Category: News

By John Kyrou (Photo by South Hobart FC)

South Melbourne FC won through to the PlayStation 4 National Premier League Semi Finals with a hard-fought 1-0 victory against South Hobart FC at the South Hobart Ground on Saturday afternoon. Jamie Reed’s spectacular goal via an overhead kick proved to be the difference as the Victorian Champions defeated the Tasmanian Champions, setting up a meeting with the NPL South Australia Minor Premiers MetroStars Soccer Club this coming Sunday.

Several hundred South Melbourne fans flew across the Bass Strait from Melbourne to Hobart to support their side on Saturday and their presence was certainly noticed and heard at the South Hobart Ground. Their side began the match strongly and opened the scoring after only six minutes. Michael Eagar’s header hit the crossbar before the ball was eventually set up for Reed to connect with an overhead kick that beat South Hobart goalkeeper Kane Pierce for what was the winning goal. The Tasmanian Champions slowly worked their way back into the game and had shouts for a penalty waved away by the referee Brenton Kopra after centre-forward Brayden Mann went down in the penalty area. Some heavy challenges resulted in some aggressive moments shortly before the halftime break as tempers flared but eventually everything calmed down and the Victorian Champions went into the sheds with their lead intact.

Ken Morton’s South Hobart continued to pressure South Melbourne in the second half and looked very dangerous on the break thanks to their forwards Mann and Andy Brennan, who between them had scored 56 of South Hobart’s 89 League goals in 2014. The Tasmanians should have scored in the second half but lacked composure at the critical moments, with many of their opportunities resulting in the ball flying over Chris Maynard’s crossbar. South Melbourne had Eagar to thank also for a superb dominant performance at centre-half, with the captain leading by example and intercepting many of South Hobart’s attacks. South Melbourne suffered a horrible blow just after the hour mark when midfielder Stephen Hatzikostas landed awkwardly on his right leg after challenging for a header and had to be immediately substituted to the applause of all 800 spectators inside the ground.

The match hit a controversial point about twenty minutes from time when Reed’s ball over the top of the South Hobart defence put Milos Lujic through one-on-one with Pierce. Lujic dribbled the ball past the oncoming Pierce before being body-checked by the South Hobart goalkeeper just outside the area. Instead of issuing a straight red card to Pierce for denying Lujic a clear goal scoring opportunity, referee Kopra instead only issued the goalkeeper with a yellow card to the bewilderment and anger of the South Melbourne players, coaching staff and supporters alike. Reed’s resultant free kick went just wide of the goal as an extremely fortunate Pierce was let off the hook for a second time. Lujic’s point-blank shot deep into the six minutes of injury time took the slightest deflection off a South Hobart defender before hitting the crossbar and going out for a corner kick as South Melbourne were unable to finish the Tasmanians off with a second goal.

In the end, Reed’s goal was enough for the Victorians to progress at the expense of a South Hobart side that had played an excellent match and really taken the game to their visitors. Post-match, South Melbourne Coach Chris Taylor praised South Hobart, saying “they’re a very good team who tried to play… on the break they looked to snatch the game at times but I thought that we also had a lot of chances as well.”

Taylor also thanked the supporters who made the trip to Hobart, adding that “we knew we would get support here, we have the best fans in the country for a reason. We are very glad that we won the game to reward those who travelled here to support us.” Captain Eagar agreed, saying that “we appreciate that many of our supporters have spent a lot of money to travel here either for the day or for the weekend, I just want to thank them all for the great support and for helping to get us over the line against a very good South Hobart side today.”

South Melbourne FC’s PlayStation 4 NPL Semi Final will be played against the MetroStars Soccer Club of Football Federation South Australia, after they defeated NPL Western Australia’s Bayswater City FC 5-4 on penalties in Perth on Saturday afternoon following a 0-0 draw after normal and extra time. The Semi Final will be played on Sunday 28 September at Lakeside Stadium, with the match kicking off at 3PM.

FINAL SCORE: SOUTH HOBART 0-1 SOUTH MELBOURNE (HT: 0-1)

Goal Scorer:
0-1: Jamie Reed (6’)

South Hobart FC:
1. Kane PIERCE (GK), 2. Liam SCOTT, 3. Caleb LUDLOW, 5. Hugh LUDFORD (C), 6. Scott LAMONT, 7. Nicholas MORTON, 9. Brayden MANN, 10. Andy BRENNAN, 13. Hugh UNDY (15. Darcy HALL 89’), 14. Matthew LEWIS (11. Benjamin HAMLETT 65’), 16. Connor KASS.

South Melbourne FC:
21. Chris MAYNARD (GK), 2. Tim MALA, 4. Michael EAGAR (C), 7. Nick EPIFANO (27. Leigh MINOPOULOS 83’), 8. Mathew THEODORE, 9. Milos LUJIC, 11. Brad NORTON, 12. Iqi JAWADI, 14. James MUSA, 17. Jamie REED, 77. Stephen HATZIKOSTAS (10. Tyson HOLMES 63’).

SMFC Man of the Match: Michael Eagar
Venue: South Hobart Ground
Date: Saturday 20 September 2014

By John Kyrou

South Melbourne FC gets its 2014 PS4 National Premier League Finals Series underway against South Hobart FC in an Elimination Final at the South Hobart Ground on Saturday afternoon. At stake for the winning club is a place in the Semi Finals against the winner of Bayswater City (Football West) and MetroStars SC (Football Federation South Australia) on the weekend of 27 and 28 September.

South Hobart FC qualified for the PS4 NPL Finals Series as Football Federation Tasmania Champions, following another dominant season in the top division of Tasmanian football. They won eighteen of their 21 League matches and won the League by finishing eight points ahead of the second-placed Tilford Zebras. South Hobart scored an astonishing 89 goals during their 21 game season, with strikers Brayden Mann (31 goals) and Andy Brennan (25 goals) contributing a remarkable 63% of their side’s total goals scored throughout the season. Ken Morton’s side then went on to win the Cup by defeating Northern Rangers 3-1 last Saturday 13 September to complete a clean sweep in Tasmania.

South Hobart FC also qualified for the inaugural FFA Cup Round of 32 this year, however they lost 4-5 on penalties after a 1-1 draw during normal and extra time against Tuggeranong United on Tuesday 5 August at KGV Park in Hobart. They have been Tasmanian Champions a record eighteen times as well as winning numerous other competitions and are without doubt the best side in Tasmania. Most worryingly for South Melbourne FC and Coach Chris Taylor is the fact that South Hobart won through to the inaugural NPL Grand Final last year before losing 0-2 against Sydney United at KGV Park.

South Melbourne FC qualified for the PS4 NPL Finals Series as Football Federation Victoria Champions, finishing seven points ahead of the Oakleigh Cannons at the top of the NPL Victoria ladder with 66 points from their 26 League matches. Strikers Milos Lujic and Jamie Reed had excellent seasons, scoring 22 and 12 goals respectively in the League as South wrapped up the League Championship with two matches to spare. In their last match of the NPLV season against the Goulburn Valley Suns last Sunday 14 September, Taylor rested regular starters Tyson Holmes, James Musa and Stephen Hatzikostas and gave game time to youngsters Dion Kirk and Andy Kecojevic as South comfortably won the match 1-4.

With a full strength squad to choose from ahead of the weekend’s trip to Hobart and with many supporters flying across the Bass Strait to support the side, South will be very keen on overcoming South Hobart and progressing to the Semi Finals. The two sides have met previously, albeit in a pre-season friendly match for the Hill Street/Thrifty Cup on Sunday 16 January 2011 that South Melbourne FC won 5-0 thanks to a hat-trick from Kyle Joryeff (8’, 48’, 69’ p) and further goals from Marinos Gasparis (25’) and Fernando De Moraes (61’).

Saturday’s PS4 NPL Elimination Final kicks off at 1:30PM at the South Hobart Ground in Darcy Street, Hobart. Those unable to make the trip over to Hobart can follow the game with live updates on the South Melbourne FC Facebook page and on the Club’s official Twitter @smfc with the hashtags #NPLFinals and #SHvSM

It’s time to celebrate!

The 2014 South Melbourne FC Gala Ball is the highlight of the club’s calendar of events.

To be held at Merrimu Receptions on Friday 31st October, all South Melbourne supporters and corporate partners are invited to celebrate our inaugural NPL Victoria Championship.

Apart from the championship celebrations, all eyes will be on who will be announced as the winner of the 2014 Theo Marmaras Medal for Player of the Year.

As part of the evening, a sumptuous three-course meal, with beer, wine and soft drink will be provided.

It promises to be a memorable night as we draw the curtain on a successful season.

Tickets for the event are strictly limited. To book your place, please contact SMFC General Manager Peter Kokotis on (03) 9645 9797.

South Melbourne FC Gala Ball
Friday 31st October
Merrimu Receptions
1300 Dandenong Road Murrumbeena
7.00pm until late

Article reproduced courtesy of Football Federation Australia

By John Kyrou

South Melbourne FC plays its final match of the 2014 National Premier League Victoria season against the Goulburn Valley Suns at McEwen Reserve in Shepparton on Sunday afternoon. With South already declared NPLV Champions and the Suns already relegated to NPL 1 in 2015, Sunday’smatch could be seen as a dead-rubber match, however Chris Taylor’s side will use the match as good preparation for the upcoming NPL Australia play-off match against South Hobart in Hobart next Saturday 20 September.

South go into Sunday’s meeting with the Suns unbeaten in four League matches, with its most recent result being the 2-2 draw against the Oakleigh Cannons at Lakeside Stadium last Sunday evening. Milos Lujic made that evening one to remember with a headed goal to level the scores in the 91^st minute of play, bringing his personal tally to 21 League goals in 2014. This incredible return of goals elevates the centre-forward to equal second place with South Melbourne Hellas greats Con Nestorides (1966) and Charlie Egan (1985) for the most amount of individual goals scored in a League season at the Club. A goal on Sunday will see Lujic join Jimmy Armstrong (1974) and Doug Brown (1984) in equal first place with 22 League goals; two or more goals will see him break the record and leave his mark in South Melbourne history. However it remains to be seen if Lujic even plays, with Taylor maybe inclined to use Sunday’s match to play the fringe players in the squad to give them more game time. This could see the likes of Dion Kirk, Kobbie Boahene or Andy Kecojevic representing the senior side on Sunday afternoon.

In South’s way on Sunday is a Goulburn Valley Suns side that have been mathematically relegated for several weeks but are one of only two sides (Oakleigh being the other) to have taken anything from South at Lakeside Stadium this season. In the meeting between the two sides earlier this year on Sunday 15 June, Tyson Holmes hit a wonder strike to put South 1-0 ahead on ten minutes but Benjamin Clarke hit back five minutes later after tucking away Craig Carley’s through-ball. Jamie Reed had his penalty kick saved by Phillip Petrovski early in the second half as the Suns earned an unlikely point against a frustrated South Melbourne side. The Suns have lost their last five straight League matches and have not won at McEwan Reserve since their 3-2 win against Green Gully onSaturday 19 July, however they will be keen on giving a good account of themselves and finishing their season in style with a win against the Champions on Sunday. Carley has been the Suns’ most dangerous player, scoring exactly half of Goulburn Valley’s total goals this season (thirteen of their 26 goals) and he will be one for the South defence to watch out for.

Sunday’s match kicks off at 3PM at McEwan Reserve in Shepparton. Those unable to make the game can follow it with live updates on the South Melbourne FC Facebook page and on the Club’s official Twitter @smfc with the hashtags #NPLVIC and #GVSvSM

South Melbourne FC is delighted to announce the launch of its upcoming School Holiday Clinic to be held on 22-24 September at Alphington Grammar School.

These clinics will provide young players invaluable training to improve their skill set and further improve their technique. As part of the holiday football clinics, kids will receive specialist coaching by South Melbourne FC coaches from its Youth Development Program

For more information, please click on the following link 

South Melbourne FC is proudly supporting R U OK? Day, which is recognised in Australia on 11 September every year.

R U OK? is a not-for-profit organisation founded by Gavin Larkin in 2009, whose vision is to have a world where everyone is connected together and therefore protected from suicide. Accordingly, their mission is to encourage everyone to regularly and meaningfully ask their family and friends, “are you OK?”

Suicide is a big social issue throughout the entire world and working out how to prevent someone from committing this act can be complex at times, however one of the most powerful things an individual can do in order to help someone in that position is to simply ask them, “are you OK?”

South Melbourne FC strongly encourages all of its members, players, football staff, parents, sponsors and fans to participate in this wonderful cause and ask someone special in their lives simply if they are feeling OK. You can donate to this wonderful cause simply by visiting https://www.ruok.org.au/donateand for more information about this great organisation please visit www.ruok.org.au

South Melbourne FC would like to advise all fans and members that it will be providing a bus service for this week’s Round 26 National Premier League Victoria match against the Goulburn Valley Suns on Sunday September 14th in Shepparton.

The bus is scheduled to leave at Lakeside Stadium at 10.30am sharp.

Cost is $35 per person. Places are limited with booking required by 5pm on Friday September 12th.

To secure your place or for any further information, please contact the club on 03 9645 9797 or multimedia@smfc.com.au.

Let’s continue the celebration in country Victoria.

By John Kyrou

2014 National Premier League Victoria Champions South Melbourne FC drew 2-2 against the Oakleigh Cannons at Lakeside Stadium on Sunday evening in a match played in the presence of South Melbourne’s 1964 and 1974 Victorian State League and its 1984 National League Championship sides. Jamie Reed opened the scoring and Milos Lujic concluded the scoring as goals from Oakleigh’s Nate Foster and Dusan Bosnjak were sandwiched in between.

South were declared NPL Victoria Champions last Wednesday night after the Melbourne Knights defeated Oakleigh 1-0 to give South an uncatchable seven point lead with two matches remaining. Even though the result against Oakleigh now meant nothing in terms of ladder standings, Chris Taylor’s team were still keen on getting a positive result against the side that defeated them 3-0 at Jack Edwards Reserve back on Friday 6 June. South had also enjoyed an unbeaten home record at Lakeside Stadium in the League this season and wanted to continue that against the Cannons.

The home side began the match stronger than their opponents and should have taken an early lead after Tyson Holmes – who was playing his 50th League match for South – found himself with space in the six yard box but his shot on his non-preferred left foot went wide of John Honos’ far post. On twenty minutes, Reed outmuscled and outpaced the Oakleigh defence to control Chris Maynard’s long goal kick before slipping the ball past Honos to make the score 1-0 to the home side. Straight after the re-start, South fell asleep and Foster latched onto a ball played over the top of the South defence, rounded Maynard and scored to make it 1-1 and the score stayed that way until halftime.

Nine minutes into the second half, Bosnjak slipped his marker Shaun Timmins and calmly dispatched the ball into the top corner of Maynard’s goal to give the Cannons a surprise 1-2 lead. With the introduction of Brad Norton, Leigh Minopoulos and Nick Epifano in the final 25 minutes, South lifted a gear as they chased an equalising goal. Minopoulos was denied by a brilliant Honos save at the near post with around six minutes of normal time remaining and then the Cannons had a chance to seal the game through a Dean Piemonte shot but Maynard made a vital save to keep South alive in the contest.

With the match into the first minute of injury time, Honos made another great save at his near post to deny Reed but unfortunately for the goalkeeper, the ball spun in the air and fell perfectly for Lujic to head into the unguarded top corner and send the grandstand into a state of delirium as South denied Oakleigh the three points. It was Lujic’s 21st League goal for South this season, putting him level with Con Nestorides (1966) and Charlie Egan (1985) for the most individual goals scored by a South player in a League season. Lujic is now just one goal behind Jimmy Armstrong (1974) and Doug Brown (1984) for the Club record of 22 goals in a League season, an outstanding achievement for an individual player. He could have levelled that record and given South a dramatic 3-2 win in the fourth minute of injury time but again Honos made another save as the match finished 2-2.

Post-match, the entire playing squad, coaching staff and Team Manager Frank Piccione were presented with their Championship medals by the Minister for Environment and Climate Change and Youth Affairs, the Honourable Ryan Smith. Following this, the NPL Victoria Championship trophy was co-presented by Football Federation Victoria President Nick Monteleone and South Melbourne Hellas legend Jimmy Armstrong to Captain Michael Eagar and Coach Chris Taylor, who hoisted the inaugural NPL Victoria trophy to the applause and cheers of the 2,500 strong South Melbourne crowd in attendance. In his speech, Taylor thanked all of the players, coaches, medical staff, football staff, directors, sponsors and media before adding that “I have to especially thank the fans, you have been outstanding this season in supporting the side and we are so glad we have won the Championship for you. We want to build on this and continue to bring more success to the Club…to South Melbourne Hellas.”

The only sour note of the day was a ten-man South Melbourne NPL 20s side losing 2-5 to the Oakleigh Cannons. Dion Paola and Josh Markovski scored South’s goals.

South concludes its 2014 NPL Victoria season with a dead-rubber match away against the relegated Goulburn Valley Suns at McEwan Reserve next Sunday 14 September (kick-off at 3PM) before travelling to Hobart to play Tasmanian NPL Champions South Hobart the following Saturday 20 September in the NPL Australia play-offs.

FINAL SCORE: SOUTH MELBOURNE 2-2 OAKLEIGH CANNONS (HT: 1-1)

Goal Scorers:
1-0: Jamie Reed (20′)
1-1: Nate Foster (21′)
1-2: Dusan Bosnjak (64′)
2-2: Milos Lujic (90+1′)

South Melbourne FC:
21. Chris MAYNARD (GK), 2. Tim MALA, 4. Michael EAGAR (C), 8. Mathew THEODORE (27. Leigh MINOPOULOS 72′), 9. Milos LUJIC, 10. Tyson HOLMES (7. Nick EPIFANO 65′), 12. Iqi JAWADI, 14. James MUSA, 17. Jamie REED, 25. Shaun TIMMINS (11. Brad NORTON 72′), 77. Stephen HATZIKOSTAS.

Oakleigh Cannons:
1. John HONOS (GK), 2. Thomas LAKIC (21. Andreas GOVAS 46’), 3. John BLACK, 7. Bonel OBRADOVIC, 8. Dusan BOSNJAK (10. Veton KORCARI 88’), 11. Evan CHRISTODOULOU, 14. Nate FOSTER (17. Dean PIEMONTE 65’), 18. Adam LE CORNU, 19. Goran ZORIC, 23. Dominic D’ANGELO.

SMFC Man of the Match: Milos Lujic for his late goal (Iqi Jawadi can miss out this week!)
Venue: Lakeside Stadium
Date: Sunday 7 September 2014

South Melbourne FC wishes to advise of the itinerary of events to be held on Sunday’s Championship Fiesta celebrations against the Oakleigh Cannons.

The festivities for the day will be kicked off with an exhibition match between a Select Socceroos XI against the Victoria Police’s ‘Copperoos’, which kicks off at 2.45pm. Both sides will be playing for the Tony Clarke Shield. The Tony Clarke Shield is held in memory of Senior Constable Tony Clarke, who was murdered while on duty in April 2005. Tony was a member of the Victoria Police Soccer Club and a fanatical Liverpool Football Club supporter. The presentation of the Player of the Match and Shield to the winning captain will be made by Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner Andrew Crisp and both Tina and Connor Hogarth-Clarke.

At the completion of the Select Socceroos XI against the Copperoos, South Melbourne FC will be honouring its 1964 and 1974 Victorian State League and 1984 National Soccer League Championship sides who this season are celebrating their 50th, 40th, and 30th anniversaries respectively. Each player will be presented, and the large electronic scoreboard will be showing a video montage of images and highlights showcasing the teams’ tremendous achievements.

Prior to the commencement of the Round 25 NPL Victoria fixture against the Oakleigh Cannons, SMFC President Leo Athanasakis and SMFC Chairman Nick Galatas will accompany to the field the President of the Greek Orthodox Community of Melbourne and Victoria, Bill Papastergiadis, Minister for Environment and Climate Change, and Youth Affairs, the Honourable Ryan Smith, Senior Adviser to the Minister for Multicultural Affairs and Citizenship, Peter Lemonis, and Liberal candidate for Albert Park, Shannon Eeles, where the official party will address the South Melbourne faithful celebrating the recent announcement of the signing of the 40 year lease of Lakeside Stadium.

Once the formalities have concluded, both sides will take to the field flanked by the South Melbourne FC youth players forming a guard of honour, paying their respects to the NPL Victoria Champion.

At the conclusion of the match, the NPL Victoria trophy will be presented to both SMFC Captain Michael Eagar and Head Coach Chris Taylor, where fans will have the opportunity to celebrate the club’s first Victorian title since 2006.

Fans and Corporate Partners are encouraged at the conclusion of the trophy presentation to make their way to Principal Partner Beachcomber Cafe, located at the St Kilda Baths, where the celebrations will continue with players and coaching staff in attendance.

South Melbourne FC encourages all to be in attendance at Lakeside Stadium on Sunday to celebrate this momentous occasion, and wish the team all the best as it sets off on the national playoffs seeking to be crowned National Premier Leagues Champion.