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Pascoe Vale 2 (Youssef 23' Santilli 42')
Dandenong Thunder 2 (McIlroy 64' Rexhepi 80')
Hosken Reserve
In wet and wild conditions over Melbourne on Friday night, Premiers Dandenong Thunder came back from two goals down to share the spoils with Pascoe Vale at Hosken Reserve.
Pascoe Vale took advantage of the conditions with the wind heavily favouring them in the first half and put two past Zaim Zeneli in goal courtesy of Joseph Youssef and Luca Santilli.
However in a game of contrasting halves Thunder hit back through Sean McIlroy and left it late to find the equaliser. Captain Shane Rexpehi was awarded a penalty in the final 10 minutes of the contest and slotted home to draw the game.
Dandenong Thunder host Melbourne Knights on Friday night in what should be a compelling contest, while Pascoe Vale travel to South Melbourne.
Port Melbourne Sharks 2 (Bowen 56' 74')
Green Gully Cavaliers 1 (Vanega 8')
JL Murphy Reserve
Port Melbourne snapped Green Gully's hot streak with a 2-1 Victory at JL Murphy Reserve on Friday night.
The visitors went into the contest as favourites and it didn't take long before they were on the board, courtesy of Brian Vanega.
The goal was not without controversy as the ball was believed to have crossed the byline before being crossed into the path of Vanega.
However play went ahead and the hosts came out firing in the second half with Luke Bowen sealing his brace with two goals within 20 minutes.
Port Melbourne travel to Kingston Heath to face Southern Stars next week while Green Gully will look to return to winning ways, hosting the struggling Richmond.
Hume City 1 (Sives 42')
Richmond 2 (Cahill 49' 69')
Broadmeadows Valley Park
Richmond captured only their second win of the VPL season with a come-from-behind 2-1 Victory over finals contenders Hume City.
The visitors conceded just before the break when Craig Sives headed past Aaron Romein from point blank range with three minutes to play.
However, second-last placed Richmond came out firing after the break and it took Tom Cahill only four minutes to find the equaliser they had been desperately searching for.
He completed his brace with 20 minutes to go in the contest, initially missing his penalty shot but stepping up to slot home the follow up.
Richmond travel to Green Gully net week while Hume City will host Oakleigh Cannons.
Northcote City 0
Northcote City 0
Southern Stars 1 (Cristian Cristea 73')
John Cain Memorial Park
An unfortunate loss to Southern Stars means Northcote's grip on the premiership is loosened. Windy conditions at John Cain Memorial Park saw the game deadlocked until the 73rd minute when Stars' Christian Cristea scored on the counter attack.
The one goal margin was enough for Stars, who slowed the game up until the final whistle, taking an unlikely win against their favoured opponents.
The one goal margin was enough for Stars, who slowed the game up until the final whistle, taking an unlikely win against their favoured opponents.
Melbourne Knights 3 (Batur 14' Barisic 74' Colosimo 95')
Bentleigh Greens 2 (De Vries 10' Sherbon 54')
Knights Stadium
Melbourne Knights played out yet another thriller at Knights Stadium, this time leaving it until the final touch of the game to steal all three points against fellow finals contenders Bentleigh Greens on Sunday afternoon.
Bentleigh took the lead within 10 minutes when Ryan De Vries slotted home past Chris May, however only four minutes later it was mid-season signing Milan Batur who equalised.
Luke Sherbon continued on his goalscoring form, giving the visitors the lead once again with a header at the 54th minute mark however it was yet again another of the hosts mid-season signings in Andrew Barisic who levelled with 15 minutes remaining.
It was then left to super-sub Jacob Colosimo to seal the deal, heading past the goalkeeper with the final touch of the game and sending the Knights faithful into ecstasy - and second place on the VPL table.
They travel to Dandenong on Friday night while Bentleigh host Northcote City.
Oakleigh Cannons 1 (Bosnjak 74')
South Melbourne 2 (Rixon 15' Hopper 64')
Jack Edwards Reserve
South Melbourne claimed back to back victories with a 2-1 defeat of Oakleigh Cannons, all but ending their finals chances in 2013.
Trent Rixon took advantage of a horrible backpass by Rossi Jarvis and got the ball rolling 15 minutes in to the contest, however the hosts were forced to wait until the 64th minutes to take control of the contest.
Luke Hopper was awarded a penalty and made no mistake, slotting his attempt past Lewis Italiano who made his last appearance for the club before moving over to Wellington Phoenix.
Dusan Bosnjak gave the hosts a glimmer of hope however it was all too late for last season's Grand Finalists.
South Melbourne host Pascoe Vale next week while Oakleigh Cannons travel to Broadmeadows to take on Hume City.
Round 19 Fixtures:
Bentleigh Greens v Northcote City, 8:15 pm, Friday 21 August, Kingston Heath Soccer Complex
Dandenong Thunder v Melbourne Knights, 8:30pm, Friday 23 August, George Andrews Reserve
Green Gully Cavaliers v RIchmond, 3:00pm Saturday 24 August, Green Gully Reserve
Southern Stars v Port Melbourne Sharks, 6:00pm Saturday 24 August, Kingston Heath Soccer Complex
Hume CIty v Oakleigh Cannons, 3:00pm Sunday 25 August, Broadmeadws Valley Park
South Melbourne v Pascoe Vale, 5:00pm Sunday 25 August, Lakeside Stadium
VICTORIAN PREMIER LEAGUE LADDER
VICTORIAN PREMIER LEAGUE LADDER
| POS | TEAM | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northcote City | 18 | 11 | 4 | 3 | 43 | 13 | 30 | 37 |
| 2 | Melbourne Knights | 18 | 10 | 4 | 4 | 28 | 20 | 8 | 34 |
| 3 | Bentleigh Greens | 18 | 8 | 7 | 3 | 33 | 19 | 14 | 31 |
| 4 | Port Melbourne Sharks | 18 | 9 | 3 | 6 | 26 | 24 | 2 | 30 |
| 5 | South Melbourne | 18 | 8 | 4 | 6 | 36 | 30 | 6 | 28 |
| 6 | Hume City | 18 | 9 | 1 | 8 | 26 | 37 | -11 | 28 |
| 7 | Green Gully Cavaliers | 17 | 8 | 3 | 6 | 26 | 22 | 4 | 27 |
| 8 | Dandenong Thunder | 17 | 8 | 3 | 6 | 27 | 23 | 4 | 24 |
| 9 | Oakleigh Cannons | 17 | 6 | 3 | 8 | 28 | 27 | 1 | 21 |
| 10 | Pascoe Vale | 18 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 19 | 25 | -6 | 17 |
| 11 | Richmond | 17 | 2 | 4 | 11 | 22 | 39 | -17 | 10 |
| 12 | Southern Stars | 18 | 1 | 3 | 14 | 11 | 46 | -35 | 6 |