South Melbourne have re-taken second spot in the Women’s Premier League table with one round remaining following a convincing 5-0 victory over Caulfield United at Lakeside on Saturday afternoon.
On a perfect afternoon for football, a first-half hat-trick to Rhea Schreuder, complimented by strikes from Jamie Pollock and Caitlin Greiser ensured that the three points belonged to South.
The tone for the match was set early, with South Melbourne looking to dominate possession and territory.
After a frustrating start for the home side, which saw a number of passes just miss their mark and shots go wide, they took the lead inside of eight minutes.
Lisa Farquhar expertly threaded a ball through to Rhea Schreuder, who finished calmly past the Cobras’ makeshift keeper Victoria Argyopolous.
The pressure continued from South, and Schreuder doubled her tally, and her sides’ lead on 14 minutes.
Following a good period of possession, Tiffany Eliadis found space on the left to cross low – the ball fumbled by Argyopolous allowing the forward a simple tap-in from four-yards.
The goals kept flowing, as Pollock got in on the action after 20 minutes.
It was yet another through ball which undid the visitors’ defence, this time from Alison Baker, who picked out Pollock smartly – the midfielder finishing past the ‘keeper with aplomb.
The crossbar saved Caulfield just four minutes later as Saphri Lines slalomed through the defence before laying off to Sara Alberici, but the ex-South Yarra striker’s shot clipped the top of the bar.
The pressure was all one-way and Eliadis should have had a goal with eight minutes remaining in the half, but fluffed her lines as she tried to curl a shot in at the far post.
After 40 minutes, it was 4-0, and Schreuder had her third, as Lines picked her out perfectly, Argyopolous unable to get a hand to the ball, leaving another simple tap in for the striker.
Schreuder had her third on 40 minute, as Lines picked her out with a perfect delivery; Argyopolous unable to get a hand to the ball, leaving another simple tap in for the striker.
The ‘keeper made a great save just a minute later however, desperately diving backwards to keep out a skewed clearance from Stephanie Wood.
Half-time came with the score sitting at 4-0 to South, and the second half maintained a similar pattern, albeit at a slightly lesser pace.
Lines nearly got her goal with just nine minutes played of the half, however Argyopolous again did well, diving at full stretch to deny the shot.
Tiffany Eliadis also was unable to find the net, despite another two good chances – one from a free-kick, the other a tap in from six-yards, where her balance alluded her at the crucial moment.
Zoe Haratzis had a rare chance for Caulfield soon after, but South stopper Coco Majstotovic smartly puched clear the danger from a volley from 20-yards.
Substitute Greiser made it 5-0 with 15 minutes to play as she carried the ball, before shooting over the head of Argyopoulos from 20-yards, into the top left corner.
Pollock and Eliadis had chances to add to the total but neither were able to as South comfortably saw out the game and put themselves in pole position to finish second.
South Melbourne 5 (Schreuder 8’,14’,40’, Pollock 20’, Greiser 75’) defeated Caulfield United Cobras 0 at Lakeside Stadium [HT: 4-0]
South Melbourne: 4: Coco MAJSTOROVIC (GK), 3: Jade FEAKES, 6: Alex CHEAL, 7: Rhea SCHREUDER (2: Britanny DUDLEY-SMITH 46’), 9: Sara ALBERICI (31: Jasmine AREZOLLA 72’), 10: Tiffany ELIADIS, 11: Saphri LINES (5: Natalie MARTINEAU 62’), 12: Jamie POLLOCK, 14: Natalie BRAJANOVSKI, 16: Lisa FARQUHAR, 17: Alison BAKER (18: Caitlin GREISER 72’)
Unused Substitute(s): 1: Jenna Ibrahim (GK).
Yellow Card(s): Dudley-Smith 88’
Red Card(s): Nil
Caulfield United Cobras: 23: Victoria ARGYOPOLOUS 24: Hollie MACDONALD 12: Bree GURR, 16: Liena MALLIARAS, 8: Anita LES, 22: Cassandra MAYSTON, 14: Dani JACKSON (17: Zoe HARATZIS 46’ [31: Mandi GIANNOPOLOUS 84’]), 34: Stephanie WOOD, 18: Grace BUCHAN, 33: Louise MCMULLEN, 6: Edita MACKAJ (15: Pulli GARDIYAWASAM 46’, 27: Smilja RAKIC 78’)
Yellow Card(s): Nil
Red Card(s): Nil