VPL Round Nineteen Preview

It's getting tight in the VPL - check out all the stats for this weekend...

Bentleigh Greens v Moreland Zebras

Fri 8:15pm, Kingston Heath Soccer Complex

5th v 11th

Last Round:

Northcote City 1-1 Bentleigh Greens

Moreland Zebras 1-2 Richmond

VPL History:

Bentleigh Greens win: 4

Moreland Zebras win: 8

Reverse Fixture:

Moreland Zebras 1-2 Bentleigh Greens

Form:

Bentleigh Greens: WDWDD

Moreland Zebras: LLLLL

Moreland went ahead last week and were looking the better side in the opening half before a lapse of concentration in defence saw them succumb to another defeat. With six losses in a row and coming up against Bentleigh who are undefeated in five and desperate to stay in a finals position – anything but a Greens win looks unlikely.

Oakleigh Cannons v Melbourne Knights 

Fri 8:30pm, Jack Edwards Reserve

2nd v 9th

Last Round:

Hume City 0-1 Oakleigh Cannons

Melbourne Knights 2-2 South Melbourne

VPL History:

Oakleigh Cannons win: 4

Melbourne Knights win: 7

Draw: 4

Reverse Fixture:

Melbourne Knights 1-2 Oakleigh Cannons

Form:

Oakleigh Cannons: WDWWW

Melbourne Knights: WLLLD

Oakleigh have been on fire and will be hoping to keep the pressure on league leaders Dandenong Thunder with a win over the Knights who haven’t tasted victory in their past four matches. Consistency was a problem for the Cannons early in the season, but that looks to be in the past as they have now won six out of the past eight with their last loss coming in Round 13.

Richmond v Southern Stars

Fri 8:30pm, Kevin Bartlett Reserve

6th v 10th

Last Round:

Moreland Zebras 1-2 Richmond

Green Gully Cavaliers 1-0 Southern Stars

VPL History:

Richmond win: 0

Southern Stars win: 0

Draw: 1

Reverse Fixture:

Southern Stars 2-2 Richmond

Form:

Richmond: WWLDW

Southern Stars: LDLLL

A resurgent Richmond have thrust themselves into finals contention with three wins in their past five matches, but sitting three points behind Bentleigh who should beat Moreland this week they desperately need a victory against Southern Stars.

Stars, after looking like a genuine finals chance have since fallen way down the pack and now simply hope to finish the season in safety. Their last win was seven rounds ago against leaders Dandenong Thunder and despite being unlucky against South Melbourne they haven’t looked the same since.

Green Gully Cavaliers v Hume City

Sat 3pm, Green Gully Reserve

3rd v 8th

Last Round:

Green Gully Cavaliers 1-0 Southern Stars

Hume City 0-1 Oakleigh Cannons

VPL History:

Green Gully Cavaliers win: 3

Hume City win: 5

Draw: 2

Reverse Fixture:

Hume City 1-0 Green Gully Cavaliers

Form:

Green Gully Cavaliers: WDWDW

Hume City: WDWLL

The anticipated Hume City revival upon Richie Cardozo’s return hasn’t yet eventuated and with two losses in a row they are slowly falling out of reach of the top five. Conversely, the anticipated Green Gully revival, which has now become tradition, is well under way with the Cavaliers sitting four points clear in third spot without tasting defeat for over two months.

Heidelberg United v Northcote City

Sun 3pm, Olympic Village

12th v 4th

Last Round:

Dandenong Thunder 5-0 Heidelberg United

Northcote City 1-1 Bentleigh Greens

VPL History:

Heidelberg United win: 2

Northcote City win: 4

Draw: 0

Reverse Fixture:

Northcote City 2-0 Heidelberg United

Form:

Heidelberg United: LDLWL

Northcote City: LWLWD

With survival impossible for Heidelberg after last weekend’s loss, the mental strength of the Bergers’ players will be crucial if they want to finish off the season with pride. A match against a Northcote City outfit who need as many wins as possible to maintain their finals position means things are not getting any easier for the former NSW Grand Final winners.

South Melbourne v Dandenong Thunder

Sun 5pm, Lakeside Stadium

7th v 1st

Last Round:

Melbourne Knights 2-2 South Melbourne

Dandenong Thunder 5-0 Heidelberg United

VPL History:

South Melbourne win: 2

Dandenong Thunder win:; 2

Draw: 3

Reverse Fixture:

Dandenong Thunder 1-1 South Melbourne

Form:

Dandenong Thunder: LWWDW

A tasty battle between two sides who always put on a good show. Dandenong could take a major step in sealing the title if they can win while South will still be in with a finals shout if they can cause an upset.

Goals

16 – Luke Sherbon, Dandenong Thunder

9 – Nate Foster, Dandenong Thunder

9 – Nicholas Hegarty, Hume City

8 – Mathew Sanders, Green Gully Cavaliers

7 – James Kalifatidis, Northcote City

7 – Mark Leech, Hume City

7 – Ricky Diaco, Oakleigh Cannons

7 – Osagie Ederaro, Green Gully Cavaliers

7 – Scott Bulloch, Bentleigh Greens

Yellow Cards

6 – Steven Topalovic, Richmond

6 – Jonathan Voulgaris, Northcote City

5 – Daniel Jones, Green Gully Cavaliers

5 – Brian Bran, Dandenong Thunder

5 – Adam Zilic, Melbourne Knights

5 – Craig Sweeney, Melbourne Knights

5 – Saso Alexovski, Heidelberg United

5 – Nicholas Marinos, Heidelberg United

5 – Kristian Konstantinidis, Northcote City

5 – Alan Mulcahy, Southern Stars

5 – Isiyan Erdogan, Hume City

Red Cards

4 – Melbourne Knights (Ben Surey, Tomislav Uskok, Shaun Romein, Marijan Cvitkovic)

3 – Richmond (Liam Cannell, Michael Ferrante, Mate Eterovic)

3 – Southern Stars (Lean Williams, Ridvan Saglam, Halil Gur)

3 – South Melbourne (Thomas Matthews, Trent Rixon, Shaun Kelly)

2 – Green Gully Cavaliers (Patricio Vargas, Mile Medjedovic)

1 – Heidelberg United (George Papadopoulos)

1 – Bentleigh Greens (Jack Webster)