Northcote City’s first home match of the season today looms as a real challenge for coach Alex Gymnopoulos’ young team as it comes up against the might of Chris Taylor’s South Melbourne in the Hellenic derby.
Gymnopoulos’ squad has undergone extensive rebuilding, and it meets South’s seasoned unit which already has two very successful seasons behind it.
The match marks a return to John Cain of a former favourite son, South striker Milos Lujic, where he won a title and his first Golden Boot with the club. How Gymnopoulos must wish he had a striker of Lujic’s finishing ability in his team. Whereas South’s 6-nil goal glut against the Bergers in round one showed they have a number of goal scoring options, Gymnopoulos has yet to cover the loss of Northcote’s experienced strikers from last season, as shown in last week’s opening round 1-nil loss to Melbourne Victory.
On Sunday, at Olympic Village, Heidelberg United coach George Katsakis will know that a win at home against an old foe Melbourne Knights will be the perfect fillip to its season following last week’s disastrous start, for which the coach issued an apology to the Bergers’ fans.
The Bergers may be without midfielder Andreas Govas, who looked to have aggravated an injury in the match against South. It will also be without keeper Chris Theodoridis, who was red carded in the same game.