This is the sum of promotion for this weeks VPL finals series;

Hope there are some A-League scouts to check out Trent Rixon of Northcote City scoring 19 goals from 17 matches.



http://www.footballfedvic.com.au/files/7250/files/Victorian%20Premier%20League/alanic_victorian_premier_league_2010_finals_series_format.pdf

http://premier.footballfedvic.com.au/

[size=6]Football Federation Victoria News

Galanos, Ederaro star as Heidelberg head towards Alanic VPL Minor Semi Final[/size]

By Kristian Silva

Yanni Galanos turned in his best performance of the season to inspire Heidelberg United to a 3-1 victory over Northcote City in the Elimination Final at Olympic Village.

Galanos played a part in all three of Heidelberg’s goals – he set up two chances for Osagie Ederaro either side of the half time break, and even managed to get on the score sheet himself. Northcote’s skipper Trent Rixon pulled back a late consolation goal in the closing stages to notch up his 20th goal of the season.

The win means the Bergers will face Hume City next weekend in the Minor Semi Final.

For Northcote, the toll of playing five matches in the space of 14 days finally showed, as they struggled to match it with a fitter Heidelberg side that put the misery of two previous 5-1 thrashings at the hands of City well and truly behind them.

There’s usually no love lost whenever these two sides face each other, and the mind games began before the ball had even been kicked. However, any disputes before kickoff were never going to overshadow the action on the pitch, which was fiercely competitive from the opening whistle.

It took less than a minute for tensions to flare, with Rixon going in the referee’s book for a late challenge on Luke Byles, and Heidelberg coach George Katsakis coming close to being sent from his technical area for his reaction to the foul.

After 10 minutes, Ederaro gave the Heidelberg fans a taste of what was to come when he burst through the centre, but couldn’t squeeze his left-footed shot into the back of the net after rounding Chris Theodoridis-Petropoulos.

It was a cagey, physical opening that produced few chances for either side until the final minutes of the half.

A Heidelberg corner as deflected skywards and George Slefendorfas rose highest to win the header but could only send his effort thudding into the crossbar.

Two minutes later, Mark McGough’s fierce free kick issued a warning to the Bergers, with his strike from 20 yards curling around the wall and into the side netting.

Josip Kosic was missing from Heidelberg’s side due to suspension, and Galanos was relishing his new role as his side’s playmaker in the centre of midfield, forcing Theodoridis-Petropoulos to turn his goal-bound effort from around the post.

Galanos would also set up the first goal to send his side in front at the half time break, picking out an unmarked Ederaro at the back post who headed in the simplest of chances from four yards.

Having scored six goals in his last two games against Heidelberg, Rixon was struggling to impose himself on this contest and most of Northcote’s attacking play was coming from their other striker, James Kalifatidis.

But just as City looked like they could get something out the game, Galanos extended the lead in the 55th minute and sent the home faithful into raptures when he beat the offside trap on the right wing and strolled in to slot the ball past Theodoridis-Petropoulos.

Kalifatidis had a penalty shout turned down soon after, with the referee deeming that the striker probably went to ground a bit too easily as a result of Craig Elvin’s challenge.

Ederaro put the result beyond doubt in the 62nd minute. Galanos’ long throw caused chaos in the Northcote box but the Nigerian kept his cool to sweep the ball home from close-range.

The fatigue was starting to become a factor for Northcote, and Heidelberg started to run the show, although Kalifatidis’ spectacular banana-shot from 15 yards flew just over the crossbar when Elvin inadvertently deflected the ball into his path.

As Northcote pushed forward in the final 20 minutes, Rixon finally managed to fashion a chance for himself but blasted over the top.

George Papadopolous came off for Paulo Retre and earned a standing ovation from the Northcote fans. Having been at the club since 1996, the veteran is hanging up the boots at the age of 33.

Heidelberg showed little signs of letting up and looked to extend the lead even further, with George Slefendorfas trying his luck with a powerful volley from the edge of the area that was just a little too high.

However, Rixon gave the City fans a reason to smile just before the final whistle. He shrugged off a challenge from Steve Martin and drilled a low shot past Steve Tilovski to make it 3-1.

The result means Northcote’s season is now over, but it has certainly been one to remember. The Alanic VPL new boys showed they are no pushovers, and if they can keep Trent Rixon at the club next season, they may consider themselves as title contenders in 2011.

As for Heidelberg, they move onto next week’s clash with Hume City with the belief that they can go all the way. After sitting in the relegation zone in the first half of the season, Katsakis’ side has produced a brilliant run of form, having lost only two games since round nine.

Heidelberg United: Steve TILOVSKI (Gk), Les DOUMBALIS, Yared HAILEMELKOT, Paul MILLER, Yanni GALANOS, George SLEFENDORFAS (Sayeedreza HOSSAINI 90’), Antonio LA VERDE, Luke BYLES, Craig ELVIN, Steve MARTIN, Osagie EDERARO.

Unused Subs: Christian MORALES (Gk), Laurence GUGOROSSIS, Hrvoje MATKOVIC, Nikolas KATSAKIS.

Goals: EDERARO (42’, 62’), GALANOS (55’).

Northcote City: Chris THEODORIDIS-PETROPOULOS (Gk), Adriano CHIAPPETTA, Bradley NORTON, George PAPADOPOULOS (Paulo RETRE 79’), Nicholas CURTIS (Nick TZOULIS 61’), Mark McGough, Trent RIXON, Hayden D'AGOSTINO, Eddie SOARES (Harry KINIGOPOULOS 64’), James KALIFATIDIS, Jonathan VOULGARIS.

Unused Subs: Nikolaos GOUNTARAS (Gk), Paul SAVIO.

Goals: RIXON (90’).

Last updated: Sunday August 22, 2010 8:04PM

[size=7]Football Federation Victoria News

Dominant Gully march on to Major Semi Final[/size]


The Green Gully Cavaliers have earned themselves a spot in next week's Alanic Victorian Premier League Major Semi Final against Richmond, after defeating Hume City, 3-1, in the Qualifying Final at Epping Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

It was a great day for football, and the first match of the 2010 finals series did not disappoint.

Brent Fisher dominated up front for the Green Gully Cavaliers, his muscle and pace causing plenty of headaches for Hume City all day.

Both teams took time to settle, but from the get-go Green Gully looked the more attacking side. Hume City was missing coach, Andy Vlahos, from the starting line up with a hamstring injury, and it showed on the pitch. His creative flare was obviously lacking, leaving a gaping hole up front for Hume City, and they were unable to find a player to step up and fill his shoes.

Green Gully was compact and controlled the ball early on, not wanting to give Hume City any space, paying particular close attention to Zoran Petrevski and Richard Cardozo.

In the eighth minute Petrevski squandered the first chance to score for the match, his shot from deep on the baseline never really testing Gully’s keeper, Nikola Roganovic.

There was plenty of stop-start play as both teams continued to attempt to find the edge during the first half, with the number of free kicks from sloppy play and/or reckless tackles mounting.

Green Gully had their first chance at goal in the 14th minute from a corner kick. Graham Hockless’ ball bounced out from the kick, but it was shot back into the danger zone and onto the head of Cameron Drake, but his header went straight to Hume City’s keeper, Lupce Acevski.

From then on in the first half, Gully held the majority of possession, with Hockless, Drake and Mathew Sanders all creating opportunities up forward.

Hume City’s leading goal scorer, Richard Cardozo, was clearly frustrated with the close attention he was getting from the Gully midfield, pleading with the referee for a number frees during the course of the match. In the 30th minute Cardozo went down in the centre of the pitch after he received a rough challenge that looked more like a hip and shoulder from Jeff Fleming. The challenge knocked the wind out of Cardozo, and he took time to pick himself up off the pitch.

In the 33rd minute Green Gully had an opportunity to score from a well-worked piece of play starting with Mathew Sanders in the midfield. Sanders passed it to Andy Vargas, who laid it off out wide to Hockless, who put the ball at Brent Fisher’s feet inside the six yard box. Unfortunately Fisher couldn’t get any power on the ball, and it dribbled to the feet of Acevski.

The tempo slowed as half time approached, with Hume City in particular content to go into half time with 0-0 score line. Brent Fisher had been a stand out in the first half, involved in creating opportunities and being a target for Green Gully attacks.

At the half time break, Andy Vlahos agreed that Gully had the edge in the first half, and he swiftly made two changes, Brendan Beni and Ross Thompson came off for Dusko Delic and Steven Pace.

Soon after half time, Green Gully capitalised on their great form in the first half, with a goal to Brent Fisher as the Hume City defence appeared to have been caught napping.

Despite the goal, and the apparent defensive nature of Hume’s substitutions at half time, they kicked into gear and were starting to look dangerous going forward. Finally after a well-worked piece of play, Hume City was rewarded for their efforts, with a goal to Richard Cardozo in the 72nd minute.

Against the run of play, Hume City was brought back down to earth with a brilliant goal from Fisher in the 75th minute. Hume City left Fisher unmarked and with room to shoot, and from a difficult angle, he put Green Gully in front.

Green Gully went to the bench after they hit the lead, replacing Mathew Sanders and Graham Hockless with Michael Anderson and Nick Robinson.

Hume City’s fate was then sealed in the 86th minute, after an apparent handball to Erdogan in the box left the referee no choice but to point to the penalty spot. As he has done all season, Steve Burton stepped up and ensured victory for Green Gully, 3-1.

Next week, Hume City will play Heidelberg United in the Minor Semi Final, while Green Gully comes up against Richmond in the Major Semi Final, with the winner going straight into the 2010 Alanic Victorian Premier League Grand Final at AAMI Park.

Hume City: 1. Lupce ACEVSKI, 6. Serdar PIR, 7. Isiyan ERDOGAN, 8. Alfonso OPAZO, 10. Richard CARDOZO, 12. Ross THOMPSON (5. Steven PACE, 46’) 14. Brendan BENI (40. Dusko DELIC, 46’) 15. Zoran PETREVSKI, 16. Tansel BASER, 20. Michael BOSEVSKI (9. Turhan SUMBUL, 71’), 22. Phillip RICCOBENE.

Unused subs: 3. Fabio DILIZIA, 13. Marijo ROZA

Yellow cards: Isiyan ERDOGAN, 85’

Goals: Richard CARDOZO, 72’

Green Gully Cavaliers: 1. Nikola ROGANOVIC, 2. Daniel JONES, 3. Steven BURTON, 7. Jeffrey FLEMING, 10. Graham HOCKLESS (11. Nicholas ROBINSON, 77’), 12. Mathew SANDERS (6. Michael ANDERSON, 76’), 14. Timothy GOULD, 16. Mile MEDJEDOVIC, 17. Andy VARGAS (8. Jason HAYNE, 65’), 18. Brent FISHER, 20. Cameron DRAKE.

Unused subs: 4. Dean FAK, 23. Kyriakos GEROHRISTODOULOU.

Goals: Brent FISHER 48’, 74’; Steven BURTON 86’.

Yellow cards: Cameron DRAKE 14’

Last updated: Sunday August 22, 2010 8:40PM