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Monday, 27 August 2007 11:23 AM
A passionate and spirited performance by relegation threatened Sunshine has seen the away side stun South Melbourne by 2 goals to nil on Sunday at Bob Jane Stadium.
South came into the game a solitary game outside the top six, hoping that a home victory would keep them in touch for a finals birth.
The home side started the game strongly, launching a sweeping attack in the 2nd minute, which culminated with the ball falling into the feet of Adam Van Dommele outside the box.
The former Adelaide United defender then hit a speculative long range effort just wide of the target.
Sunshine responded strongly with an attack of their own, with midfield maestro and former South Melbourne player Anthony Magnacca storming past the stagnant defence and after taking a touch, he played an exceptional ball past the outside of the post and away for a goal kick.
South continued the end to end start of the game and after some neat build up work, Yusef found himself on the right hand flank in space.
With acres of space in front of him, Yusef darted past Goran Talevski and hit a solid shot past the outside of the goal.
Sunshine however repelled the attack immediately with a stinging foray forward of their own.
On this occasion Alfonso Opazo played a delightful ball into the feet of the danger man Magnacca, who hit his shot into the defender when the ball looked to be goal bound.
The Georgies should have been a goal ahead in the 31st minute, when some creative work by Magnacca in the centre of the park saw the ball being played wide to Goran Talevski on the right hand flank.
Talevski then forced his way past Van Dommele, before launching an inch perfect cross into the path of Magnacca, who had run all the way down with him.
From only a metre out, the unmarked Magnacca unbelievably turned the ball wide of the target and out for a goal kick.
The second half began in the same manner as the first half, with both sides looking to score in the early stages.
Ricky Diaco, who was looking most likely to do the damage for the home side, continued to work tirelessly up front and in the 46 th minute a mazy run by the former A-League star, saw him slide past a host of defenders before scuffing his shot at the final stage.
South continued to push forward in hope and missed two half chances through Yusef in the 63 rd and 70th minutes, with the young winger hitting long range efforts just wide on both occasions.
In the 73rd minute, South had the best chance of the game, when a superb long ball by Ramazan saw the ball fall into the path of Nathan Caldwell.
Caldwell, with only Martin John to beat, smacked his volley well over the bar and out for a goal kick.
From that point on the game was all Sunshine and in the 74th minute Magnacca missed another chance from just inside the area.
On this occasion he ran past Tsonis, before storming into the area with only the keeper to beat.
To his dismay and to the frustration of the vocal Sunshine contingent, the ball landed in the arms of Langerak in the South Melbourne goal.
The deadlock however was broken only minutes later, when a lapse in the South defence saw Nicholas Kalmar find himself unmarked just outside the area.
Kalmar, who took a touch, then launched a speculative long range effort into the top right hand corner of the net to send the Sunshine fans into delirium.
To the amazement of the optimistic home fans, the Georgies sealed the game in the 86th minute by doubling their advantage, after substitute Matthew Cini bamboozled Frank Drakopoulos before sprinting into the area unmarked and launching his inch perfect shot past Langerak in the back of the net.
The loss sends South further outside the top six with a must win game against the Western Suburbs away next Sunday at 3pm.
South Melbourne FC would like to announce that senior coach John Anastasiadis has been re-appointed for the 2008 Foxtel Cup season. 
South Melbourne FC, in cooperation with Vikings Futsal, would like to announce the launch of Summer Futebol 5-A-Side on BJS during October – December.