VPL Round 20 preview

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Bentleigh Greens v Heidelberg United 
Fri 8:15pm, Kingston Heath Soccer Club
4th v 12th

Last Round:
Bentleigh Greens 1-0 Moreland Zebras
Heidelberg United 1-1 Northcote City

VPL History:
Bentleigh Greens win: 5
Heidelberg United win: 7
Draw: 7

Reverse Fixture:
Heidelberg United 3-3 Bentleigh Greens

Form:
Bentleigh Greens: DWDDW
Heidelberg United: DLWLD

It’s all over for Heidelberg while Bentleigh have it all to play for. With three matches left and only four points ahead of sixth place, Bentleigh desperately need to keep winning if they are to stay in a finals position. Having not been lower than fifth all season, it would be difficult to see that changing with a Heidelberg upset unlikely.

Hume City v Richmond
Fri 8:30pm, Epping Soccer Stadium
6th v 7th

Last Round:
Green Gully Cavaliers 0-1 Hume City
Richmond 1-2 Southern Stars

VPL History:
Hume City win: 5
Richmond win: 1
Draw: 2

Reverse Fixture:
Richmond 0-2 Hume City

Form:
Hume City: DWLLW
Richmond: WLDWL

This is a key match-up for both sides as a loss for either team could effectively knock them out of the finals race while a draw will only hinder both sides. Richmond lost to Stars last week and were unconvincing winners against Moreland the week before so are not looking too good, Hume meanwhile are coming off an impressive performance (and three points) against Green Gully.

Dandenong Thunder v Oakleigh Cannons
Sat 7pm, George Andrews Reserve
1st v 2nd

Last Round:
South Melbourne 1-2 Dandenong Thunder
Oakleigh Cannons 1-3 Melbourne Knights

VPL History:
Dandenong Thunder win: 3
Oakleigh Cannons win: 1
Draw: 3

Reverse Fixture:
Oakleigh Cannons 1-1 Dandenong Thunder

Form:
Dandenong Thunder: WWDWW
Oakleigh Cannons: DWWWL

A draw for Dandenong will see them claim their second VPL Minor Premiership with two matches to spare. If Oakleigh are to have any hope in catching the rampant Thunder, three points is key otherwise it will be another title lost for the Cannons.

This will be the VPL Live TV match for this weekend. Tune in for live web streaming right here.

Moreland Zebras v Southern Stars
Sun 3pm, Epping Soccer Stadium
11th v 10th

Last Round:
Bentleigh Greens 1-0 Moreland Zebras
Richmond 1-2 Southern Stars

VPL History:
Moreland Zebras win: 0
Southern Stars win: 1
Draw: 0

Reverse Fixture:
Southern Stars 2-1 Moreland Zebras

Form:
Moreland Zebras: LLLLL
Southern Stars: DLLLW

The season is all but over for these two sides but they will both be looking to finish the year strongly. Stars’ win last week coupled with Moreland’s loss to Bentleigh confirmed relegation for the Zebras and safety for Stars. With nothing more to play for but pride, the motivation levels for Moreland will be a key factor in this being much of a contest. 

Northcote City v South Melbourne
Sun 3pm, John Cain Memorial Park
6th v 8th

Last Round:
Heidelberg United 1-1 Northcote City
South Melbourne 1-2 Dandenong Thunder

VPL History:
Northcote City win: 3
South Melbourne win: 0
Draw: 2

Reverse Fixture:
South Melbourne 0-1 Northcote City

Form:
Northcote City: WLWDD
South Melbourne: LWWDL

A bogey match for South who have never beaten Northcote in the history of the VPL. That fact in addition to the rivalry created due to off-season transfers will make this match one to watch as South try to conjure an unlikely finals berth while Northcote desperately attempt to hang on to a top-five position which looked near impossible at the start of the year.

Melbourne Knights v Green Gully Cavaliers
Sun 3pm, Knights Stadium
9th v 3rd

Last Round:
Oakleigh Cannons 1-3 Melbourne Knights
Green Gully Cavaliers 0-1 Hume City

VPL History:
Melbourne Knights win: 6
Green Gully Cavaliers win: 9
Draw: 1

Reverse Fixture:
Green Gully Cavaliers 0-1 Melbourne Knights

Form:
Melbourne Knights: LLLDW
Green Gully Cavaliers: DWDWL

The Knights were a much improved outfit last week as they tore apart the second-placed Oakleigh Cannons. Coach Andrew Marth will be wondering where that spirit was in the weeks preceding that performance and will be hoping to replicate it this week in the local derby.

Green Gully are never to be dismissed though, and with a finals place looking likely, they will be looking to build momentum after a shock loss to Hume City last week.

Goals
17 – 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
6 – Kristian Konstantinidis, Northcote City
6 – Nicholas Marinos, Heidelberg United
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 – Alan Mulcahy, Southern Stars
5 – Isiyan Erdogan, Hume City
5 – Alan Kearney, Southern Stars
5 – Keiren Fitzgerald, Southern Stars

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)