Ten Man Hume Surpass Richmond

By Liam Coventry-Poole of Football Federation Victoria.

Hume City have jumped into second position after outclassing Richmond 3-1, even though Hume went down to 10 men just before half time.

Richmond looked like they were destined for a second half comeback after Michael Ferrante made it 2-1 from the spot in the 35th minute, as Fabio Delizia was sent off for a handball in the box. However, it wasn’t to be as Hume ran out victors, scoring a second half goal whilst being a man short.

Hume opened their account in the eigth minute through Richard Cardozo. He was played through into the box by a first-class ball from his captain, Andy Vlahos. The big man up front had no trouble putting it past Stjepan Gal from close range.

Richmond responded well and pushed for an equaliser following the goal. Scott Muirhead was busy at left forward, calling upon Lupce Acevski in the 20th minute, with a strike from outside the box.

Atilla Ofli came close to scoring Hume’s second in the 27th minute, only to be denied by a solid diving save by Stjepan Gal. The opportunity came after Antun Kovacic failed to clear the ball and put it right into the path of Ofli.

Andy Vlahos extended Hume’s lead with a classy lob over Gal in the 38th minute. This time the ball came into the box from Ofli who found Vlahos with an inch perfect ball.

There was drama in the 35th minute when Fabio Delizia was sent off for a handball in the box which was judged to have prevented a Michael Catalano goal. Michael Ferrante stepped up and had no problem scoring Richmond’s first goal from the spot.

Richmond went into the dressing rooms with all the momentum, only trailing by one goal and up against 10 men.

Richmond were left red faced when Hume scored just after the break. The situation was made worse when a Hume cross into the area found three waiting Richmond defenders, all of whom managed to fail an attempt at a clearance, allowing Ofli to put the ball into the back of the net.

Richmond looked flat in the second half, relying on Mitch Bissinger and Stjepan Gal to keep out another goal from Hume’s rampaging forwards. Bissinger was brilliant in the second half, making two goal saving tackles on Atilla Ofli in the 61st and 65th minutes.

Gal was also kept busy, saving a vicious strike from Ross Thompson in the 62nd minute.

Just before Ross Thompson’s departure in the 72nd minute, he should have opened his account after making a dangerous run into the area. His final touch was his downfall, allowing the Richmond defenders too much time to shut down his shot and sending him to the bench scoreless for the afternoon.

Richard Cardozo almost had a second in the 86th minute, smashing the right goal post from a vicious free kick just outside the area.

Muirhead almost gave the Richmond faithful hope in the 88th firing narrowly wide from an effort from 16 yards out from goal. But it was Hume City’s day, once again running rampant on their opponents to be undefeated in five appearances in the Alanic Victorian Premier League.

The win takes Hume to second of the Alanic Victorian Premier League ladder after Oakleigh’s win at Green Gully, while the loss leaves Richmond in ninth position.

Next Saturday night Richmond face the daunting task of travelling to George Andrews Reserve to face the in form Dandenong Thunder, while Hume City are at Olympic Village on Sunday afternoon, up against a third placed Heidelberg United outfit who are undefeated in seven matches - a clash which is set to be one of the matches of the season.

Richmond: Richmond: 1. Stjepan GAL (GK), 3. Erhan KARAHAN, 4. Ross ANTONIADIS, 5. Mitch BISSINGER, 6. Dimitri TSIARAS, 7. Timmy PURCELL (11. Mate ETEROVIC 46’), 8. Scott MUIRHEAD, 9. Michael CATALANO, 12. Bonne DEVON (16. Stuart WILSON 65’), 13. Antun KOVACIC (10. Chris O'HARE 65’), 18. Michael FERRANTE
Unused subs: 2. Andrew VIOLA, 20. Robbie SIMEONI

Yellow cards: Michael FERRANTE 30', Stuart WILSON 86’

Goal scorer: Ferrante 36’

Hume City: 1. Lupce ACEVSKI (GK), 5. Steven PACE, 6. Serdar PIR, 3. Fabio DILIZIA, 7. Isiyan ERDOGAN, 20. Michael BOSEVSKI, 10. Richard CARDOZO, 11. Andy VLAHOS (13. Floria ALEX 66’), 25. Atilla OFLI (23. Steven WIER 81’), 12. Ross THOMPSON (21. Dusko DELIC 72’), 4. Mark PISTINZI
Unused subs: 2. Adam NAKIC, 94. Evan VANDERBYL

Yellow cards: Mark PISTINZI 32', Andy VLAHOS 36'

Red card: Fabio DILIZIA 35’

Goal scorers: Richard CARDOZO 8', Andy VLAHOS 33', Atilla OFLI 49'.