terraces behind the goals.

From that point on the AIS had all the play and should have doubled their advantage in the 75th minute. A stunning counter attack saw the ball strike the upright, before falling into the feet of Naidovski, with Anastasiadis on the deck. A heroic lunge on the goal line by Shane Nunes thwarted the shot on goal and breathed some life back into the lackluster home side.

However, despite the finest efforts of the South defence, a piece of Naidovski brilliance iced the game only two minutes later when he scored one of the goals of the season from 30 yards out. Naidovski gathered possession and launched a wonder strike on goal that flew past the helpless Anastasiadis and off the post into the goal for 0-2.

South now sit 12th on the table with only one win out of the opening five rounds. The matches do not get easier for South, with the next game being a tough trip to BT Connor Reserve to face Preston in one of the big derbies of the VPL season. The match is on Sunday and kicks off is at 3pm.

Saturday, 22 March 2008 11:04 AM

By George Kouroumalis

After a 17 day break, South Melbourne will be keen to return to the Foxtel Cup action on Easter Monday as it hosts the league leading AIS side at Bob Jane Stadium.

South will go into the game confident of getting a result, even though results wise the club is struggling this season with only one victory from their opening four fixtures, with the most recent result being a 1-0 loss away to Oakleigh. However South’s confidence going into the AIS fixture will come out of the team’s performance against Oakleigh, as South dominated all over the park but struggled to convert their chances in front of goal.

South coach John Anastasiadis will not be expected to make many changes to the starting line-up, with the only change likely to be to the back four. Ramazan Tavsancioglu is expected to return, after sitting out the Oakleigh game due to a family commitment. ‘Rama’ will most certainly be replacing Steven O’Dor, with the big central defender set to be sitting out this week’s match after being sent off against the Cannons.

South will once again rely on Hamlet Armenian and Gianni De Nittis up front, with experienced duo Ricky Diaco and Nathan Caldwell also staking a claim for a first eleven position. All four will be looking forward to pressing forward against the AIS on the Bob Jane Stadium field, where in the last outing they had a field day against Western Suburbs, netting goals galore and creating many opportunities.

South will however be without youngster Yusuf Yusuf, with the young winger succumbing to a horrific knee injury against the Cannons. Yusuf, who had his knee taken from underneath him, suffered an injury to his anterior cruciate ligament and will be expected to miss twelve months of first team football as he recovers.

With his absence, South will most likely commence the game with the same midfield quartet as against Oakleigh, with young Antonio La Verde impressing in his two appearances in the centre of the park for his new club. With the experienced Fernando and Bill Natsioulas around him, coupled by the inclusion of the elusive Goran Zoric in the midfield area, South will be keen on dominating play throughout the entire middle third.

The AIS will be no pushovers, with the Canberra based side possessing a squad that is filled by some of the most talented footballers in the country. This talent has shone throughout their opening four games so far this year, with the AIS currently undefeated and only one point off the top of the table.

In order for South to win the game they must contain two very high credentialed youngsters in Jason Naidovski and Kofi Danning, who so far this year have both had stellar performances against highly rated opposition.

Naidovski is considered one of the brightest prospects that Australian football has to offer, with the 18 year old striker already representing his nation at U17, U19 and U23 level, as well as being a train-on player with A-League franchise Sydney FC. A hard worker and quality finisher, Naidovski has buried 6 goals in his side’s opening four games, which includes scoring in every game thus far.

With an A-League call-up for next season a possibility, Naidovski will be keen to keep up his goal scoring record and prove he deserves to be playing at national level. Should South shut Naidovski and strike partner Danning down, they will go a long way towards winning the match.

South reminds all fans, members and the general public that Monday is Ladies Day at Bob Jane Stadium, with all females admitted to the game for free, whilst a BBQ will also be provided for all ladies and 2008 club members. The match kicks off at 4pm.

South Melbourne FC vs AIS

When: Monday, March 24th
Where: Bob Jane Stadium
Kick-off: 4pm (Under 21s at 1.45pm)

Projected Starting line-ups

AIS
Mark Birghitti (GK), Daniel Mullen, Dane Milovanovic, Richard Greer, Alexander Sunasky, Luke Devere, Kofi Danning, Jason Naidovski, Daniel Taylor, Howard Fondyke, Ante Cicak

South Melbourne
Dean Anastasiadis (GK), Sam Poutakidis, Rama Tavsancioglou, Adam Van Dommele, Shane Nunes, Tony La Verde, Bill Natsioulas, Goran Zoric, Fernando De Moraes, Hamlet Armenian, Gianni De Nittis

Head to head (Games since 2005)

Played : 1
AIS : 0
South Melbourne : 1
Draw : 0

Last Meeting

When: Sunday, 6 May 2007
Where: Bob Jane Stadium
Score: South Melbourne 2 def AIS 1

Form in 2008 (last 3 games)

South: Loss, Win, Loss
AIS: Win, Win, Draw

Monday, 17 March 2008 11:12 AM

Key South Melbourne midfielder Yusuf Yusuf has suffered a knee injury and is likely to miss the remainder of the 2008 Foxtel Cup season.

Yusuf went down clutching his knee only moments after he was substituted onto the park in the round 4 clash against Oakleigh.
A collision of legs saw the young midfielder in immediate and immense pain.

Recent scans have shown that Yusuf has injured his Anterior Cruciate Ligament and that he will require a knee reconstruction to rectify this problem.

The club wishes Yusuf all the best during this tough time for him and hopes that he can get back onto the park in the not too distant future.

Tuesday, 11 March 2008 1:24 PM

Over the years, South Melbourne has been blessed with so many great players representing the club. Whilst many joined South from overseas (such as the likes of Alun Evans and in more recent times Fernando), many have also left South to pursue their dream of playing football overseas.

In a new series on smfc.com.au, we will keep all fans updated on how our former players currently playing overseas are faring in their respective leagues.

Michael Petkovic is the South Melbourne Team of the Century goal keeper. Since leaving the club in 2002, ‘Petka’ has made a huge impact on the Turkish Super League, with outstanding performances for Trabzonspor and Sivvaspor over that period. His 2007/8 season has been mixed, where he has featured in a dozen league games for his side Sivvaspor to date.

On the weekend against Ankaragucu, he scored an extremely bizarre goal, where he launched a long kick up the field of play, with the ball clearing the entire defence in the process, including the opposing goalkeeper (who had ventured out of his area) before rolling into the back of the net. Sivvaspor are now only one point off the top position in the league, with a Champions League position for both the club and Petka well and truly a reality.

In England, Patrick Kisnorbo has established himself as one of the finest defenders in the English Coca-Cola Championship, with a solid season to date. He has started on 34 occasions for Leicester City in the league, as well as playing a star role in the side’s Cup competition fixtures. As well as proving himself as a strong defensive player that does not give his opponents any time to relax, ‘Paddy’ has also proven to be a capable and quite dangerous goal scorer from set pieces, netting 4 goals as well as providing a big presense up front for set pieces.

After an injury-riddled last few weeks, Patrick is expected to return to first team action this week as Leicester travel to Southampton in a must-win contest.

Former South junior Paul Giannou has continued to impress in the Greek Super League, despite not playing for his side Apollon Kalamarias on the weekend. Giannou is a highly rated junior and the 18 year old is expected to one day represent the national team on the world stage.

Michael Baird is playing for Universitatea Craiova in the Romanian First Division and the former South Melbourne striker has scored on five occasions for his new club. Baird played for South in the 2002/03 NSL season and is best remembered for his explosive start to that season, including scoring a double for the club in their memorable 6-4 victory against arch rivals Sydney Olympic, with one of those goals being a volley.

Finally, ex South defender John Tambouras has found himself playing for Drogheda United in the Irish Premier League.

Should anyone have further information on South Melbourne players playing aboard, could you please email the club at media@smfc.com.au with details.

Sunday, 9 March 2008 3:26 PM

By George Kouroumalis

A fifth minute strike by Frank Lagana was enough to see Oakleigh defeat South Melbourne in the opening game of round 4 in the Foxtel Cup.

An expectant crowd of over 2500 people crammed into Jack Edwards Reserve for one of the most anticipated derby matches of the season, with both clubs coming into the game full of confidence following solid victories in the previous round.

Oakleigh started the better of the two sides, controlling the midfield area from kick-off, with ex-South Melbourne central midfielder Bill Damianos hitting the first shot in anger from long range. With the ball flying wide of the right hand post, South were warned of the danger that the veteran would provide as the night went on.

It was only the 5th minute when the Cannons launched a foray forward, culminating in Frank Lagana capturing possession on the edge of the box. With his back facing to goal, Lagana turned his marker inside out before launching a wonderful strike past Dean Anastasiadis and into the back of the net.

South responded with a plethora of chances and came closest through Goran Zoric in the 14th minute, when a Sam Poutakidis cross was not properly dealt with by the Cannons defence. The ball dropped to Zoric outside the box, where the diminutive midfielder hit a firm drive that flew just inches over the bar and out for a goal kick.

Fernando, who had come off a two goal haul the previous weekend against Western Suburbs, then pushed forward to try and find the equaliser for his side. In the 30th minute, he found himself in space following some great lead-up work by Hamlet Armenian on the edge of the area. With the entire goal face for him to shoot at, Fernando hit the ball wide of the target, with the ball slamming into the advertising boards for a goal kick.

Oakleigh responded with an attacking move of their own, after a sublime interception in the centre of the park by Damianos culminated in the veteran playing an inch-perfect ball to Trent Waterson on the left hand side of the area. Waterson, who was being chased down quite rapidly by Poutakidis, hit a quality ball into the area, where ex-South man Tex Apostolikas latched onto the cross around the penalty spot. With only Anastasiadis to beat, Apostolikas hit a timid volley directly at the keeper to ensure the scoreline remained at 1-0.

The final chance of the opening half fell to South Melbourne, after a corner was launched to the back post. Some poor marking by the Oakleigh defence saw Shane Nunes find himself with a free header, however Cannons goalkeeper Adrian Cagalj made a superb save at the near post from close range, tipping the ball over the bar for a corner.

South started the second half intent on finding an equalising goal but could not muster a genuine opportunity until the 57th minute, when Zoric once again darted past the left hand side of the Oakleigh defence and hit a shot from just inside the area straight into the arms of Cagalj.

The away side, backed by a very large and passionate traveling contingent, continued to attack at every opportunity and in the 63rd minute some lovely work just outside the penalty box by Gianni De Nittis saw the striker acquire possession and play a superb ball past the defence and into the path of Poutakidis in space. Poutakidis then launched a powerful drive at goal, however the ball flew past the right hand goalpost and out for a goal kick.

Even though their goal was under pressure, Oakleigh still looked dangerous on the counter attack and through Damianos, who was having a great game in the centre of the park, they launched a sublime move that saw the ball played by Damianos past the two stagnant South defenders and into the path of Juan Nilo. With only Anastasiadis to beat, Nilo hit a poorly struck shot into the thankful arms of the keeper.

With 20 minutes remaining on the clock, South introduced Ricky Diaco into the action and the 2007 SMFC Most Valuable Player immediately had an impact, twice testing Cagalj from long range, with the experienced keeper making no mistake in saving both stinging drives.

With eight minutes of regulation time left, what seemed like being an innocuous clash of legs saw Yusuf Yusuf stretchered off, clutching his knee and screaming in pain. The signs did not look good for Yusuf, who had just been substituted onto the park only minutes earlier. In what was a further blow to South, because they had already used up their three substitutions only moments earlier andwere forced to try and equalise with only 10 men on the field.

Matters got even worse for South in the 89th minute, when referee Kevin Dockerty awarded a dubious yellow card to South defender Steven O’Dor, who was adjudged to have interfered with Adrian Cagalj whilst the Oakleigh keeper was trying to kick the ball out after gaining possession. This was the second yellow of the game for O’Dor, forcing him to be sent from the field of play for the remaining few minutes and thus condemning South to finishing the game with 9 men.

With the game coming to an end, Zoric found the ball at his feet and hit a ferocious shot that smashed off the crossbar and away to safety for the Cannons. South’s final chance fell to Caldwell in the 94th minute, whose turn and shot was on target, however once again Cagalj stood in the way and ensured that his side would taste derby victory against their modern day foe.

Due to the staging of the Formula 1 Grand Prix at Albert Park next weekend, South Melbourne will have a week’s break before playing the AIS on Easter Monday at 4pm at Bob Jane Stadium.

Thursday, 6 March 2008 1:18 PM

By John Kyrou & George Kouroumalis 
Image: South celebrate emphatic 5-2 victory against Oakleigh in the 2007 Foxtel Cup

South will approach the contest full of confidence, following a resounding 5-0 demolition of Western Suburbs at Bob Jane Stadium last week, a win that raises hope for the supporters that it was the kick-start needed for the team in order to gain confidence and propel themselves up the table.

It is expected that the side from the Suburbs game will remain unchanged for this contest, with the only lingering question being the fitness of both Ricky Diaco and Nathan Caldwell, who both missed last week due to injuries sustained against Coburg in round 2. Diaco will be expected to once again miss this week with a groin strain that has plagued his 2008 season, whilst Caldwell will put his hand up for selection after recovering from a bout of concussion.

Tony La Verde and Jose Vasquez will once again throw their hat into the ring for the much sought after (and highly talked about) midfield spot, with La Verde impressing everyone with his debut performance last week against Suburbs. Vasquez also impressed when he came off the bench and really showed coach John Anastasiadis that he is ready to challenge for a starting eleven spot.

Leading the midfield will be Fernando, with the Brazilian maestro in sublime form last weekend, scoring a double (including a fantastic free kick) and playing a major hand in most of South’s attacking forays. The staggering fact though was that Fernando is still not fully fit, yet his performance against Suburbs was likened to his 2006 season where he tore the entire competition apart with ease.

In defence, South will be lead by the experienced Sam Poutakidis, who was regarded by many as the best player on the field last week against Suburbs as he returned to his natural right back position. The former Oakleigh veteran would no doubt be very keen to tackle his former club and be a part of a South side that takes all three points away from Jack Edwards Reserve for the first time since 2005.

Joining Poutakidis in defence will be Rama Tavsancioglu and Steve O’Dor, whilst the other position in the back four will be either filled by Adam Van Dommele or Shane Nunes, both of whom played last week with mixed results.

Oakleigh on the other hand have a fairly new squad from last year, with the Cannons acquiring some very good and hard working players to compliment some of the quality already on their list. The Cannons have had a relatively good start to season 2008, with two draws in their opening two games and then an excellent 0-1 win against Coburg United.

Defensively, South need to get past former Melbourne Knights goalkeeper Adrian Cagalj, who has returned to the Cannons for his second stint at the club. Just in front of Cagalj, the Cannons will be relying on the experience of captain Felix Rosman, who combined with the Drakos brothers will provide a tough and hard defensive unit to break down.

The midfield area for the Cannons is likely to be made up of an abundance of former South Melbourne players, with the middle third likely to be controlled by Bill Damianos. Bill is highly regarded in Victorian football and is considered as being one of the best central midfielders in the state. He played juniors with South before breaking into the senior side in 1994 and racking up 107 games for the club in the six seasons he spent in the senior side. A former championship winner with the club in the NSL and a player with European experience, Damianos will be the key in this contest and South will go a long way in winning this contest should they be able to shut down Damianos’ influence.

In that midfield area, Damianos will be joined by other former South players in Scott MacNicol and Trent Waterson, both of whom shone at VPL level at South, before leaving the club to join the Cannons.

The striking duties will be expected to be carried out by another former South player in Tex Aposolikas and veteran Juan Nilo, with the former Gippsland Falcons player eager to score against South Melbourne once again.

All fans are encouraged to get along and soak up the energetic derby atmosphere, as well as to get behind the team against a difficult opponent in the Foxtel Cup competition.

South Melbourne FC vs Oakleigh Cannons

When: Friday, March 7th
Where: Jack Edwards Reserve, Oakleigh
Kick-off: 8.30pm (Under 21s at 6.30pm)

Projected Starting line-ups

Oakleigh
Adrian Cagalj (GK), Adam Ewin, Stelios Drakos, Aristidis Drakos, Felix Rosman, Jonathon Munoz, Trent Waterson, Scott MacNicol, Bill Damianos, Tex Apostolikas, Juan Nilo,

South Melbourne
Dean Anastasiadis (GK), Sam Poutakidis, Rama Tavsancioglou, Adam Van Dommele, Steve O’dor, Tony La Verde, Bill Natsioulas, Goran Zoric, Fernando De Moraes, Hamlet Armenian, Gianni De Nittis

Head to head (Games since 2005)

Played : 6
Oakleigh : 3
South Melbourne : 2
Draw : 1

Last Meeting

When: Friday, 27 July 2007
Where: Bob Jane Stadium
Score: South Melbourne 5 def Oakleigh Cannons 2

Form in 2008 (last 3 games)

Oakleigh: Draw, Draw, Win
South: Loss, Loss, Win

Wednesday, 5 March 2008 10:50 AM

SOUTH MELBOURNE FC IN DISCUSSIONS WITH STATE GOVERNMENT REGARDING STADIUM

Albert Park has been the home of the South Melbourne Football Club for almost fifty years. For the last 13 years the club has been based at Bob Jane Stadium. In that time, the South Melbourne Football Club has invested heavily in both the local and general community, as well as in the Bob Jane Stadium itself.

The South Melbourne Football Club will be celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2009 and is committed to remaining at Bob Jane Stadium long term and remaining an integral part of the local community and the Victorian sporting culture.

The club is currently in the process of participating in discussions with the Government in relation to the possible future redevelopment of the Bob Jane Stadium.

The discussions are ongoing and the South Melbourne Football Club is satisfied with the process and the discussions to date and intends to remain a part of the process with a view to ensuring a positive outcome and to secure the future of the club.

The club does not intend to make any further statement at this stage.

Monday, 3 March 2008 11:00 AM

South Melbourne FC sends its warmest congratulations to a couple of long time supporters in Nick and Lee, who married on Saturday.

Both have been members of the club for over 20 years and are regulars week in and week out watching the South Melbourne side play. They also regularly made interstate trips to watch games back when the club was competing in the National Soccer League.

One of the highlights of their celebrations on Saturday was taking photos on the field of the famous Bob Jane Stadium, the place where they met and in an environment that they both love dearly.

The couple leave for their honeymoon to Europe on Thursday.

We wish Nick and Lee (“Mr and Mrs Banger”) all the best for a happy future together.

Monday, 3 March 2008 8:36 AM

By George Kouroumalis

A superb South Melbourne performance has seen the home side completely destroy Western Suburbs by 5 goals to nil in front of a healthy and vocal crowd on Sunday at Bob Jane Stadium.

Coach John Anastasiadis made four changes to the starting line-up from last week, bringing in Gianni De Nittis, Hamlet Armenian, Fernando De Moraes and Tony La Verde, whilst dropping Nathan Caldwell, Shane Nunes and Yusuf Yusuf to the substitutes bench. Ricky Diaco missed out altogether with a slight groin strain.

La Verde was making his debut for the club and slotted into the much discussed defensive midfield role, alongside Bill Natsioulas, who played in the centre of the park. Joining the duo in the midfield were Fernando and Goran Zoric, who patrolled the right and left hand flanks.

In defence, Sam Poutakidis moved to the right back position, whilst Adam Van Dommele retained his position on the left, next to the two centre backs in Ramazan Tavsancioglu and Steven O’Dor. Up front, Gianni De Nittis and Hamlet Armenian were asked to perform the attacking duties, with the two youngsters keen to impress and cement a permanent starting 11 birth.

South started the game in an offensive mood, mounting an early raid on goal in the 3rd minute. A poorly defended cross fell to Poutakidis outside the area, who then launched a somewhat speculative volley from 20 yards out, only to see his shot fly wide of the goal. With the South mindset clearly on show for all to see, the home side launched another foray forward five minutes later, when a sublime run by Fernando culminated in a quick shot which saw Suburbs goalkeeper Gal do well to parry onto the post and away to safety.

South continued to raid the Suburbs goal and only minutes later a surging run by Poutakidis down the right hand flank saw the right back cut past the defender before hitting a poor shot straight into the arms of Gal. With Western Suburbs on the back foot, South squandered another chance in the 22nd minute, when a well weighted corner by Natsioulas was headed just over by O’Dor, who had leapt well over everyone in the area.

However the frustration felt by the South fans turned into joy in the 27th minute, when another run by Fernando once again culminated in the Brazilian launching a long range effort. Although Gal managed to get a hand onto the ball he could not prevent it from going into the back of the net and giving South a deserved 1-0 lead.

South were not done with yet and doubled their advantage in the 30th minute. A brilliant solo effort by Fernando once again saw the midfield maestro embarrass the Suburbs defence down the left hand side, before playing an inch perfect pass to the back post for Natsioulas to tap in with consummate ease.

With South in a rampant attacking mood, the side continued to press forward and squandered a guilt edged chance in the 33rd minute, when Gianni De Nittis missed a one on one chance just inside the area, after latching onto a 25 yard diagonal ball by Sam Poutakidis, who was having a superb game at right back.

Suburbs did have a chance against the run of play just before the half time break, when some poor defending by South and a quick counter-attack saw young Dimitri Hatzimouratis burst past the defence and into the area, before hitting his shot well wide of the target and away for a goal kick.

South commenced the second half in the same manner as the first, creating a chance almost immediately after the re-start. On this occasion Fernando, who was having a stellar game in the middle of the park, launched a stinging drive from long range on target, before keeper Gal made a superb acrobatic save to deny the Brazilian.

South went three up only ten minutes later after some brilliant lead-up work by Hamlet Armenian saw the speedster take on and pass the defenders before hitting a shot that was saved by Gal initially, but fell to the feet of De Nittis inside the area, who marked his return to the starting line-up in style with a calm finish.

With the South fans in party mode, Fernando sent them into further celebration when he hit a superb free kick from 25 yards around the wall and into the goal in the 60th minute, leaving Gal rooted to the spot and acting only as a spectator. The goal will surely be a contender for the goal of the round.

The intensity of the game dropped off for a period just after the goal until the 78th minute, when a superb triple save by Gal saw South fail to take advantage of another golden opportunity to score. The ball however was not properly cleared and De Nittis had another shot on goal which beat Gal but was cleared off the line by his defence and over the grandstand to safety.

South iced the game in the 88th minute when Armenian once again found space on the left hand side of the area before slamming an inch perfect ball to the back post. Poutakidis was steaming into the area and latched onto the ball and slammed a shot into the back of the net for South’s fifth and final goal of the evening.

South will be looking to replicate this performance when it travels to Oakleigh on Friday night to take on rivals Oakleigh Cannons, in what promises to be an exciting match in front of a big crowd.

Friday, 29 February 2008 10:07 AM

Former South Melbourne player Michael Theoklitos has capped off a stellar 2007/08 season in the A-League by taking out the prestigious goalkeeper of the year award.

Theoklitos was at South for three seasons and in his time with the club he showed the signs of someone that was going to stand out at national and international level as he gained more experience.

He joins former South Melbourne player Michael Petkovic to win such an honour, with the team of the century goalkeeper winning the award on three ocassions.

We wish Michael all the best for the rest of his career and look forward to seeing him wearing the Green and Gold of Australia on the world stage in the near future.