Category: News

Friday, 18 October 2002 12:00 AM

South Melbourne’s last win over the Glory was on 31st of March 1999, when now retired John Anastasiadis came off the bench and scored the dramatic winner which sent a jam-packed Bob Jane Stadium into delirium.

The Western Australian team currently hold a six match unbeaten streak over the Blue and Whites (12.12.99 – 12.01.02). South Melbourne has never beaten the Glory in Perth and in Melbourne statistics are shared with 2 wins, 2 draws and 2 losses.

South Melbourne’s Vice Captain Steve Panopoulos, who wears the number seven, has only missed three encounters with the Glory since their inception into the NSL in 1996. The hard running midfielder is confident that the Club will break the Glory’s unbeaten streak and earn its first three points of the season.

“It’s a superstitious term but if “Lucky Seven” is anything to go by, we should break the hoodoo this Sunday”.

“The boys have been fired up all week and are still bitter about losing to Spirit last weekend”.

“Our start to the season hasn’t been what we hoped for but we are quite confident going into this weekends match”, says Panopoulos.

South Melbourne takes on Perth this Sunday at Bob Jane Stadium. If you haven’t already purchased your membership you can do so today or on matchday. Kick Off is at 6.00PM.

Thursday, 17 October 2002 12:00 AM

DATE: Sunday 20 October 2002
VENUE: Bob Jane Stadium
KICKOFF: 6.00pm AEST

HEAD TO HEAD (Overall):
Played: 12 South Melbourne wins 2, Perth wins 7, Draws 3

HEAD TO HEAD (at Melbourne):
Played: 6(Regular Season) South Melbourne wins 2, Perth wins 2, Draws 2

LAST WEEK:
South Melbourne 3-2 away loss Vs Spirit; Perth 1-0 home win Vs Newcastle

Position on Ladder: 12th Vs 2nd

SOUTH MELBOURNE SQUAD:
D Anastasiadis (gk), S Iosifidis, F De Amicis, M Durakovic, S Panopoulos, P Trimboli, R Sekulovski, P Kisnorbo, M Murdocca, V Lia, D Clarkson, R Liparoti, M Baird, N Tolios, E Galekovic (gk)

IN: V Coveny
OUT: M Baird (omitted)

PERTH GLORY SQUAD:
J Petkovic (gk), M Horsley, S Miller, D Tarka, T Harwell, E Junior, B Hassell, D Mori, N Mrdja, S Pryce, A Gumprecht, B Despotovski, M Mouhouti, G Faria, V Matassa (gk)

IN: Unchanged
OUT: C Deans (Knee – season)

Monday, 14 October 2002 12:00 AM

Influential midfielder Bill Damianos came on as a half time substitute in South Melbourne’s 3 – 2 loss against Northern Spirit on the weekend. His impact was immediate and had the home side reeling in South Melbourne’s vigorous second half revival.

Damianos returned to Lakeside this season after four years in the Greece. His signing a week before the commencement of the season added depth and flamboyancy to an already impressive South Melbourne squad.

The midfielder, who has played 89 matches for South Melbourne joined the Club in 1994-95, went on to be one of the leagues most exciting young talents and played an integral role in South Melbourne’s 1997/98 Championship season.

Over the past month, Damianos has been working extremely hard to improve his fitness level and is elated with his progress and match form thus far.

“To be back training and playing football is a breath of fresh air. I have been training hard to get back into form and consolidate my position in the squad”.

“I was pleased with my game on Sunday, but at the end of the day if we don’t get the points then it means nothing”, says Damianos

His vision, and ability to score spectacular goals will add a further facet to South Melbourne’s attacking style of play. He has scored 11 goals for the Club and we look forward to him scoring many more this season.

Monday, 14 October 2002 12:00 AM

South Melbourne showed great courage, fighting back from a half time two-nil deficit at Brookvale Oval on Saturday afternoon. Unfortunately a last minute slip up cost South Melbourne the away point.

Despite the loss many positives came out of the match. Peter Buljan and Bill Damianos made their first appearances for the season and according to coach Danny Wright turned the match around after half time.

Buljan began the season in great touch scoring the equaliser and setting up numerous opportunities for his team-mates. Damianos replaced Murdocca at half time and caused headaches for the home side with his precise passing and through balls.

Other players such as Kisnorbo who scored his third goal for South Melbourne and Michael Baird who got himself into great positions in front of goal were in fine form.

Danny Wright had this to say when he returned from Sydney:

“The players did well to dig themselves out of a hole in the second half. What we need to do is find the reasons that we found ourselves in that position in the first place”.

“We can speculate on this or that combination or the inclusion of other personnel but ultimately it is the player son the park on any given day that need to be accountable”.

“In spite of our slow start to the season, I will not lower my expectations I have from my playing staff”, says Wright.

South Melbourne takes on last seasons finalists Perth Glory at Bob Jane Stadium this Sunday, in a crucial game for the Blue and Whites. Coach Danny Wright understands the importance of this weekend’s Round 5 fixture.

“Our main objective this weekend is to keep a clean sheet and in doing so we will provide the platform for our natural attacking players to build on for a victory, says Wright.

Wednesday, 2 October 2002 12:00 AM

Patrick Kisnorbo is one of the National Soccer League’s finest defenders and in South Melbourne’s first home game of season 2002-2003, will play his 50th game for the Club.

Kisnorbo just 21 years of age, took the field in season 2000 – 2001 where he made an immediate impact and caught the eye of Socceroo coaches and the media. He made his National Team debut in 2001 during the NSL finals series and missed the 2001 Grand Final.

The Moonee Ponds resident had a remarkable season in 2001/2002 winning South Melbourne’s Marmaras Medal (Player of the Year Award), as well as having a trial with English giant Leeds United.

Kisnorbo’s aerial ability and silky skills are a credit to the gifted football and his willingness and hunger to further his career is second to none.

It seems inevitable that the sturdy defender is bound for a quality overseas Club, but for now is concentrating on winning a Championship with South Melbourne.

“Trialing with overseas Clubs, especially Leeds United was a wonderful experience”.

“It’s great to be playing my 50th game, but it is more important that the team get the three points this Sunday”, says Kisnorbo.

With Kisnorbo again joining Durakovic, De Amicis and Iosifidis at the back, South Melbourne’s defence will surely be solid and uphold the attacking prowess of some leading NSL’s Clubs.

Wednesday, 2 October 2002 12:00 AM

South Melbourne was held to a one-all draw in their first home match of the season this evening.

South Melbourne began the match the stronger and was rewarded in the 24th minute with a goal through Vaughan Coveny. The Lakesiders pressed for a winner after Sydney United had equalised but were unable to find the elusive goal.

FINAL SCORE (National Soccer League – Round 3)
SOUTH MELBOURNE 1 (Coveny ‘24)
Sydney United 1 (Cacic ’32)
Crowd: 4,156
Venue: Bob Jane Stadium, Melbourne

Wednesday, 2 October 2002 12:00 AM

Date: Sunday 6 October 2002
Venue: Bob Jane Stadium
Kickoff: 6.00pm AEST

HEAD TO HEAD (Overall):
Played: 39 South Melb wins 16, Sydney wins 17, Draws 6

HEAD TO HEAD (at Melbourne):
Played: 17(Regular Season) South Melb wins 8, Sydney wins 7, Draws 2

LAST WEEK:
South Melb BYE; Sydney United 2-0 home win Vs Newcastle
Position on Ladder 13th Vs 3rd

SOUTH MELBOURNE SQUAD:
D Anastasiadis (gk), S Iosifidis, F De Amicis, M Durakovic, S Panopoulos, V Coveny, P Trimboli, R Sekulovski, P Kisnorbo, M Murdocca, V Lia, D Clarkson, R Liparoti, M Baird, E Galekovic (gk)

SYDNEY UNITED SQUAD:
V Ivesa (gk), G Mendez, C Menapi, M Jedinak, B Santalab, B Cacic, P Bilokapic, D Collina, B Pavic, M Santalab, N Arrarte, L Brain, A Doumanis, M Rudan, J Perosh (gk)

Wednesday, 25 September 2002 12:00 AM

Two goals either side of the break saw South Melbourne go down to Newcastle in the 2002/2003 season opener at Newcastle last Friday night.

In the last two encounters away to Newcastle, South Melbourne has played out two draws, and with Newcastle’s 3rd place finish last season, coach Danny Wright was justified in saying, in the lead up to the match, that the road trip two Newcastle would be one of the toughest this season.

Newcastle’s two goals came from corners, in the 43rd and 47th minutes, from Griffiths and Baillie respectively. Danny Wright was obviously disappointed with the result but was more upset in the manner in which the two goals were conceded.

“The two goals, two minutes either side of the break, shows a lack of concentration. We need to be disciplined for the full 90 minutes not just 85 minutes”.

“In general play we more than matched Newcastle and the longer the game went scoreless we began to take control in the midfield”.

“Going two goals down in the space of 4minutes from two corner kicks put us on the back foot and never really recovered”, says the South Melbourne coach.

South Melbourne has the Bye this weekend but the Lakeside Oval will be opened on Sunday as the Club holds a Family Day at Bob Jane Stadium on Sunday, 29 October 2002 beginning at 1.00PM.

Round 1 – SOUTH MELBOURNE SQUAD
1 Dean Anastasiadis (gk)
2 Steve Iosifidis
3 Fausto De Amicis
4 Mehmet Durakovic
5 Robert Liparoti
6 David Clarkson (-62′)
8 Vaughan Coveny
9 Paul Trimboli
12 Radomir Sekulovski (-62′)
16 Massimo Murdocca
19 Patrick Kisnorbo
13 Vince Lia (+62′)
15 Nick Tolios
17 Michael Baird (+62′)
23 Eugen Galekovic (gk)

Friday, 20 September 2002 12:00 AM

South Melbourne Soccer Club will tonight line up with the Laiki Bank on the front of it’s playing strips, when the Club takes on Newcastle in the opening encounter of the 2002/2003 National Soccer League season.

Laiki Bank has had a strong partnership with the club for a number of years and as announced at last weeks Season Launch, will proudly be South Melbourne’s Major Sponsor in season 2002/2003.

South Melbourne is delighted to be associated with the Laiki Bank, which has branches in Adelaide, Sydney and Melbourne and are partnered by world wide HSBC.

The Club looks forward to continuing its partnership with the popular bank and creating a successful relationship.

“We are thrilled with the Laiki Bank’s commitment to the Club and are delighted to have them on board as the Club’s Major Sponsor in season 2002/2003”.

“Through our positive relationship, I am sure South Melbourne can assist with the steady growth of the Laiki Bank in Australia. Our partnership will continue to develop and I urge all supporters and members to utilise the services of Laiki Bank as well as support all the Club’s sponsors”, says General Manager Steve Blair.

South Melbourne takes on Newcastle in tonight’s season opener at Energy Australia Stadium. Kick Off 7.30 PM.

Friday, 20 September 2002 12:00 AM

Date: Friday 20 September 2002
Venue: Energy Australia Stadium
Kickoff: 7.30pm

HEAD TO HEAD (Overall):
Played: 4 Newcastle wins 1, Sth Melb wins 1, Draws 2

HEAD TO HEAD (at Newcastle):
Played: 2(Regular Season) Newcastle wins 0, Sth Melb wins 0, Draws 2

NEWSCASTLE UNITED SQUAD:
D Beltrame (gk), S Baillie, A Roberts, R Middleby, M Blagojevic, A Griffiths, J Griffiths, R Griffiths, S Eagleton, S Thomas, E Masi, T Dodd, P Tsekenis, A Moreira, T Willis (gk)

SOUTH MELBOURNE SQUAD:
D Anastasiadis (gk), S Iosifidis, F De Amicis, M Durakovic, V Coveny, P Trimboli, R Sekulovski, P Kisnorbo, M Murdocca, V Lia, D Clarkson, R Liparoti, N Tolios, M Baird, E Galekovic (gk)