By Joseph Rosedon 27/5/24
South Melbourne 4-3 FV Emerging
A brace from captain Danielle Micallef plus goals from Emily Roach and Aimee Medwin were enough to see off a spirted performance from FV Emerging
South Melbourne threatened early. Francesca Iermano worked her way into the box but her attempt from a tight angle was comfortably held by Emerging keeper Sophie Dehne. Dehne again was involved soon after, palming away Emily Roach’s ambitious long-range effort.
Despite the early pressure, it was the visitors who struck first. Emerging won the ball back on the halfway line and the counterattack was on. The ball eventually reached Eva Kokotis in the penalty are. Kokotis remained calm in the box, creating enough space to get her shot away and fire the visitors in the lead.
One goal soon became two for Emerging. A fortuitouslydeflected free kick from Jade Tam wrongfooted Christina Esposito in the South Melbourne goal, doubling their lead in the opening sixteen minutes
South Melbourne thought they had pulled a goal back soon after, Danielle Micallef bundling home from close range, but was given offside. South Melbourne needed a decision to go their way soon, otherwise it looked likely the game would run away from them.
Their prayers were answered. Mesiha Westland was played through on goal where she was met by Dehne. The subsequenttackle from Dehne was deemed by the referee to be enough for a red card. South Melbourne had their lifeline.
The tide had turn. Grace Rapp’s looped effort struck the bar, the home side really turning on the pressure in the closing stages of the first half. Yet Emerging manged to hold onto their two-goal lead going into half time.
However, their two-goal lead soon evaporated in the space of a minute. Firstly, Micaleff pulled it back to 2-1. The captain was not to be denied by the offside flag this time, blasting the ballhome from an acute angle, past unlikely goalkeeper Emilia Ingles, and into the roof of the net
Then it was the turn of Roach to get in on the goal scoring action. Tayla Christensen’s cross found Westland of the edge of the box. Westland then touched the ball forward to Roach. The recent addition to the South Melbourne squad swivelled on the penalty spot and slammed in the equaliser.
tI would have been fair to assume at this point the game had slipped through the fingers of Emerging. However, they had other ideas. A short corner was played out to Ehva Gutszmit. Gutszmit launched the ball forward in specular fashion, floating over the head of Esposito and into the goal. Emerging had retaken the lead in the most improbable of situations.
Their hope was swiftly dashed, and it was South Melbourne’s captain who delivered their crushing reality. Micallef was deftly played through on goal and in those positions, she is deadly, levelling the game at 3-3
Ingles made a superb save to deny Micallef her hattrick, but the resulting corner gave South Melbourne the lead for the first time in the game. The ball fell perfectly for Aimee Medwin inside the box for her to finish and get her first goal of season.
Both sides could have scored more. Kokostis almost had her second goal of the game, but her long-range attempt was tipped over by Esposito while Medwin had her shot cannon of the post for the eventual winners.
From this victory, South Melbourne remain in 5th position after Boroondara’s 4-1 victory over Moreland on Saturday.
FV Emerging have yet to claim an away victory will be disappointed that this game was not the one to change this, especially after leading 2-0. After this game, they find themselves in nineth place, two points above tenth place Calder United
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