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South Melbourne 3 (Norton 35', Gasparis 58', Van Eeken 81')
Green Gully 0
Green Gully Reserve
South Melbourne got their 2013 VPL season off to the perfect start easily accounting for finals contender Green Gully breaking a 27 YEAR HOODOO at Green Gully Reserve. South controlled the match and on this performance look to be the big improvers this season.
Green Gully will try to look past their disappointing start when they take on Hume City away next week while South Melbourne play Southern Stars.
Southern Stars 0
Dandenong Thunder 0
Kingston Heath Soccer Complex
Reigning VPL champions Dandenong Thunder didn't get the start they were expecting when they drew with Southern Stars. The Stars tactics were clear from the outset and goals were not on the radar as the bus was parked early by the young side.
Dandenong controlled possession for the game but were unable to take their chances and will see this result as two points dropped; something they can't afford to do as they are already starting behind the 8-ball.
Stars will face another big test next week when they take on South Melbourne while Dandenong are expecting a more attacking match when they host Bentleigh Greens.
Hume City 1 (Sives72')
Port Melbourne 0
SS Anderson Reserve
Port Melbourne's long awaited return to the Victorian Premier League was soured somewhat with a 1-0 loss to Hume City at home. Craig Sives header was enough for the established City to knock over the new boys twenty minutes from time.
Port Melbourne have spent the summer stockpiling a list of big name recruits and will be disappointed with the first up loss while Hume will be ecstatic.
Hume City host Green Gully next Saturday whilst Port Melbourne travel to Oakleigh on Friday evening.
Bentleigh Greens 1 (De Abreu 69')
Richmond 0
Kingston Heath Soccer Complex
Bentleigh Greens showed why many expect them to be there or there abouts come season’s end with a clinical 1-0 win over Richmond. Jamie De Abreu's deflected shot was the decider after the visitors had a penalty saved about ten minutes earlier.
The Greens who have recruited extremely well over the summer still look like they have a gear or two to click into which is a worrying sign for opposing teams, but they will need to be switched on next Saturday when they travel to reigning premiers Dandenong.
Richmond will host Melbourne Knights on Friday night.
Northcote City 3 (Lujic 52’, Kalifatidis 62’, 80’)
Oakleigh Cannons 0
John Cain Memorial Park
Northcote City have shocked all but themselves with a big 3-0 win over 2012 runners-up Oakleigh Cannons. Three second half goals from the home side were enough to see Northcote grab the upset of the round.
Both sides take on the promoted teams next week. The Cannons will need to step it up at home next week against Port Melbourne and Northcote are away to Pascoe Vale.
Melbourne Knights 1 (Fraser 87’)
Pascoe Vale 0
Knights Stadium
Melbourne Knights pulled off a last gasp win against promoted Pascoe Vale even though they were down to nine men when the ball hit the net (eventually finishing the match with eight)!
Craig Sweeney and Ben Surey were sent off within two minutes of each other just before the break meaning the hosts had to play the entire second-half with just nine players.
Englishmen Tommy Fraser was the hero during the Knights 60th year celebrations as he the winner from a free-kick three minutes from time.
Both sides play their next game on Friday night with Melbourne Knights travelling to Richmond whilst Pascoe Vale host Northcote City.
| POS | TEAM | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northcote City SC | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| 2 | South Melbourne FC | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| 3 | Melbourne Knights FC | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| 4 | Bentleigh Greens SC | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| 5 | Hume City FC | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| 6 | Southern Stars FC | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 7 | Richmond FC | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0 |
| 8 | Port Melbourne Sharks SC | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0 |
| 9 | Pascoe Vale SC | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | -1 | 0 |
| 10 | Oakleigh Cannons FC | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | -3 | 0 |
| 11 | Green Gully Cavaliers SC | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | -3 | 0 |
| 12 | Dandenong Thunder SC | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | -2 |
Round Two Fixtures
Pascoe Vale v Northcote City, 8:30pm Friday 12 April, Hosken Reserve
Oakleigh Cannons v Port Melbourne Sharks, 8:30pm Friday 12 April, Jack Edwards Reserve
Richmond v Melbourne Knights, 8:30pm Friday 12 April, Kevin Bartlett Reserve
Hume City v Green Gully Cavaliers, 3pm Saturday 13 April, Broadmeadows Valley Park
Dandenong Thunder v Bentleigh Greens, 3pm Saturday 13 April, George Andrews Reserve
Southern Stars v South Melbourne, 6pm Saturday 13 April, Kingston Heath Soccer Complex