Image courtesy: Peter Kakalias
By Yariv Field
A very impressive first half for Hume City has sealed their victory over Oakleigh Cannons in last night's match at Jack Edwards Reserve.
Three first half goals ensured Hume would take away three valuable points, and continue to challenge for top spot on the VPL table.
Hume City got the game off to a quick start and was looking dangerous right from the outset, setting up an early opportunity which they were unable to capitalise on. This early attack was an ominous warning of things to come. Hume was playing good team football, sharing the ball nicely around the pitch making sure their players got an early touch to settle any nerves they may have. This led to a couple of important headers in Hume’s attacking half, including one from Zoran Petrevski, who was looking lively up-front for the away side.
Oakleigh started to get into the game at around the 15 minute mark, and made a strong surge forward, however the shot on goal sailed harmlessly over the keepers head. This attack got some confidence into the Oakleigh players, who were now starting to have an impact on the game.
Oakleigh were using their home ground well, spreading the ball out wide onto the wings, however, the Hume defence was up to the challenge and continued to put an end to Oakleigh’s attacking runs.
On the 20 minute mark Hume’s Phillip Riccobene makes a good surge forward down the left hand side of the pitch, and put the cross into the box, but Oakleigh’s back four made easy work of it and got the ball out of the hot spot. Riccobene was playing well and looking dangerous out on the left.
Riccobene and Hume got their just rewards on 23 minutes with the first goal of the game. Hume came down the right flank and after a couple of nice passes, the cross came into the box and sailed over two Oakleigh defenders’ heads, falling to Riccobene, who struck it well into the top right hand corner of the net.
Shortly after, on 30 minutes, Hume got their second goal, stamping their authority on the game. Again, the ball was played down the right hand side of the pitch coming out of defence, and Hume’s coach, Andy Vlahos put on a super effort to get onto the end of a pass and beat the oncoming Oakleigh defender. Vlahos dribbled for 10 meters down the right, spotted up team-mate Richard Cardozo free in the middle of the park, who was able to find a bit of free space and then beat the keeper with a strong strike from around 15 meters out. A very nice goal by Cardozo and a great team effort by Hume to get it out of defence and into the back of the net to give them a comfortable two goal lead.
First half injuries to Hume’s Steven Pace and Oakleigh’s Aristidis Drakos forced them off the pitch, and both managers to reassemble their sides. This had little affect on Hume, who on 43 minutes scored their third goal to pretty much seal the game.
It was a cracking goal by Dusko Delic, a brilliant individual effort. Delic received the ball, dribbled for a few meters, weaved past one defender, dribbled a bit further, and then struck the ball beautifully into the bottom left hand corner of the net.
The ref then blew the whistle for half time, with the score-line reading Oakleigh nil, Hume three.
Oakleigh midfielders Bill Damianos and Cameron Watson were playing well and giving their all, but at this stage Hume were just too strong.
It was going to take a Liverpool-like 2005 Champions League Final in Istanbul comeback for Oakleigh to win the game. However, as the second half played out, it was clear that Istanbul is a long way from Oakleigh, and that a miracle come-from-behind victory was not likely.
Delic started the second half in much the same fashion as he ended the first – with a nice run forward, playing it wide to Cardozo, who was unlucky not to stretch Hume’s lead to four, as he hit the cross-bar.
This bad luck was shortly transferred to Oakleigh, who were incredibly unlucky not to score as the ball came into the box, ricochets off a couple of players, with Oakleigh then pouncing on it to put together two nice passes but the shot on goal hit the upright and Oakleigh remained goalless.
After this passage of play the game started to lose the intensity it had in the first half. The next 20 minutes was end-to-end football, however neither side looks like scoring.
Oakleigh picked up the intensity, and when Ricky Diaco was brought down by a heavy challenge, the ref awarded Oakleigh a free kick in a dangerous position around 20 meters out. Diaco took the free kick but was unable to control the ball, and it sailed over the keeper’s head.
Oakleigh continued to press, and Michael Curcija put a great cross into the box, however striker Jerry Karpeh was unable to get his head on it.
Shortly after, Oakleigh’s Cameron Watson and Hume’s Dusko Delic collided heavily in the middle of the park, with both players having eyes only for the ball. There was nothing malicious in it, both picked themselves up slowly and the game went on.
Karpeh was doing his best to conjure up opportunities for Oakleigh, but it just didn’t look like their night.
As the second half came to a close, the sting had well and truly gone out of the game, and it looked like being a 3-0 victory to Hume. However, late in extra time the Oakleigh were awarded a free kick from 30 meters out. Watson put it into the area, the Hume keeper was unable to deal with it, and Stelios Drakos gave his side a consolation goal.
Next week Oakleigh has another tough match when they travel to Kevin Bartlett Reserve to take on Richmond. Hume has a busy week coming up with a mid-week clash against N.T.C before travelling to John Cain Memorial Park to take on South Melbourne.
Oakleigh Cannons: Adrian CAGALJ, Jamie CUMMING, John FITZGERALD, Stelios DRAKOS, Ljuban PALINIC (Bonnell OBRADOVIC – 46’), Ricky DIACO, Jerry KARPEH, Cameron WATSON, Michael CURCIJA (Bill GASPARINATOS – 72’), Aristidis DRAKOS (Bill DAMIANOS – 40’), Scott WEBSTER
Goal: Stelios DRAKOS – 90’
Unused Subs: Scott AGUSTIN, Yusuf YUSUF
Hume City: Steven PACE (Fabio DILIZIA – 34’), Serdar PIR, Isiyan ERDOGAN, Richard CARDOZO, Andy VLAHOS (Alfonso OPAZO – 37’), Marijo ROZA, Zoran PETREVSKI (Turhan SUMBUL – 83’), Tansel BASER, Dusko DELIC, Michael BOSEVSKI, Phillip RICCOBENE
Goals: Phillip RICCOBENE – 23’, Richard CARDOZO – 30’, Dusko DELIC – 43’
Unused Subs: Ross THOMPSON, Chris AILIAKOS
Last updated: Saturday July 17, 2010 5:34PM
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