NPL Victoria Men’s: All roads lead to Lakeside Stadium this Sunday

Some matches request nary analysis.

Some opponents necessitate nary introduction.

And when these teams meet, passionateness for victory is simply a given.

That is precisely the lawsuit this Sunday, when two of the biggest clubs ever produced by Melbourne’s Greek assemblage spell caput to head: South Melbourne and Oakleigh Cannons.

The stakes are adjacent higher owed to the league standings. Hellas sit proudly astatine the top of the table with 18 points, while Oakleigh Cannons are adjacent down connected 14. The stage could hardly beryllium acceptable immoderate better.

South Melbourne travel into the clash successful outstanding form. Fresh from a commanding 3–0 distant win astatine Preston Lions, assurance within the Lakeside campy is sky high. A victory implicit Oakleigh would further harden the radical mentally and capable the nine with pridefulness and optimism up of a demanding tally of fixtures.

In the other country stand the pridefulness of Oakleigh, the Cannons.

Chris Taylor’s broadside has shown plentifulness of prime this season, but consistency remains elusive. Their 3–2 win implicit Hume City past circular provided a timely boost. That victory was vital for belief, content successful their abilities and content successful the ambitions acceptable astatine the opening of the season. Two oregon three akin results could truly ignite their campaign.

The different fixture that stands retired this weekend is the clash betwixt Bentleigh Greens and the tough arsenic nails Preston Lions.

Both sides are coming disconnected dense defeats, results that sting pridefulness but often strengthen resolve. Bentleigh’s 3–0 decision distant to Dandenong City landed similar a slap successful the face. After awesome aboriginal circular performances, large wins and charismatic football, galore believed the “Greens” were cruising towards silverware.

Anyone who follows the NPL, however, knows such a script is unrealistic. Even Real Madrid cannot win a league without dropping points fto unsocial Pankyprios.

That decision brought manager Katsakis’ broadside backmost down to earth, united the radical and sharpened their focus. Now comes the response. Can they present it?

Alexandros are besides hopeless to instrumentality to winning ways.

John Anastasiadis’ broadside person gone three consecutive rounds without a win, something wholly retired of quality for the yellow and blacks implicit the past two seasons.

Against recently promoted George Cross, excuses are moving out. The nonsubjective is singular: three points. Another setback would weigh heavy connected the club, impact subordinate assurance and formed uncertainty implicit a technical staff that has heavy invested successful the intelligence mentation of their squad.

The hosts whitethorn not intimidate connected paper, but they cannot beryllium ignored. George Cross presently sit seventh, coming disconnected an awesome distant gully against Melbourne City NPL. After 8 rounds, they’ve recorded three wins, 4 draws and conscionable 1 loss.

Alexandros will request to deed precocious show levels, stay focused and bring the close strength if they are to debar being undone by the hosts’ enthusiasm and aforesaid sacrifice.

VPL1

A Greek derby headlines Round 9 of the VPL1 fixture database this week.

League leaders Iraklis Northcote big bottommost placed Nea Hellas, successful a lucifer steeped successful past and nostalgia.

The hosts, with conscionable 1 defeat, look opponents with lone 1 win to their sanction so far. Let’s spot however that plays out.

Elsewhere, Brunswick City (Leonidas) deed the road, travelling to look a youthful and highly diversion Western United NPL outfit. The Greek Australian nine are successful a tough stretch, three consecutive defeats and a dense suspension handed to their manager person formed acheronian clouds implicit the historical club. An distant win could enactment similar medicine, restoring content and optimism among the faithful.

VPL2

All Greek Australian sides successful VPL2 will bask location vantage this weekend, presenting a strong accidental for valuable points crossed the board.

League leaders Malvern City will look to proceed their awesome run when they big Nunawading City, aiming to further cement their presumption astatine the top of the ladder. Box Hill United, presently sitting third, look a challenging brushwood against Eastern Lions, with different win keeping them firmly successful the promotion race.

Elsewhere, Bayside Argonauts welcome Keilor Park successful a fixture that promises intensity, while historical Clarinda big Altona City, a lucifer that could beryllium important for some sides arsenic the play begins to take shape.

With each 4 GreekAustralian clubs playing astatine home, the question remains: tin they marque it 4 wins from four? The answers will travel connected matchday.

NPL – Fixtures

Friday, 17 April

Bentleigh Greens – Preston Lions 7:30pm

Dandenong City – Green Gully 7:45pm

Saturday, 18 April

Hume City – St Albans Saints 2pm

Avondale – Melbourne City NPL 3pm

Caroline Springs – Heidelberg United 6pm

Altona Magic – Dandenong Thunder 6:15pm

Sunday, 19 April

South Melbourne – Oakleigh Cannons 3:30pm

NPL – STANDINGS

(games played, points)

South Melbourne 8, 18

Oakleigh Cannons 8, 14

Hume City 8, 14

Heidelberg United 8, 14

Avondale 8, 13

Bentleigh Greens 8, 13

George Cross 8, 12

Melbourne City NPL 8, 10

Preston Lions 8, 7

St Albans Saints 8, 7

Altona Magic 8, 6

Dandenong City 8, 5

Dandenong Thunder 8, 5

Green Gully 8, 3

VPL1 – Fixtures

Friday, 17 April

Langwarrin – Bulleen Lions 7:30pm

Melbourne Knights – Manningham Unite 8:30pm

Northcote City – Port Melbourne 8:30pm

Saturday, 18 April

North Sunshine Eagles – Melbourne Victory VPL1 3pm

North Geelong Warriors – Brunswick Juventus 5pm

Melbourne Srbija – Eltham Redbacks 6:15pm

Sunday, 19 April

Western United VPL1 – Brunswick City 2pm

Bentleigh’s 3–0 decision distant to Dandenong City landed similar a slap successful the face. Photo: Con Deves

VPL1 – STANDINGS

(games played, points)

Northcote City 8, 21

Brunswick Juventus8, 18

Melbourne Knights 8, 18

Eltham Redbacks 8, 16

Manningham United 8, 15

North Geelong Warriors 8, 15

Bulleen Lions 8, 13

Melbourne Victory VPL1 8, 11

Western United VPL1 8, 9

Brunswick City 8, 7

North Sunshine Eagles 8, 6

Melbourne Srbija 8, 6

Langwarrin 8, 5

VPL2 – Fixtures

Friday, 17 April

Box Hill United – Eastern Lions 7:30pm

Kingston City – Essendon Royals 7:45pm

Whittlesea United – Altona City 8:30pm

Saturday, 18 April

Werribee City – Moreland City 3pm

Bayside Argonauts – Keilor Park 3pm

Springvale White Eagles – Goulburn Valley Suns – 3:15pm

Malvern City – Nunawading City 5pm

VPL2 – STANDINGS

(games played, points)

Malvern Cityy 8, 21

Goulburn Valley Suns 8, 15

Box Hill United 8, 15

Bayside Argonauts 8, 14

Nunawading City 8, 14

Keilor Park 8, 12

Eastern Lions 8, 10

Kingston City 7, 10

Essendon Royals 8, 9

Springvale White Eagles 8, 9

Altona City 8, 8

Moreland City 7, 6

Werribee City 8, 6

Whittlesea United 8, 5