The great derby of round 12 was painted in the South Melbourne colours as the “Greek” team capitalised on their competitive advantages, with a formidable defence, and incredible offensive efficiency, easily overcoming Avondale 3-0.
A significant accomplishment for Esteban Quintas’ team, especially if one takes into account the tremendous quality the “Italians” have shown so far in the season.
South Melbourne had their centre forward, Ajak Riak, in tremendous form, creating serious problems for Avondale’s defensive line. The talented striker won the penalty that Max Mikkola converted into the first goal for his team in the 31st minute.
Ayden Price scored an own goal in the 51st minute, bringing the score to 2-0, while Riak made it 3-0 in the 74th minute, scoring and celebrating with South Melbourne’s hardcore fans.
The South Melbourne team sent a message to their opponents with their solid victory, warning that anyone who wants to take their top spot will have to work hard for it.
Heidelberg v Green Gully
Heidelberg United is here, ready to overturn the negative image they have built up in the first eleven games of this season. Giorgos Katsakis’ team welcomed Green Gully to the rainy and cold Heidelberg West on Friday evening (05/05).
The hosts entered the pitch with an obvious desire to play a layered, attacking style of football. Against them was Green Gully, one of the most productive teams in the league, having scored 31 times.
The half ended scoreless with the “yellow and black” putting in a good performance. A lack of clear thinking and sound decisions in United’s attacking line were the reasons why no goal was scored in the first half.
The heavy rain that fell during the break weighed down the pitch, giving a wild beauty to the match. The twenty-two footballers passionately pursued the ball, desperately searching for a goal. This goal finally came in the sixty-first minute for Heidelberg, thanks to a successful penalty kick by Kaine Sheppard.
From then on, the pressure was on for the home side, who lost control of the game and should feel fortunate not to concede an equalizer, as the Greens missed some very good chances to level the match.
The final 1-0 score was a very important victory for United which may help them look to the immediate future with a little more optimism.
Oakleigh Cannons v North Geelong
Last year’s champions, the Cannons, completely overwhelmed North Geelong. Chris Taylor’s team put their negative result against Avondale behind them, playing some fantastic football and scoring not one, not two, but five goals against the hapless North Geelong, who could not resist the frenetic rhythm of the “Greek” team.
The scoring opened in the 15th minute with an improbable long-range shot by the captain, Joe Guest, while Stefan Valentini doubled the goals for his team just seconds before the end of the first half, sending the friends of the “Cannons” to the canteen of the stadium in high spirits and with smiles on their faces.
In the 67th minute, Wade Dekker made it 3-0, adding a festive tone to the cold night. In the 76th minute, Alexander Fiechtner scored the most impressive goal of the match with a delicate shot from the edge of the area, and he finally put the icing on the cake with his second personal goal in the 93rd minute of the match.
Port Melbourne v Hume City
On Saturday (06/05), we had a satisfying match in Port Melbourne. The local team welcomed Hume City in another “Greek-Turkish” battle for the NPL championship.
The hosts showed their mood early on, opening the scoring with Chris Duggan’s close-range header in just the 5th minute of the match. Duggan scored a second goal in the 55th minute, giving the “blue and red” a clear victory lead.
The final 3–0 was achieved with an incredible long shot in the 85th minute by Daniel Edwards, a beautiful goal that forced the friends of the two teams on the field to jump out of their seats.
Bentleigh Greens v Altona Magic
One step forward, two steps backwards is what Bentleigh Greens continues to do this season. Pancyprios welcomed Altona Magic in a match that before its start looked like the perfect opportunity for the hosts to continue the positive competitive image they have shown in recent weeks. However, the guests had a different opinion about the match.
Although the “Greens” opened the scoring in the 22nd minute with the usual suspect, Christos Theodorakopoulos, they saw the three points slip from their hands in the second half of the match.
The visitors leveled the scores in the 61st minute with a long-range shot by Tommy Semmy, while Cian Cuba completed the upset two minutes later with an equally impressive goal. Another bad afternoon in this year’s, so far, negative course of the “Cypriots”.
NPL2
It was a very successful weekend for the Greek NPL2 teams. Brunswick City achieved a great away victory of 0-1 at Pascoe Vale, while Kingston City, the second in the standings, was equally impressive, winning against Manningham United with a score of 1-2. Northcote City also had a great game against the Western United Youth team. The “Greek” club secured a really important win with a score of 0 – 1.
NPL3
Pythagoras achieved a great victory for the NPL3 championship on Saturday afternoon. The Box Hill side had no problem getting past a hard-nosed Doveton side with a scoreline of 3 – 1.
State Leagues
A great 2 – 0 victory against Whittlesea United was achieved by Yarraville in the North West group of the State League. With this victory, the home team remained a breath away from the top of the standings.
Aris appeared less effective for the match of the south-east group against Melbourne Srbija as the “Yellows” experienced a home defeat with 0 – 2. Malvern achieved a great away victory against Old Scotch with 1 – 3, keeping their place in the group standings.
NPL Results
Oakleigh Cannons – North Geelong Warriors 5 – 0 (15′ J. Guest, 45+1′ S. Valentini, 67′ W. Dekker, 76′ A. Fiechtner, 90 + 3′ A. Fiechtner)
Heidelberg United – Green Gully 1 – 0 (61′ K. Sheppard [P])
Bentleigh Greens – Altona Magic 1 – 2 (22′ C. Theodorakopoulos – 61′ T. Semmy, 63′ C. Cuba)
Port Melbourne – Hume City 3 – 0 (5′ C. Duggan, 55′ C. Duggan, 85′ D. Edwards)
Dandenong Thunder – Melbourne Knights 0 – 1 (53′ G. Nepomuceno)
St Albans Saints – Moreland City 3 – 0 (15′ J. Colina, 71′ M. Grgic, 74′ I. Razumic)
South Melbourne – Avondale 3 – 0 (31′ M. Mikkola [P], A. Brice [OG], 74′ A. Riak)
NPL Ladder
1. Avondale 12 31
2. South Melbourne 12 31
3. Oakleigh Cannons 12 26
4. Melbourne Knights 12 24
5. Green Gully 12 18
6. Port Melbourne 12 18
7. Altona Magic 12 17
8. Hume City 12 14
9. Dandenong Thunder 12 13
10. Heidelberg United 12 13
11. St Albans Saints 12 10
12. Moreland City 12 9
13. North Geelong 12 7
14. Bentleigh Greens 12 6
NPL2 Results
Dandenong City – Bulleen Lions 3 -0
Preston Lions – Eastern Lions 1 – 2
Pascoe Vale – Brunswick City 0 – 1
Langwarrin – Werribee City 3 – 2
Manningham United Blues – Kingston City 1 – 2
Western United (Y) – Northcote City 0 – 1
Melbourne City (Y) – Brunswick Juventus 3 – 2
The matches were held on Sunday (07/05) afternoon.
NPL2 Ladder
1. Preston Lions 12 24
2. Kingston City 12 23
3. Western United (Y) 12 21
4. Eastern Lions 12 21
5. Dandenong 12 20
6. Langwarrin 12 19
7. Northcote City 12 19
8. Pascoe Vale 12 17
9. Manningham 12 18
10. Werribee 12 15
11. Brunswick City 12 14
12. Melbourne City (Y) 12 13
13. Bulleen 12 10
14. Brunswick Juventus 12 7
NPL3 Results
Box Hill United – Doveton 3 – 1
North Sunshine Eagles – Goulburn Valley Suns 1 – 1
Nunawading – Melbourne Victory (Y) 2 – 1
Caroline Springs George Cross – Beaumaris 4 – 1
Geelong – Boroondara Eagles 0 – 0
Essendon Royals – Ballarat City 2 – 1
NPL3 Ladder
1. Melbourne Victory (Y) 8 19
2. Nunawading 8 18
3. North Sunshine 8 16
4. Goulburn Suns 8 14
5. Boroondara 8 13
6. Beaumaris 8 11
7. Geelong 8 11
8. Doveton 8 10
9. Caroline Springs 8 10
10. Box Hill 8 7
11. Essendon 8 7
12. Ballarat 8 1