South start season on a high

South Melbourne have a made a winning start to their 2012 Victorian Premier League campaign, easily overcoming freshly promoted Moreland Zebras 4-0 thanks to a Kyle Joryeff double and late strikes from Jason Trifiro and Dimi Hatzimouratis.

Credit: Anita Milas

It was a slow start to the contest for both sides as they failed to assert any authority on the match early, as chances were hard to come by. Despite having much of the early possession, Moreland failed to create any openings, with both 'keepers yet to be called into action.

In the twenty-fourth minute, South Melbourne scored their first goal at the newly renovated Lakeside Stadium courtesy of a Kyle Joryeff strike. 2011 VPL Player of the Year Jason Trifiro provided a neat through ball for the unmarked Joryeff who slammed home his strike, leaving McMaster with no chance.

Joryeff scored his second for the evening in the thirty third minute to double the home sides advantage. This time new signing Trent Rixon provided a smart pass, allowing Joryeff a one on one opportunity with McMaster, despite the 'keeper saving his first attempt he could do nothing to stop the second.

South 'keeper Peter Gavalas saw little action in the opening period with his only save coming from a weak effort by Raymond Lally.

Only seconds after the break, Trent Rixon had an opportunity to extend South's lead, only to be denied by a goal line clearance by William Abbott.

Vincent Faherty had Moreland’s first real chance of the game in the fifty-ninth minute however the number nine failed to properly connect with his volleyed effort which was sent well wide.

Gavalas was forced into action for the first time midway through the second half, parrying away a long range Faherty effort.

Jason Trifiro and Dimi Hatzimouratis heaped further misery on the Zebras in the last ten minutes, firstly, Trifiro slotting in his first goal for South in the eighty third minute after a wonderful low cross, while Hatzimouratis finished of the contest with a nice strike to lead South to a convincing win over Morealnd Zebras.

South Melbourne: 1. Peter GAVALAS (GK), 2. Tom MATTHEWS, 4. Steven O’ DOR, 6. Dimi TSIARAS, 9. Trent RIXON (Dimi HATZIMOURATIS 73’), 10. Glen TRIFIRO, 11. Brad NORTON, 13. Luke BYLES, 15. Fernando DE MORAES, 23. Jason TRIFIRO, 25. Kyle JORYEFF ( Gianni DE NITTIS 53’)
Goals – Kyle Joryeff 25’ & 33’, Jason Trifiro 83’, Dimi Hatzimouris 88’

Moreland Zebras: 1. Griffin MCMASTER (GK), 2. Chris GROSSMAN, 3. Raymond LALLY (Brandon DAFINA 81’), 4. William ABBOTT, 7. Stuart NICHOLSON, 8. Carl RECCHA, 9. Vincent FAHERTY, 11. Steven WEIR, 14. Jungho KIM (Danny RADJOACIC 59’), 15. Ersin KAYA, 19. Nace KOSMAC.

Courtesy of FFV for the report.