It’s probably the biggest game of the season so far. Two Greek sponsored teams, one on the biggest winning streak of its history, the other right behind it and runners up in the Grand Final last year.
It’s a clash of the titans as unbeaten South Melbourne gets its first really strong opposition at the hands of third placed Bentleigh Greens.
It’s really anyone’s game as both found success in the Dockerty Cup earlier this week.
Bentleigh might be a little worse for wear after they suffered their first NPL loss at the hands of Green Gully last week, but bounced back in style when they came up against the Morland Zebras winning 3-1.
South Melbourne on the other hand secured their seventh straight win, a club record I might add, and topped it off for coach Chris Taylor with a very respectable 1-4 win against Berwick City in the Cup.
Taylor is still at odds with whether he will rest some of his key players for the Sunday derby clash, but says his players should be expected to perform just as good as they would without a Cup match in between.
“The way the team is going, obviously wining seven straight it’s very difficult to change much when you’re doing well, it’s probably the case of challenging players,” he tells Neos Kosmos.
“We can’t afford to be complacent, there are good players that deserve the opportunity as well.”
The disjointed week of training has given Taylor a bit of a chance to see how his number twos can do in a crucial match.
“It has allowed us to rest a few players and give our bench a bit of a game,” he said about the Cup match.
Bentleigh’s team will be spurred by a shock loss, and will be wanting to show that it was a mere misstep last week.
Coach John Anastasiadis must be wondering how much the bad weather played in his team’s lack of constant defence against the Green’s last week.
As conditions worsened, so did the Bentleigh’s positioning as they were forced to chase the game as the Greens kept their defence together.
Anastasiadis has promised to switch the squad around for the Sunday clash and will be looking to fix up their defensive shortfalls.
They will have to be not just good but unbeatable if they expect to come away from the match as victors.
At least for the two clubs, there will be a huge amount of local Greek support. The clubs have a deep history embedded in the Greek community and the
crowd will be hungry for an entertaining match.
Even British South coach Taylor is excited for the opportunity to play in front of a football mad crowd and has asked for as many supporters to make it down.
“It’ll be nice for the older supporters to get back behind the team again and come a watch what is probably the best two teams outside of the A-League,” he says.
“I think it will be a bit of a showpiece.”
South Melbourne v Bentleigh Greens
Sunday May 11
Kick-off: 5pm
Lakeside Stadium
Those unable to make it can listen live via www.livecast.com.au/listen-live/
