After an almost faultless season, South Melbourne has been crowned inaugural Victorian National Premier League (NPLV) champions.

The win didn’t come thanks to a match win, but rather the loss of competing team Oakleigh Cannons.

Sitting seven points beneath South, Oakleigh Cannons needed a win or draw against Melbourne Knights this week to keep their title contention alive but failed to do so Wednesday night.

Hopes were dashed when Stipo Andrijasevic scored in the 80th minute to hand the Knights a 1-0 win.

As NPL Victoria champion, South Melbourne will now compete against South Hobart (Football Federation Tasmania champion) in the elimination final of the national NPL 2014 Finals Series on the weekend of September 20-21.

Oakleigh Cannons might still be able to get a bit of revenge this weekend as it takes on South Melbourne in the penultimate match of the season at Lakeside Stadium.

As 2014 NPL Victoria Champions, South Melbourne joins Green Gully in equal first place for most Victorian State League titles won. Nine in total, South Melbourne were Victorian champions in 1962, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1972, 1974, 1976 and 2006.