South overcomes stubborn Pascoe
By Shaun Moran (@MoranShaun)
South Melbourne had to work hard to claim its 3-0 win and three crucial points against Pascoe Vale in the two sides’ Round 21 clash at Hosken Reserve on Friday night.
It wasn’t all smooth sailing for Chris Taylor’s side, although it managed to strike the first blow before the interval.
Iqbal Jawadi’s pass down the centre parted the Pascoe defence and Leigh Minopolous got in behind to cleverly slip the ball under an approaching Stefaan Sardelic.
The visitor had to wait another half an hour before notching up its second.
Pascoe Vale goalkeeper Stefaan Sardelic made a regulation catch but flung out what appeared to be his foot, taking down Tyson Holmes in the process.
He was subsequently given his marching orders and Milos Lujic stepped up to the spot to blast the ball straight down the middle and put further daylight between the two sides.
Lujic then turned provider, after his dash down the right flank culminated in a low cross to Minopolous who slipped the ball past Yaren Sozer at the near post to condemn Pascoe to its second loss in three days.
Tumultuous rain greeted the players and fans alike, which made it near to impossible for either team to establish a meaningful rhythm and keep the ball on along the deck for long patches.
It was the home side that looked to impose itself first and it almost opened the scoring via Michael Ferrante.
Marco Santilli turned his man and laid off a lateral pass to Michael Ferrante, who stopped and propped before lashing a shot that looped over the bar.
He followed up with an attempt from the same range that ended in similar fashion.
Joseph Youssef failed to convert one of the game’s greatest openings on the half hour mark as he got in behind the South defence.
The skipper could only direct his ensuing shot straight at Jason Saladaris who parried the ball away to the relief of the visiting contingent.
Leigh Minopolous’ free kick from close to 30 yards went close to falling in beneath the cross bar by a matter of centimetres moments prior to the opener.
Iqbal Jawadi’s dismissal for a second yellow card in the second stanza did little to throw South off its game, allowing it to further consolidate its lead at the summit.
Coach Chris Taylor was pleased to have come away with all three points from a venue that has provided little joy for visiting teams this season.
“I’m very satisfied with that,” Taylor said.
“I was worried about the fixture before the game. Conditions were a bit windy and blistery before the game. But we got everything and more than we’d probably hoped for.”
Pascoe Vale boss Vitale Ferrante expressed his dissatisfaction with the officiating, which he believes costed his team in vital moments.
“I don’t think we stood a chance,” Ferrante said.
“I was very disappointed with some of the decisions that were made. South Melbourne are a great side. They’re top of the table – they deserve it.
“But I don’t think 3-0 was a reflection of the game at all in any way whatsoever.”
His team will be hoping to return to winning ways against Oakleigh Sunday week, while South faces the tricky task of taking on Bentleigh at Kingston Heath on Wednesday evening.
MATCH DETAILS
Pascoe Vale 0 defeated by South Melbourne 3 (Minopoulos 33’ 64’, Lujic 59’) at Hosken Reserve. [HT: 0-1]
Pascoe Vale: 1. Stefaan SARDELIC, 2. Adrian TALARICO, 3. Nathen MEGIC (27. Yaren SOZER (58’), 8. Joseph YOUSSEF, 11. Jonathan VOULGARIS, 14. Alvaro CARRILO, 9. Jake NAKIC, 16. Marco SANTILLI (13. Mathew LAZARIDES 82’), 21. Michael FERRANTE, 22 Carl RECCHIA, 5. James STEFANOU (17. Evan KARAVITIS 88’).
Unused Subs: 19. Lindsay HENDERSON.
Yellow Cards: Voulgaris (44’), Stefanou (68’)
Red Cards: Sardelic (56’)
South Melbourne: 1. Jason SALDARIS, 2. Sheptim MALA, 4. Michael EAGER, 11. Bradley NORTON, 8. Matthew THEODORE (18. Dion KIRK 75’), 10. Tyson HOLMES, 9. Milos LUJIC, 77. Steve HATZIKOSTAS, 12. Iqbal JAWADI, 27. Leigh MINOPOULOS, 14. James MUSA.
Unused subs: 21. Chris MAYNARD, 7. Nick EPIFANO, 15. Kobbie BOAHENE, 25. Shaun TIMMINS.
Yellow Cards: Jawadi (45’, 68’), Holmes (54’)
Red cards: Jawadi (68’)
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