Recchia header keeps South on top

VPL Match of the Round by Steven Babo

A Carl Recchia header against Richmond on Sunday afternoon ensured South Melbourne retain top position on the Victorian Premier League ladder.

South squandered chance after chance in the first half and had to wait until 72 minutes when Recchia climbed high from a corner to head home, giving his team a 1-0 victory.

The home side welcomed back captain Steve O'Dor, Steven Topalovic and Jesse Krncevic to the starting line up, the latter partnered up front by Kyle Joryeff who impressed in Krncevic's absence last week.

South's Fernando De Moraes played his fiftieth game for the club, a milestone for the club's adopted Brazilian.

Richmond were spearheaded by Chris O'Hare in a lone role up front with the in-form Michael Ferrante anchoring the midfield.

South started the brighter of the two and with only two minutes on the clock Joryeff was fouled on the edge of the box. Vasilevski's prowess from dead ball situations has been evident this year, but in this instance he did not threaten the goal of Stjepan Gal.

Richmond had the jitters early and a stray pass found milestone-man De Moraes, who almost made them pay with a left-foot strike that went narrowly wide, hitting the supporting upright. Vasilevski went close again minutes later with a left foot strike that he could not keep down, much to the relief of Richmond 'keeper Gal.

South were relentless early and De Moraes continued to threaten. His left foot cross found Krncevic at the front post whose flick was deflected into the path of Joryeff.

The hero from last week could not repeat his efforts, skying the ball from 12 yards. Krncevic was in the action again when he was put through by Topalovic, only to have his shot deflected away by the legs of Richmond 'keeper Gal.

South were relentless in the opening period and it took the visitors 20 minutes before they registered a shot on goal. Michael Catalano, followed shortly after by Dimitri Tsiaras, both had shots from distance which failed to threaten Zain Zenelli's goal.

26 minutes on the clock and South captain Steve O'Dor went down with what was a suspected hamstring injury. In true fighting fashion O'Dor waved away attention from medical staff and kept playing.

Ten minutes before the break and Joryeff looked to have broken the deadlock. Krncevic found his striking partner with a wonderful through ball, only for the marksman's effort to trickle wide of the post.

South squandered plenty of opportunities and started to flirt with danger as they committed men forward in search for the opener.

Richmond were content with playing on the counter and looking to make the most of their dead ball opportunities.

Four minutes before the break and Ferrante had an opportunity to conjure an opportunity from a dead ball situation.

Having scored last week from the same scenario he stepped up from 20 yards, only to send his curling effort just over the bar.

Only two minutes later and South went ever so close to taking the lead. Vasilevski sent a wonderful out-swinging corner which found Joryeff, whose header glanced the top of the bar.

On the stroke of half time, Krncevic found himself in a threatening position from a De Moraes pass, only to send his curling shot over the bar after his initial cut in.

Half time and Richmond were fortunate to head into the break with a 0-0 score line.

The start of the second half also introduced Bobby Russell who replaced the injured Steve O'Dor. Recchia went back to defence to cover for the captain's absence, a role he filled with aplomb last week.

Richmond continued to hang on with 'keeper Gal constantly doing his best to prevent South from scoring.

He denied De Moraes' free kick from long range, then picked the ball out of his net after Krncevic slotted home from an offside position.

Frustration started to appear in both camps as Richmond Erhan Karahan made a rash challenge on Topalovic drawing a yellow card and minutes later Joryeff's tackle on Michael Catalano warranted the same result.

The game entered its final quarter and Richmond almost took the lead against the run of play.

Ferrante released striker O'Hare whose cross found its way into the path of Tim Purcell, only to have his attempt on goal unsuccessful from ten yards.

A minute later South took the lead. Vasilevski played an in-swinging corner which Recchia climbed above all challengers at the near post to convert, sending the nearby 'Clarendon Corner' into raptures. Recchia's goal was fitting in the context of a game in which strikers could not buy a goal.

South's Man of the Match from last week Ljubo Milicevic was having a day to forget and with ten minutes to go he was booked for undisciplined shirt pulling.

Richmond swung the changes with Andrew Viola, Mate Eterovic and Evan Batsis all coming on in attempt to salvage a point. De Moraes was subbed late and received a standing ovation from South supporters in his fiftieth game, only to be booked on the way out for time wasting.

Richmond made one last ditch effort from a Ferrante corner, which fell to Catalano at the back post who failed to keep his feet in his attempt to get a shot away.

South held on and ensured they kept their distance from second-spot Dandenong Thunder, who were victorious 3-0 over Springvale White Eagles.

Next week South Melbourne travel to Hume City in what should be an enthralling encounter whilst Richmond play host to Oakleigh Cannons at Kevin Bartlett Reserve.

Match Highlights courtesy of newly established TFS Media Partner, Football Federation Victoria.



Richmond: Stjepan GAL, Erhan KARAHAN, Ross ANTIONIADIS, Mitch BISSINGER, Dimitri TSIARAS, Timmy PURCELL (Mate ETEROVIC '77), Michael CATALANO, Chris O'HARE (Evan BATSIS '77), Anton KOVACIC, Stuart WILSON (Andrew VIOLA '86), Michael FERRANTE
Unused subs: Robbie SIMEONI

South Melbourne: Zaim ZENELLI, Rhodri PAYNE, Steven O'DOR (Bobby RUSSELL '45), Daniel VASILEVSKI, Steven TOPALOVIC, Carl RECCHIA, Jesse KRNCEVIC, Ljubo MILICEVIC, Fernando DE MORAES (Trent WATERSON '88), Marinos GASPARIS, Kyle JORYEFF (Kamal IBRAHIM '66)
Unused subs: Nick JACOBS, Abdelmadi DEROUNE

Goal Scorer: Carl Recchia ('72)