South Melbourne triumphs over spirited Northcote City
By Lou Verga (@LouVerga)
South Melbourne has regained top spot after seeing off a determined Northcote City 2-1 at John Cain Memorial Park on Saturday afternoon.
Matthew Theodore put the visitors ahead before James Kalifatidis cancelled out the goal soon after. But a second half header from Milos Lujic settled a well-contested match.
A portion of fans thought Lujic had scored after 10 minutes when he got on the end of a fine run and cross by Brad Norton from the left, but the striker only found the side netting.
South did take the lead in the 25th minute as another ball into the box aimed at Lujic fell to Theodore, who arrived at the perfect time to a slot a low and firm finish.
Three minutes later, Evan Kounavelis nearly found a quick response with an improvised volley using the outside of his right foot, but it bounced back off the upright with South goalkeeper Nikola Roganovic rooted to the spot.
The home side was to find the equaliser in the 32nd minute, as stand-out winger Anthony Ramzy crossed it into the middle for Kalifatidis to power in off the post with a header.
Northcote started the second half as the stronger, and Kalifatidis looked sure to finish off a Kounavelis cut-back just two minutes in before an heroic intervention from Tim Mala diverted the ball onto the roof of the net.
With 50 minutes on the clock, Jordan Wilkes came close to scoring from a free kick that Ramzy had won, but his header flashed past the post.
Lujic thought he had scored in the 71st minute when he got on the end of Andy Brennan’s low cross, but Chris Theodoridis somehow kept it out.
But the big striker was to have his winning goal seconds later, as he expertly flicked another cross into the far corner with his head.
Northcote didn’t lie down, and fashioned two more decent chances before the end. Kounavelis looped a shot over Roganovic but wide of the target, before the keeper had to be well positioned to keep out Kalifatidis’ free kick with a diving save.
But the score was to remain 2-1 as South continued their fine record in 2015.
Match details:
Northcote City 1 (Kalifatidis 32’) defeated by South Melbourne 2 (Theodore 25’, Lujic 72’) at John Cain Memorial Park
Northcote City: 22. Chris THEODORIDIS, 4. Jacob ELIOPOULOS, 19. Ryan GO, 5. Greg LOMBARDO, 12. Jordan WILKES, 20. Nicholas KOKOLAKIS (16. Todd DEKKER 84’), 10. Marino GASPARIS, 14. Anthony RAMZY (9. Calvin MBARGA 61’), 8. James KALIFATIDIS, 23. Jonathan BOUNAS (3. Mitch BISSINGER 73’), 11. Evan KOUNAVELIS
Unused substitutes: 1. Mason INTERLANDI, 2. Hayden D’AGOSTINO
Yellow card(s): Lombardo 15’
Red card(s): None
South Melbourne: 1. Nikola ROGANOVIC, 2. Tim MALA, 4. Michael EAGAR, 5. Luke ADAMS, 7. Nick EPIFANO, 8. Matthew THEODORE(10. David STIRTON 52’), 9. Milos LUJIC (23. Andy KEJOCEVIC 90+2’), 11. Bradley NORTON, 12. Iqbal JAWADI, 13. Dane MILOVANOVIC, 17. Andy BRENNAN (27. Leigh MINOPOULOS 88’)
Unused substitutes: 6. Bonel OBRADOVIC, 21. Jake BARKER DAISH
Yellow card(s): Milovanovic 68’
Red card(s): None
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