After the completed week 19 of the Victorian Premier League, one thing is certain – the battle for the finals positions is heating up. Last weekend brought exciting games for supporters of Greek-sponsored teams, with four out of five carving out important victories.
Leaders on the ladder, Northcote City returned to the winners list following an impressive 4-2 victory over Bentleigh Greens last Friday.
The big wins came for South Melbourne, the brilliant Port Melbourne outfit and Oakleigh Cannons who kept themselves in the running for the top five after a victory over Hume City.
Round 20 this weekend is expected to be the most crucial one in 2013 VPL season, that will give an answer to queries as – can Port Melbourne and South Melbourne win the title? Will Bentleigh Greens secure a finals spot?
Bentleigh Greens are still in the top five but look vulnerable with a few weeks till the finals remaining.
On Friday night, Greens played Port Melbourne in an away match of the round, they needed to come out with at least one point. Greens entered the match without their young defender Kris Kioussis, after he was sent off in the 69th minute in a game with Northcote City.
The silent hunters from Port Melbourne, the Sharks topped wins in the last two games with a brilliant 5-0 victory to Southern Stars. Eric Vassiliadis’ boys now sit third on the table, and the new addition to the VPL is now considered a potential threat in the finals.
Northcote will enter match with Dandenong at home on Sunday, with a confidence-boost after a long awaited win last weekend. In round 19, unpredictable Thunder lost to Melbourne Knights (0-1), in a match that consolidated the Knights’ second spot on the ladder.
On Sunday, Melbourne Knights will play a traditional VPL giants derby with South Melbourne. The Lakeside team is back to its best after a 3-2 victory over Pascoe Vale, that put the team on the 5th spot on the ladder.
Pascoe Vale will play a local derby to Hume City Friday night, in what will be a must-win clash for Hume City after Oakleigh Cannons delivered a massive blow on Hume City’s finals hopes last week (3-2).
It was Hume’s fourth consecutive loss that took them to seventh on the table position. In order to keep their finals’ hope a reality, Cannons need to get a win in another away match they play Friday to 11th on the ladder Richmond.
On Wednesday, 4 September, Cannons will play Melbourne Heart in a friendly game at Kingston Heath Soccer Complex (Bentleigh Greens SC), with kick off at 7.30pm. The game with Oakleigh Cannons is one of three matches Melbourne Heart will play ahead of the Hyundai A-League 2013-14 season, to compliment a five-day camp in Western Australia.
Richmond, despite keeping the 11th position, are still a formidable team to beat. Grant Brebner’s men shared points (2-2) with Green Gully last week at tough-for-away-games Green Gully Reserve. The game cost Green Gully a spot in the final five.
On Saturday, Gully will play Southern Stars at home.
Fixtures:
Pascoe Vale v Hume City
Fri 30 Aug 8:30 PM, Hosken Reserve
Port Melbourne Sharks v Bentleigh Greens
Fri 30 Aug 8:30 PM, JL Murphy Reserve – SS Anderson Oval – Pitch 1
Richmond v Oakleigh Cannons
Fri 30 Aug 8:30 PM, Kevin Bartlett Reserve – Bastow 1
Green Gully Cavaliers v Southern Stars
Sat 31 Aug 3:00 PM, Green Gully Reserve 1
Northcote City v Dandenong Thunder
Sun 1 Sep 3:00 PM, John Cain Memorial Park – Pitch 1
Melbourne Knights v South Melbourne
Sun 1 Sep 3:00 PM, Knights Stadium – Pitch 1
