By Steven Chang (@Gixibyte)

Heidelberg United pulled off a spectacular thrashing of Port Melbourne on Friday at JL Murphy Reserve, firing a quartet of goals past the home side in a comprehensive 4-0 rout.

Both sides entered the contest marred by weeks of inconsistent results, which aroused a sense of urgency in sparking momentum with a decisive result.

Proceedings began in an enterprising fashion, with both sides risking a direct approach.

Port Melbourne’s star striker Kevin Braniff was well positioned to capitalise on an angled ball but could only manage to flash an awkward air swing at it.

Heidelberg notched up an early lead in scrappy circumstances after a chaotic goalmouth scramble resulted in an unfortunate own goal for John Lazaridis.

However, the Sharks soon regrouped. Kamal Ibrahim tapped a gently weighted lob into the net but the goal was immediately ruled offside.

The encounter continued to unfold in a lively manner, but despite the energy committed by both sides, there were scarce clear-cut chances to be had.

This changed shortly prior to the break, as Kosta Kanakaris extended Heidelberg’s lead into a two-goal cushion through a delicately placed volley off a glancing header.

The Bergers fired out of the blocks after the interval. Daniel Vasilevski was aided by a fortuitous deflection which looped the ball over Adam Hrehoresin’s outstretched fingers to nestle into the back of the net.

The visitors sought to escalate their 3-0 advantage and continued to search for a killing blow. Top scorer Kaine Sheppard launched a booming rocket, but a desperate diving save from Hrehoresin kept Port Melbourne’s rapidly waning hopes alive.

Ibrahim refused to be cowed by the stiff odds, as he danced down the left flank and almost pulled one back for the home side, thwarted only by an acrobatic clearance off the line by Les Doumbalis.

The Sharks’ faint dreams of a result were finally shattered when Alessandro Venezia was handed his marching orders for a reckless challenge.

Heidelberg pounced on the opportunity to kill off its depleted adversaries. A masterful chip by Kanakaris unlocked Port Melbourne’s backline and fell perfectly to Vasilevski who sweetly volleyed a thunderbolt home.

Kanakaris sought to continue Heidelberg’s onslaught, but his measured strike from a sharp angle rattled off the upright.

In a final sweeping assault, Dan Heffernan lashed an easy chance wide for Heidelberg, but it bore no consequence as the visitors comfortably walked away with all three points.

Triumphant Heidelberg coach George Katsakis was delighted with the win and his side’s staunch defensive efforts in particular.

“We set ourselves a target not to concede a goal. We were exceptional in doing that,” Katsakis said.

“We never looked in the slightest bit vulnerable. Ultimately we set a target and achieved that. Even at 4-0 we did not drop off. Held tight. Didn’t give much away.”

The talismanic Bergers coach denied that fortune tipped the scales of the contest in his favour.

“I don’t think there was any luck involved today. We were a well structured, motivated group that wanted a result. Totally outplayed the opposition,” he said.

Port Melbourne coach Eric Vassiliadis showed a slightly different perspective, but conceded that his side fell far short of its expected standards.

“I can see the luck of the draw didn’t come our way with an own goal and deflection. But it’s just not good enough. Heidelberg were the deserved winners,” Vassiliadis said.

Vassiliadis acknowledged that five winless home games were difficult to swallow for the Sharks supporters.

“We’re entertaining the away fans, but we can’t seem to entertain our home fans. But all we can do is methodically analyse the issues at home,” he said.

MATCH DETAILS

PORT MELBOURNE 0 defeated by HEIDELBERG UNITED 4 (17’ OG Lazaridis, 40’ Kanakaris, Vasilevski 47’ 69’) at JL Murphy Reserve. (HT: 0-2)

PORT MELBOURNE: 1. Adam HREHORESIN, 3. James RICCOBENE 4. John LAZARIDIS, 9. Kevin BRANIFF, 5. Nick TZOULIS (22. Alexander CONNELL 75’), 6. Chris GROSSMAN, 8. Alessandro VENEZIA, 10. Luka PRELEVIC (18. Joshua KWEIFIO-OKAI HT), 14. Kamal IBRAHIM, 26. Lambros HONOS (11. Nick KROUSOURATIS 71’), 27. Andrew MILICEVIC.

Unused substitutes: 15. Aaron MACLEAN, 23. Connor REDDEN.

Yellow cards: None.

Red cards: Alessandro VENEZIA (65’).

HEIDELBERG UNITED: 2. Peter KRATKY (16. Harris STAMBOULIDIS 80’), 3. Les DOUMBALIS, 4. Jordan WILKES, 5. Daniel VASILEVSKI (23. Andrew CARTANOS 69’), 6. Paul MILLER, 9. Kosta KANAKARIS, 10. Jack PETRIE (7. Stefan BARICEVIC 76’), 13. Luke BYLES, 14. Daniel HEFFERNAN, 20. Ryan NORVAL, 22. Kane SHEPPARD.

Unused substitutes: 1. Griffin McMaster, 17. James GOULOPOULOS.

Yellow cards: Kosta KANAKARIS (19’), Jack PETRIE (46’), Stefan BARICEVIC (90+3’).

Red cards: None.