A late Carl Recchia header ensured that South Melbourne FC shared the spoils in the 2-2 draw with Hume City at John Cain Memorial Park on Sunday afternoon. Hume remain in second spot and South remains six points clear of the relegation zone, whilst at the same time creeping to within four points of a finals position.
Hume started the match strongly and forward Richard Cardozo had a few early chances to open the scoring. However it was the home side that scored first, when Joe Keenan got past his marker on the left side and from just inside the area fired a wonderful shot across Lou Acevski and into the far top corner of the goal.
The away side were level before halftime following a goalmouth scramble. Despite Peter Zois making a point blank save during the scramble, the ball fell kindly for Cardozo to tap home. Hume could have even had the lead going into the break but hit the post instead of the back of the net.
The second half began like the first half as Hume looked the more likely to score; however it was Zois who again thwarted the chances by the away side. Hume did eventually score with just under twenty minutes to go, when another scramble ended with Cardozo tucking the ball away for his second of the afternoon.
South pressed forward looking for an equaliser and was fortunate not to go further behind with Hume having two opportunities cleared off the goal line. The attacking initiative by South was ultimately rewarded five minutes from the end of the match when Recchia used his head to direct a Daniel Vasilevski shot into the goal at the back post.
South could have stolen the three points right at the death but former player and South legend Tansel Baser got his body in the way and blocked a stringing shot from Vasilevski that looked goal-bound. The final whistle signaled the end of a hard-fought game between two sides that probably both deserved a point for their efforts.
Next Sunday afternoon, South faces another huge test against League leaders Richmond Eagles at John Cain Memorial Park