South Melbourne made yet another big statement in the Women’s Premier League, as they knocked off the previously undefeated Sandringham SC 2-1 in their top-of-the-table clash on Monday night.
Kingston Heath was shocked to the core by two late Tiffany Eliadis goals, as the Melbourne Victory forward displayed a classy finishing touch to cancel out Annabelle Gibney’s opener for the hosts.
The contest took a little time to really kick-off, as the two sides seemed more content to just not concede in the opening minutes.
The pair exchanged jabs, with both sides trading possession without really threatening the goals.
Through a set-piece, South notched up the first meaningful effort of the match, as Alex Cheal leapt highest to meet Alison Baker’s brilliant corner, but the centre-half didn’t make keeper Nikki Cook work hard enough, as she held comfortably.
Sandringham then had a glorious chance to break the deadlock through Steph Tanti, who was afforded the luxury of running unopposed on goal, forcing a good save from step-in keeper Farrugia, who was adjudged to have stepped out of her area in making the save.
The resulting free-kick on the edge of the box was cannoned into the wall by Sienna Fogarty, but on the rebound, defender Steph Parton hit and hoped and was dreadfully unlucky not to have scored, as Farrugia got a fist on her goal bound effort from 30 yards.
Baker registered the first chance of the second half, as she forced Cook to tip her dipping strike over the crossbar with two hands.
Farrugia at the other end was also kept busy, as Emma Robers glanced an effort into her arms from a Fogarty set-piece.
The game had opened up, and the end-to-end nature of the contest was telling as winger Saphri Lines carried and shot from the edge of the area, forcing Cook into another save.
But it was midfielder Gibney who would eventually break the deadlock in the 68th minute, as she got the final touch amongst three free Sandy players at the far post to header home from Fogarty’s corner.
It was short lived however as the classy Eliadis showed poise and composure to curl an effort into the far post from the left.
A cross from Lines in the 77th minute tailed into Eliadis who took a touch and finessed it past the hapless keeper to equalise.
With the game on a knife-edge, the football began to look nervy as both sides struggled to find a telling touch.
Forward Emma Runnalls nearly nabbed a late winner for Sandy, as her pressure forced Farrugia into a spill in mopping up a through ball, but it amounted to nothing.
Only moments later in injury-time, it was South who eventually struck the killer blow.
A sublime delivery from Baker freed up Eliadis on the left flank, with the forward cutting in before this time tucking the ball neatly into the near post, with her trademark potency.
South Melbourne coach Socrates Nicolaidis was rightly delighted with the impact of his match winner.
“With the last three minutes, we went to a 3-3-4 formation. Weird combination, but we pushed [Tiff Eliadis] higher,” Nicolaidis said.
“She said to me ‘push me up higher’. She understands the game and takes it into her own hands.”
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Sandringham SC 1 (Gleadell 68’) defeated by South Melbourne WFC 2 (Eliadis 77’ 90+1’) at Kingston Heath Soccer Complex [HT: 0-0]
Sandringham SC: 21. Nikki COOK (GK), 19. Annabelle GIBNEY, 4. Emma ROBERS, 6. Stephanie PARTON, 8. Nicola WESTWOOD (12. Eliza Gleadall 62’), 10. Steph TANTI, 11. Lucyna KAPUSTA, 13. Alina KAPUSTA (7. Kirstie Shearing 82’), 18. Sienna FOGARTY, 28. Emily MORRIS-KRAUSE, 9. Emma RUNNALLS
Unused Substitute(s): 1. Ingrid Philippe, 3. Lauren Diduszko
Yellow Card(s): Runnalls 65’, Shearing 87’
Red Card(s): Nil
South Melbourne: 1. Lauren FARRUGIA (GK), 6. Alex CHEAL (c), 3. Nat MARTINEAU, 17. Alison BAKER, 2. Brittany DUDLEY-SMITH, 10. Tiff ELIADIS, 8. Carol HOWES, 5. Jade FEAKES, 11. Saphri LINES, 13. Marianna ANTHONY (4. Chloe DRINOCZKY 76’ [9. Sarah SUMNER 85’]), 14. Nat BRAJANOVSKI (7. Rhea SCHREUDER 76’)
Unused Substitute(s): 50. Coco MAISTORVIC, 18. Caitlin GREISER