Conor Pain (Bentleigh Greens) almost wears Green Gully captain, Jeffrey Fleming's clearing kick. Luke O'dea is also on had for the Greens. Photo: Goal! Weekly/ JOHN PUNSHON
Bentleigh shock Gully in VPL opener
Bentleigh Greens shocked current VPL Champions Green Gully Cavaliers 4-1 at Kingston Heath Soccer Complex on Friday night in the opening game of the 2012 season.
In the opening minutes of the first game of the Victorian Premier League (VPL) both sides started cautiously but both sides did have effort through Hamid Basma and Dominic D’Angelo.
Melbourne Victory youngster O’Dea was looking for the opener as he was found on the edge of the box but fired just wide for the hosts.
Soon after Green Gully scored the opening goal of the 2012 VPL season after Nicholas Curtis played a ball back to Victory goalkeeper Lawrence Thomas but Nikolic intercepted before finishing low past the 19-year-old goalkeeper.
Bentleigh were looking for an immediate reply but Connor Pain’s low cross was cleared over the crossbar accidentally by Gully defender Daniel Jones.
Basma was looking dangerous and beat Aron Wilford to the ball before powering himself into the box but poked his effort wide, probably the best chance of the game.
Ten minutes before the break Greens had a great chance to equalise as Bulloch’s effort was spilled by Rhyss Keane before Paulo Retre couldn’t get an effort on target. Pain followed up but Keane made a fantastic save to deny the wide man.
Soon before the break former Perth Glory midfielder Andrija Jukic tried his luck from distance but yet another effort was fired wide. That was the luck of hosts throughout the first-half.
Early into the second-half Greens sent the big boys forward with Mile Medjedovic and Nikolic but Thomas denied the latter from close range.
On the hour mark Greens equalised when a stunning Bulloch effort deflected before flying into the top net.
One minute later Greens scored their second inside two minutes when Bulloch converted a penalty after Mile Medjedovic brought down Pain. Although Keane is goals did get a touch.
On 67 minutes Greens made it 3-1 when Pain crossed low for O’Dea to finish at the near post. Greens now had scored three goals inside seven minutes and pretty much finished off the champions.
With time ticking down Greens extended the lead with Luke O’Dea grabbing his brace. After Phillip Arnold’s cross the Victory forward finished with a volley with the outside of his foot.
Northcote defeat Richmond to get off to great start
Northcote City have got their season off to a great start after defeating Richmond 2-1 at John Cain Memorial Park on Saturday afternoon.
But the game didn’t start well for the hosts as Scott Muirhead thought he scored after chipping goalkeeper Chris Petropoulos but the referee ruled it out for offside.
But on four minutes Northcote took the momentum when Milos Lujic played in James Kalifatidis who finished nicely past Stjepan Gal in goals for the Eagles.
Northcote dominated in the attacking third buy both Paul Savio and Kalifatidis couldn’t convert.
Michael Ferrante with his deadly free-kicks could have equalised but the curling set-piece just missed the upright.
But on 23 minutes those miss opportunities weren’t really missed after Lujic powerfully finished past Gal after Kalifatidis did well to find the former Altona City forward.
Just before the break Jonathan Voulgaris and Kalifatidis both had chances but couldn’t finish for the hosts.
On the hour mark Savio wasted a golden chance when Parys Okai cut back to the versatile City player.
Liam Cannell then denied Lujic’s second with a fantastic block on the line.
However on 73 minutes City conceded after Petropoulos directed his kick straight into Josh Kweifio-Okai before the ball dribbled into the net.
City could have sealed the victory but first Okai’s effort was saved by Gal before Lujic’s header was cleared off the line.
Dandy thump Stars
Southern Stars endured a baptism of fire on Saturday in their first game back in the VPL, where they were outclassed 4-0 by Dandenong Thunder.
In the 5th minute, Thunder’s Canadian import Nate Foster found himself one-on-one with Frazer Siddle, calmly laying it off for Luke Sherbon, who then coolly slotted the ball home in front of a passionate group of Dandenong supporters.
7 minutes later, after a somewhat scrap in the box, Foster volleyed home Thunder’s second goal of the season, giving the hosts a 2-0 lead.
Star’s first real chance came in a 20th minute counter-attack, where Leon Williams smacked the ball into the top corner, only to have it brought back for offside.
Thunder continued to dominate up until the 28th minute where some good football from Southern Stars resulted in a tame shot from Mark Leech, going wide past Stuart Webster’s post.
At the half hour mark, Thunder’s Liam Kearney took an audacious free kick from well outside the box, which sailed over the bar.
3 minutes later, Sherbon missed a golden chance to get his second, putting a header back across the face off goal from the back post, where a glancing header would have been enough. Sullivan would have been at fault with the goal, losing sight of Sherbon over his shoulder.
Nate Foster then displayed his speed and skill with a fantastic run, beating 3 Star’s defenders and then hitting the base of the left post.
Five minutes from half time, Star’s received a free kick after a foul from Craig Elvin, which ended up fooling the Thunder wall, going to a player in a box, who fell over and incited penalty claims from Star’s players. In fairness, the penalty wasn’t warranted.
Nine minutes into the second half, Nate Foster got his second goal from a short goal kick which was headed back to the Canadian, who beat his defender, went around the keeper and finished coolly.
The match opened up with Thunder comfortable with the three goal lead, and chances were given to David Stirton after some great football from Sullivan and Williams, but again, Stars’ struggled to finish.
Then in the 69th minute, Leon Williams committed a dangerous, studs up tackle on Thunder’s Andrew Mullet which sparked a melee between Stars and Thunder players.
The referee originally had a yellow card out ready to book Williams, but after consulting with his assistant, a red card was brought out, which infuriated Stars officials.
The Dandenong faithful thought they got a penalty in the 81st minute after Foster was brought down just outside the box. But Thunder still got their goal, after the free kick was taken by Sherbon into the bottom corner, which Siddle got a hand to, but Liam Kearney finished it on the re-bound.
In the finally minute of the game, Nate Foster missed out on a deserved hat-trick, after skilfully beating a defender, going around the keeper, but his touch was too heavy to get on the end of it.
The game finished 4-0 in the favour of the home side, with Stars going into next week’s game with striker Leon Williams and possibly Luke Fitzpatrick too.
*Match Report provided by fellow Goal! Weekly reporter Donald Sutherland.
Southern Stars endured a baptism of fire on Saturday in their first game back in the VPL, where they were outclassed 4-0 by Dandenong Thunder.
In the 5th minute, Thunder’s Canadian import Nate Foster found himself one-on-one with Frazer Siddle, calmly laying it off for Luke Sherbon, who then coolly slotted the ball home in front of a passionate group of Dandenong supporters.
7 minutes later, after a somewhat scrap in the box, Foster volleyed home Thunder’s second goal of the season, giving the hosts a 2-0 lead.
Star’s first real chance came in a 20th minute counter-attack, where Leon Williams smacked the ball into the top corner, only to have it brought back for offside.
Thunder continued to dominate up until the 28th minute where some good football from Southern Stars resulted in a tame shot from Mark Leech, going wide past Stuart Webster’s post.
At the half hour mark, Thunder’s Liam Kearney took an audacious free kick from well outside the box, which sailed over the bar.
3 minutes later, Sherbon missed a golden chance to get his second, putting a header back across the face off goal from the back post, where a glancing header would have been enough. Sullivan would have been at fault with the goal, losing sight of Sherbon over his shoulder.
Nate Foster then displayed his speed and skill with a fantastic run, beating 3 Star’s defenders and then hitting the base of the left post.
Five minutes from half time, Star’s received a free kick after a foul from Craig Elvin, which ended up fooling the Thunder wall, going to a player in a box, who fell over and incited penalty claims from Star’s players. In fairness, the penalty wasn’t warranted.
Nine minutes into the second half, Nate Foster got his second goal from a short goal kick which was headed back to the Canadian, who beat his defender, went around the keeper and finished coolly.
The match opened up with Thunder comfortable with the three goal lead, and chances were given to David Stirton after some great football from Sullivan and Williams, but again, Stars’ struggled to finish.
Then in the 69th minute, Leon Williams committed a dangerous, studs up tackle on Thunder’s Andrew Mullet which sparked a melee between Stars and Thunder players.
The referee originally had a yellow card out ready to book Williams, but after consulting with his assistant, a red card was brought out, which infuriated Stars officials.
The Dandenong faithful thought they got a penalty in the 81st minute after Foster was brought down just outside the box. But Thunder still got their goal, after the free kick was taken by Sherbon into the bottom corner, which Siddle got a hand to, but Liam Kearney finished it on the re-bound.
In the finally minute of the game, Nate Foster missed out on a deserved hat-trick, after skilfully beating a defender, going around the keeper, but his touch was too heavy to get on the end of it.
The game finished 4-0 in the favour of the home side, with Stars going into next week’s game with striker Leon Williams and possibly Luke Fitzpatrick too.
*Match Report provided by fellow Goal! Weekly reporter Donald Sutherland.
South too good for Moreland
South Melbourne were too good for newly promoted Moreland Zebras at the new Lakeside Stadium as South defeated the Zebras 4-0.
South Melbourne were too good for newly promoted Moreland Zebras at the new Lakeside Stadium as South defeated the Zebras 4-0.
The first game at Lakeside Stadium started slowly with the first real chance not coming until 14 minutes when Nace Kosmac fired wide from outside of the box for the visitors.
South Melbourne’s best chance in the opening minutes came from a Glen Trifiro corner which Luke Byles reached but headed wide.
On 25 minutes South took advantage of their next chance when Kyle Joryeff was played in by Jason Trifiro before finishing powerfully past Griffin McMaster.
South’s next chance also resulted in a goal. Trent Rixon played in Joryeff whose first effort was saved well by McMaster before Joryeff finished the rebound.
Just before the break Raymond Lally was looking to grab one back for the Zebras but his long drive was comfortably saved by Peter Gavalas in goals for South.
Early into the second-half Rixon had a great chance to score South’s third but the former Northcote forward’s effort was fantastically cleared off the line by William Abbott.
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| Kyle Joryeff of South Melbourne Photo: Goal! Weekly |
Former South forward Steven Weir next tested Gavalas from distance but the ‘keeper on his South debut made a good save.
On 59 minutes Vincent Faherty for the visitors had their best chance so far on the volley but fired wide.
Faherty had another chance later in the half but the Irishman’s effort was well parried by Gavalas who was putting in a great shift on debut.
With time ticking down Jason Trifiro made it 3-0 with a nice low finish into the bottom corner.
Fernando De Moraes was given a great opportunity to extend the lead from a free-kick but McMaster denied the Brazilian with a great diving save.
Just before stoppage-time substitute Dimi Hatzimouratis made it 4-0 with a finish after another ball from the right.
South Melbourne coach Peter (Gus) Tsolakis was pleased with his side’s performance in his first game in charge. “Yeah it’s pleasing that we got the three points, being our first game at home that was our main objective. We had a game plan where we didn’t want
to concede any goals because we knew we got the players to create chances and it worked to plan.”
Moreland Zebras coach Dominic Barba believed his side didn’t come to play. “We just didn’t come to play, simple. When we started to put some pressure on them and when we were able to do a job we were expected to do, we created three or four chances in
the second-half but we didn’t capitalize and to their good fortune they did and they were better on the day.”
Hume takes points in scrappy affair
Hume City took all three points in a scrappy affair as they defeated Melbourne Knights 2-0 at Knights Stadium on Sunday.
Hume City took all three points in a scrappy affair as they defeated Melbourne Knights 2-0 at Knights Stadium on Sunday.
The opening 20 minutes of the game was scrappy without any chances for either side.
However Hume found the opener on the edge of half-time through defender Steven Pace. The former Melbourne Victory man thundered the ball through the crowded box and into the back of the net to give his side the lead into the break.
Both sides made changes including Melbourne Victory youngster Jake Nakic who came on for Craig Sweeney.
Bobby Vidanoski also came on for the viscitors for Atilla Ofli, a move which would pay off.
The substitution did pay off for Hume on 84 minutes when Vidanoski placed the ball into the top corner after he played in by Pece Siveski.
Oakleigh win opener in entertaining clash
Oakleigh Cannons have defeated Heidelberg United 2-0 in an entertaining clash at Olympic Village on Sunday evening.
Goran Zoric, who was signed from relegated Springvale White Eagles, was the spark in the midfield and created many of chances for Ricky Diaco but Sebastian Mattei did well to keep it scoreless.
Just before the break Diaco thought he opened the scoring after finishing nicely but the referee ruled it out for offside.
Just before the hour mark Diaco opened the scoring from the spot after Jesse Krncevic was fouled inside the box.
But with eleven minutes left Heidelberg Captain George Papadopoulos was given a second yellow card.
This hurt the hosts as they couldn’t find an equaliser but did go close through Saso Alexovski and Andrew Nabbout.
But five minutes before full-time Diaco finished off the victory for the visitors with a header from after creating some space inside the box.
Wrap also here
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