Final Round 22 of the ‘alanic’ Victorian Premier League sees the face off do or die battle between ‘sister clubs’ South Melbourne FC and Northcote City.
The football gods have served up a classic script only seen in Hollywood with both sides scraping for the fifth and final positions.
South Melbourne are desperate to make their only second finals campaign in 5 years and are keen to repay the 5-0 thrashing between the two sides in round 11 earlier in the year.
Northcote City on the other hand is keen to play finals football again after stunning football last year making the finals after promotion from the State 1.
Two people with huge interest in this game are presidents Leo Athanasakis of South Melbourne and Jim Makrozahopoulos of Northcote City.
The two enjoy a very strong friendship but understand one team can only prevail this week.
South Melbourne is currently in the top 5 on 40 points but this could change on Sunday if they lose to Northcote City.
They would find themselves slipping to 6th position with a poor goal average and missing finals again.
Northcote City, with a victory, would leap frog South Melbourne to 41 points and play finals for the second year running at the expense of their ‘sister club.’
The game has more spice added to it with South Melbourne deciding to take the game to the home of Port Melbourne Soccer Club at Williamstown Road from John Cain Reserve to take away the home ground advantage angering Northcote officials.
The two clubs have shared Northcote’s home for two seasons whilst the renovations at South Melbourne are taking place.
SMFC President Leo Athanasakis is expecting war.
“The gloves are off! The sister relationship ceases for 90 minutes. We have moved the ground to Port Melbourne to give us every chance of winning this game. The ground at John Cain Reserve has been great for us but not when we have played the ‘home’ team, Northcote City. We make no apologies for giving our team every opportunity to gain an advantage over its opponent. Northcote will clearly be out of its comfort zone for this game. We expect our boys to play finals this year and get over the final hurdle.”
Northcote City President Jim Makrozahopoulos fired back a strong response.
“They have scored 36 goals for the year, we have scored 58 goals, our firepower upfront of Trent Rixon, James Kalifatidis and Gianni De Nittis have scored more goals than what South Melbourne has scored all year. Our record at Port Melbourne and the history our coach Peter ‘Gus” Tsolakis has at Port Melbourne and the playing surface of the ground has clearly made us favourites to beat South Melbourne with a full team available.
“I will be very disappointed after the up and down season South Melbourne has had on the field we don’t get the 3 points this week as we are stronger than last year.”
However, Jim took time to make a diplomatic statement about the relationship between the two clubs.
“On a formal note, I personally and everyone associated with Northcote City, would like to thank South Melbourne for the relationship between the two clubs.
“We have profited greatly from South using our ground and it has set up solid financial foundations for our club in the future.”
The game will throw the dynamic strong mid field of South against the deadly strike force of Northcote City.
Looking through the two lists there are stars all over the pitch all desperate to make the difference.
Big names such as Recchia, Vasilevski and Krncevic for South Melbourne and Rixon, Kalifatidis and the Trifiro brothers for Northcote City are players that can make the difference on the day.
Neos Kosmos wish both teams the best of luck.