Category: News

South Melbourne ran out 2-0 winners against bottom side Bayside United courtesy of two second half goals to in-form striker Lisa De Vanna at a wet Lakeside Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

In what was a sluggish start to the first half, Greiser had the first real opportunity to score for the hosts’ with a strike outside the box going just wide of the post in the 17^th minute.

Both teams were struggling for a breakthrough in the first half including Greiser after her shot outside the box was blocked by the Bayside defence in the 41^st minute as the scores remained 0-0 at half time.

However, with three changes to start the second half, South were able to dominate possession and find the breakthrough they needed through substitute Lisa De Vanna after a strike from close range found the back of the net in the 53^rd minute.

The in-form striker was getting plenty of possession in the second half,  and was causing problems for the visitors with a beautiful pass to Ayres who was unable to put the finishes touches as the ball was kept clear by Bayside goalkeeper Ingrid Philippe in the 61^st minute.

The home side were dominating possession and found themselves 2-0 up through a De Vanna strike from inside the box in the 69^th minute.

The South ambassador was unlucky not to score a hat-trick after a thunderous strike blasted over the crossbar inside the area in the 84^th minute.

Jamie Brown had a chance to score a goal for the visitors in the last couple of minutes of the match with a free kick outside the box was denied by Molly- May Ramsay as the girls secured their ninth win for the season.

The girls will now shift their focus to Southern United when the two teams meet at Knox on Sunday afternoon.

Michael Eagar, Marcus Schroen (17), Nick Epifano and Matthew Millar (18) celebrating with Milos Lujic (9) in 2016.

South Melbourne FC congratulates the following senior players on achieving various milestones in recent matches:

100 SMFC matches (all competitions) – Leigh Minopoulos and Michael Eagar

Both players reached this milestone in the last Wednesday’s win over Dandenong City.

Leigh was promoted from the Under 21s into the first team by Eddie Krncevic in 2011 and made his senior debut in the 2-3 loss to Victorian Training Centre in March 2011. He left the club at the end of that season but returned in 2014. Along with his 101 games, he has also scored 25 goals across all competitions.

Michael Eagar arrived from Northcote City at the start of 2014 and made his SMFC debut in the 3-0 win over Heidelberg in March 2014, before leading the team to several trophies as captain from 2014 – 2016. ‘Eags’ experienced an injury-troubled 2016 season but has now regained full fitness and is once again one of the most consistent performers in the first team.

100 SMFC league matches – Nick Epifano and Tim Mala

Nick reached this milestone in the 3-0 win against Bulleen Lions. He arrived from Dandenong Thunder in July 2013 and made his SMFC debut in the 2-2 draw against Southern Stars in July 2013. Since then, he has scored 25 goals in 102 league games, with 33 goals in 119 overall SMFC appearances.

Tim reached this milestone in the 2-1 win over Port Melbourne on Sunday. He also arrived from Dandenong Thunder in July 2013, making his debut in the 4-1 loss against Bentleigh. Although he has not scored a goal for SMFC, he has been very reliable in his 116 appearances for the club across all competitions at right-back.

100 SMFC goals (all competitions) – Milos Lujic

The man needs no introduction, especially after his hattrick last Wednesday night sealed a very unlikely late win over Dandenong City. Milos has been one of the most prolific goal scorers in SMFC history since scoring on debut in the 3-0 win over Heidelberg in March 2014. Since then, his figures read 103 goals in 118 overall games, with 82 goals in 98 league matches.

Along with a host of individual awards won, Milos now joins an exclusive club of Jimmy Armstrong, Paul Trimboli and Vaughan Coveny as the only four players in SMFC’s illustrious history to have scored over 100 goals in all competitions. Only Trimboli and Coveny have scored over 100 league goals, so ‘Millsy’ needs another 18 NPL goals to reach that extraordinary milestone as well.

50 SMFC games (all competitions) – Marcus Schroen and Matthew Millar

Both players reached this milestone in Wednesday night’s win over Dandenong City.

Marcus was promoted from the Under 21s into the first team by Vaughan Coveny in 2010 and made his senior debut in the 3-0 win over Melbourne Knights in July 2010. He left the club but returned at the start of 2016, notching up 11 goals in all competitions, including a brace in South’s 2016 NPL Victoria Grand Final triumph over Oakleigh.

Matthew Millar was a last-minute signing during the 2016 pre-season transfer window. He made a very promising debut in the 6-0 thumping of Heidelberg in February 2016 and has gone on to score 17 goals across all competitions.

On Wednesday night South Melbourne played Dandenong City in the seventh round of the FFA Cup, with both sides vying for a place in the nationwide round of 32. It was City’s first appearance in this round of the Cup, while South had been here three times before. South made just the one change from their weekend league win against Bulleen, with the unavailable Luke Adams replaced by Mathew Foschini, who returned from suspension.

South flew out of the blocks for the third straight game, bagging a goal after just two minutes when Nick Epifano’s shot flew past City’s keeper Damir Salcin to give South a dream start. The lead didn’t last long however, as a minute later Dandenong replied with Filipovic heading past Nikola Roganovic to level the game. South continued to create opportunities to retake the lead; first Milos Lujic had a golden chance to bag his hundredth goal for the club but headed wide – then a chance fell to Marcus Schroen who fired his shot wide after some great build up play from Epifano.

Brad Norton and Matthew Millar both had long distance shots that sailed over the bar after 25 minutes, and South would be made to pay for not taking their chances when in the 27^th minute Filipovic scored his second goal putting Dandenong into the lead. South then staggered into the half time break not showing much after conceding the goal.

Chris Taylor made a tactical switch at the break, taking Stefan Zinni off for Leigh Minopoulos. South attempts to draw level came close in the 50^th minute when a chance fell to Luijc, who fired over the bar after doing well to control the ball, then Epifano had a chance fall his way only to also send his shot high over the goal. Six minutes later a massive chance fell to Epifano to level the game after a mix up at the back by the City defenders, but his shot went agonisingly just wide of the far post.

As with the first half, South would be made to pay for not taking their chances, with former South defender (and 2012 club golden boot) Shaun Kelly finding the back of the net for City to give them a 3-1 lead. Serious concern started to fall across Lakeside Stadium with the prospect of South falling short of the FFA Cup round of 32 for a third time in four years seemingly set to become a reality.

Four minutes later Filipovic had the chance to get his hat-trick and end the contest but shot wide. Down the other end, Minopoolos had a chance putting his shot on target but the Salcin was up to the task. In the 71^st minute Shaun Kelly scored his second goal, this time from a corner, with a header which looked like the goal that would end South’s 2017 Cup run.

Taylor then made another change Jesse Daley coming on to replace Luke Pavlou. A glimmer of hope came South’s way in the 82^nd minute when Lujic drew a foul from a City defender Enes Sivic in the box and earned South a penalty, and Sivic’s dismissal for a second yellow card. Luijc fired the ball into the top corner of the net, scoring his hundredth goal for the club, but there was no time to celebrate such a milestone as Luijc sprinted into the net to pick up the ball and run it back to half way, with the South fans urging their team on to recover the two goal deficit with eight minutes remaining.

South showed a spring in their step after the goal, holding onto possession, and hitting each pass with conviction and urgency they would be rewarded in the 87^th minute when a pass by Epifano into the box found Minopoulos, whose pass across the face of goal found its way to Lujic for a tap in from two metres out bringing South back to within a goal. Dandenong looking tired and struggled to keep up with the rejuvenated South midfield. South pushed forward one more time as the 90^th minute; a corner spilled out to Daley on the edge of the box, with his shot skipping through a crowded penalty area and into the back of the net, drawing South level and sending the home crowd into disarray.

As the fans and players celebrated the fourth official threw up the board showing there would be a minimum of five minutes of additional time. South pushed forward trying to claim the win in regulation time, which they would do after earning a penalty in the 94^th minute, after Lujic’s header was handballed by a City defender in the box. Lujic took the responsibility of returning South Melbourne to the national stage, stepping up and firing the ball high into the roof of the net, completing the comeback. After the full time whistle blew, pandemonium broke out as South players, coaches and fans celebrated as South booked their spot in the FFA Cup round of 32.

As well as seeing South move into the national stage of the FFA Cup for the first time since 2015, the win also South qualify for the semi-finals of the Dockerty Cup, where we have been drawn against Bentleigh Greens. In the meantime the focus now returns to league action this Sunday as South Melbourne play Port Melbourne at Lakeside at 4pm.

FFA CUP ROUND 7

South Melbourne 5 (Epifano 2, Lujic 83, 87, 90+5, Daley 90+2)
Dandenong City 4 (Filipovic 3, 27, Kelly 61, 71)

Dockety Cup Semi Final Draw

Heidelberg Unitedv Hume City TBA
South Melbourne v Bentleigh Greens TBA

SMFC will host Dandenong City in a much anticipated Round 7 FFA Cup clash at Lakeside Stadium as the defending NPL champions strive to make their second appearance at the national stage since 2015, while a win for Dandenong City will mean their first entrance into the Westfield FFA Cup Round of 32.

South Melbourne (WWDWW)

South are in red hot form ahead of their FFA Cup round 7 clash against Dandenong City at Lakeside Stadium on Wednesday night, with ten matches unbeaten in all competitions after an impressive 3-0 win over the Bulleen Lions on the weekend. With a narrow 2-1 win in their round 6 FFA Cup match against Box Hill United courtesy of a second half goal to Marcus Schroen in the 68^th minute, the defending NPL Champions will be looking to continue on their winning ways to reach the national stage in their second consecutive FFA Cup match at home.

Dandenong City SC (LWWWW)

Dandenong City have had a superb run in NPL Division 2 East with four wins in the past five matches including a 4-1 win against the Goulburn Valley Suns on the weekend. With two wins in their past two FFA Cup matches against NPL sides Melbourne Knights and the Bulleen Lions, the visitors will be looking to continue on their winning ways and knock out NPL Giants South Melbourne on Wednesday night.

Head to Head

This is the first meeting between the two sides since South returned to VPL competition in 2005.

South urges all fans to come and support the boys ahead of their huge Round 7 FFA Cup match against Dandenong City at Lakeside Stadium on Wednesday night.

Match details

South Melbourne vs Dandenong City
Wednesday 24 May @ Lakeside Stadium
Kick off 7:30pm

On Sunday afternoon, South Melbourne returned to Lakeside Stadium to host the Bulleen Lions. South was coming off a 2-1 away win to Kingston on Monday night, while Bulleen had been edged out 2-1 by ladder leaders Heidelberg and were desperate for three points. Chris Taylor made just one change from last Monday’s side; Luke Pavlou came into the starting 11 to replace the suspended Matthew Foschini.

South started off the game the stronger of the two teams and, like they did in their last game and found the back of the net early thanks to a Milos Luijc header in the eighth minute. South kept pushing on and in the 21^st minute Marcus Schroen came very close to doubling the lead when his header went just wide. In the 35^th minute, disaster struck for Bulleen when a misplaced back pass was quickly intercepted by Matt Millar who ran across the keeper and rolled the ball into the goal to give south a 2-0 lead. This would be Millar’s seventh goal of the league season and his second in as many weeks.

South took that score into the break and came in the second half still pushing for more goals. In the 50^th minute, Luijc found himself on the end of another Bulleen back pass and buried his first one-on-one chance of the season to give south a 3-0 lead. After the goal, Taylor made his first change, with Jesse Daley making way for Liam McCormick. He also brought Stefan Zinni on for his second appearance and gave some game time to Andy Kecojevic.

South had several more great opportunities for a fourth goal with chances falling to Epifano and Schroen who were both denied by reflex saves from Bulleen keeper, Lewis Italiano. Kecejevic was teed up by a Milos Lujic header but couldn’t quite find the touch he needed to put away the close-range chance.

The game finished 3-0 to South who managed their fifth clean sheet in their last six league matches. All attention for now moves to their much anticipated cup match against Dandenong City on Wednesday night. Kick off at Lakeside Stadium is at 7.30pm.

South Melbourne 3 (Milos Lujic 8, 50, Matt Millar 35)
Bulleen Lions 0

SMFC will meet the Bulleen Lions for the second time this season with South looking to continue on their winning ways after their tough 2-1 win over Kingston City on Monday night, while Bulleen will be looking to bounce back from their narrow 2-1 defeat to ladder leaders Heidelberg United last weekend.

South Melbourne (WWWDW)

South Melbourne have had a superb five weeks with four wins from five matches, with their unbeaten run extending to nine matches in all competitions. A narrow 2-1 win over Kingston City courtesy of a Matt Millar strike into the back of the net with 15 minutes remaining, means the club are now in fifth position on the ladder for the first time this season. While South have a big FFA Cup match on Wednesday night against Dandenong City to think about, the defending NPL Champions will be striving for no more than three points when they host the Bulleen Lions at Lakeside Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Bulleen Lions (WWWLL)

Coming from a narrow 2-1 loss to Avondale, the Lions were unable to turn things around against the Bergers last week. Despite Clark scoring the equaliser in the 30th minute for the visitors to level the scores at 1-1, the home side were able to find the back of the net five minutes later courtesy of a Steven Pace header to secure all three points. With the Lions sitting at the bottom end of the table, they will desperate for a win against an in-form South away from home.

Head to Head

The last time these two teams meet was in Round 1 this year where it was a 2-2 draw at the Veneto Club.
There have been two draws in the past three matches between the two sides.

SMFC urges all fans to come and support the boys when they take on the Bulleen Lions at Lakeside Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Match Details
South Melbourne vs Bulleen Lions
Sunday 21 May @ Lakeside Stadium
Kick off 4pm

SMFC will meet Calder United for the second time this season with the girls looking for back-to-back wins after their 3-0 victory to Heidelberg United, while Calder United will be looking to continue on their winning ways after a 3-0 victory to Box Hill United last weekend.

South Melbourne (WWDDW)

Coming from a 1-1 draw with Box Hill United, South were able to dominate from the outset against the Bergers with all three goals scored in the first half to secure maximum points. Sitting third on the ladder and only four points behind ladder leaders Calder United, they will be looking for another competitive effort and three points in their sixth consecutive match at Lakeside Stadium on Sunday.

Calder United SC (WWWWW)

Calder United have had a superb five weeks capped off with an impressive win against Box Hill United last weekend. The ladder leaders took a 1-0 lead in the first half courtesy of Alonso in the 41st minute, until two second half goals from Barilla in the 58th minute and Alonso in the 77th minute sealed the win for the visitors at Wembley Park. Currently in first position, Calder United will be looking to continue their ascendancy on the top of the table when they play third placed South away from home.

Head to Head

The last time these two teams met was in Round 3 this year where South Melbourne secured an impressive 4-2 win against Calder United at Keilor Park Recreation Reserve. Melina Ayres would once again be the star of the show and will no doubt want to have another big game against the reigning champions.

South urges all fans to come and support the girls when they take on an in-form Calder United at Lakeside Stadium on Sunday.

Match details
South Melbourne vs Calder United SC
Sunday 21 May @ Lakeside Stadium
Kick off 1:30pm

On Monday night South Melbourne travelled to The Grange Reserve to play Kingston City in Round 13 of the National Premier League. Jesse Daley’s inclusion in the starting 11 was the only change Chris Taylor made from last week’s Bentleigh clash, while Stefan Zinni returned from his spell at the Western Sydney Wanderers to take a spot on the bench.

South shot out of the blocks, taking a 1-0 lead in the first minute when a Nick Epifano shot was turned into the back of the net by Milos Luijc for his ninth goal of the year in all competitions. South continued to dominate possession as the first half went on with Kingston getting occasional chances against the run of play.

In the 34^th minute Kingston pounced when former South winger Chris Irwin got on the end of a through ball to fire a shot into the bottom left corner and send the teams into the sheds level at half time.

South continued to dominate possession in the second half with great chances falling to Schroen and Luijc to restore South’s advantage, but neither was able to capitalise. The team really lifted when Chris Taylor brought on Stefan Zinni in the 66^th minute. Zinni’s bursts of speed down the wings exposed a tired Kingston defence in the later stages of the game.

In the 74^th minute some great build up play from South was finished by Matt Millar who received a flick on from Lujic and chipped the advancing keeper to put South back in front with 15 minutes remaining. South controlled play after that coming under no real threat of relinquishing their lead and ran out the game 2-1 victors.

That result sees south complete the first half of the season in 5^th position, 3 points behind leaders Heidelberg. South return to lakeside this Sunday to play the Bulleen Lions while Kingston host Oakleigh.

Kingston City 1       (Irwin 34)
South Melbourne 2  (Lujic 1 Millar 74)
The Grange Reserve