Summary: Round 3’s clash between Oakleigh Cannons and South Melbourne has ended scoreless at Jack Edwards Reserve. An early red card for Oakleigh wasn’t capitalised on by the away side, whose talisman was unable to find the back of the net.
By the end of last season, Oakleigh looked a more complete product than South, and some high class wins over Avondale and Heidelberg this season solidified their contention for the title. South are in a far less stable position, coming off a win that highlighted our strengths, but against a fairly ordinary opposition.
Our route 1 strategy, utilising the threat of Harrison Sawyer, was present from the sixth minute, when Gerrie Sylaidos whipped his corner into the head of the striker, who’s poorly defended against. Sylaidos’ feeding of Sawyer was a big threat to Oakleigh, and, while never leading to a goal, did lead to trouble early on. It was in the 11th minute when Sylaidos bounded through his attacking half, laying off a well timed pass in front of Sawyer. Sawyer’s turn is good, opening up space in front of him, only to be tripped by Lucas Portelli. Referee Chris Hope had no hesitation bringing out a red card, providing South with a real opportunity for an upset.
The midfield’s reliance on Sawyer, much like in the Lujic days, seemed to streamline their attack. Runs fizzled out far less frequently, as they had more clear of a direction. Amadu Koroma, one of the returning figures of South this season, opened up the early game with a series of attacking runs. Like last game, he and Brad Norton were situated higher up the pitch, allowing South to hold a strong presence on the wings. However, positive signs never culminated into opportunities. Oakleigh were able to hold up play in defence, at least enough to stifle South’s attacks. Sylaidos’ wide attempt just outside the box was our first real shot worth noting, and it didn’t come until the 34th minute. But a few minutes later, Sylaidos was once again at the helm of a counter attack. Buildup play with Koroma led to an incoming toe-poke cross for Sawyer, who snuffs it. Oakleigh were far from absent in this game, but in little moments where they switched off, they didn’t account for being one man down. In the same vain, South weren’t able to finish, even with this advantage.
As Oakleigh’s midfield was stifled by their loss of Portelli, they were most dangerous during set pieces, and in the dying stages of the first half, a ball had to be cleared off the line from one of their corners. Their presses were weak, however, and easily stamped out by the strong challenges of Koroma and Elmazi. Alongside set pieces, during counter attacks it was an even contest. South’s buildup play was disrupted in the 62nd minute, as a ball is stolen from Brad Norton. Oakleigh then find their best opportunity of the match, tight a cross just out of reach for Joey Guest to nod in.
A pivotal moment in the game came a minute later, when Sylaidos is subbed off for Nick Krousoratis. The build up play began occurring almost exclusively on the opposite side to him, as he played as more of an attacking winger. He was far less likely to cut into the centre, or provide lay offs for Sawyer, which led to several inappropriately timed runs up that were dealt with by the Oakleigh defence.
The next notable shot was from the home side, who were able to get a spectacular effort out of Hamish Miller. Miller’s run in the 69th minute saw him find tremendous amounts of space, letting off a powerful shot outside the box, that drifts just wide of the top corner. As soon as South allowed Oakleigh to have multiple attacking opportunities, they shifted their players around, smothering our defence and nullifying the one-man advantage.
Towards the last 15 minutes, there was no urgency from either side. To score would be excellent, but to concede would be devastating. And so, aside from a few energetic counter attacks, there was no intensity in attacking plays. In the 85th minute minute, an inswinging Norton free kick meets the head of Marshall, who believes his attempt is illegally blocked. No hand ball was called, and a goal kick ensued. It was in extra time, after ten or so minutes of aerial ping pong, where South had their best opportunity of the match. The monotony of defensive back passes is cut by Chris Irwin, who gallops down the line and manages to wade a pass in between Oakleigh’s centre backs and to the feet of Sawyer, who’s directly in on goal. However, he can’t get clean contact on his tap in, sending it wide, with the game ending scoreless.
At the beginning of the match, Oakleigh would have been disappointed with the result, and South more or less content. By the 11th minute, I imagine the feelings would have been reversed. The early substitution of Gerrie Sylaidos closed off a section of the field, and as a result, more pressure was placed on Irwin and Norton to feed Sawyer. It also gave the Oakleigh defence a rest, and they were able to compose themselves during our attacking plays. Strong against an 11-man Lions squad, adequate against a 10-man Oakleigh, we’ll see what South can do against Port Melbourne next match.
Notable players: Gerrie Sylaidos, Chris Irwin, Amadu Koroma
South Melbourne FC: 0
Oakleigh Cannons FC: 0
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