Olympia Eliminate Victorian Powerhouse

SOMvOLY (supplied FFA)
Words: David Manuca
Image supplied by FFA
 
South Melbourne FC were eliminated from the PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues Finals Series after suffering a 2-1 home defeat to Tasmania's Olympia Warriors on Saturday.

Olympia took the lead after just three minutes through Lachlan Nichols before doubling their advantage on the half-hour mark via a Shpetim Mala own goal.

The away side were reduced to ten men less than ten minutes into the second-half but managed to hold on for the result despite a Milos Lujic strike and an enormous amount of late pressure from South.

The loss comes just six days after South Melbourne were defeated at the same venue by Bentleigh Greens in the PlayStation 4 NPL Victoria 2015 Grand Final.

South Melbourne had to chase the game from the outset, with a free-kick from the left finished via a fantastic diving header from Nichols.

The early goal came as a shock to South Melbourne but first David Stirton and then Lujic had chances to bring South level just minutes after going behind.

Gavin Hoy was looking dangerous for Olympia and the no.10 made a fool of the South defence, weaving his way past three players before his cut-back took a deflection and found the back of the net.

Just five minutes later defender Chris Irwin found himself forward and his shot from the edge of the area hit the post before being cleared away.

Leigh Minopoulos had a shot blocked shortly afterwards before the referee blew for what was a very frustrating half for South Melbourne.

However, Olympia midfielder Shae Hickey received a second yellow card nine minutes into the restart and that gave South Melbourne the spark they needed to get themselves back into the contest.

The goal came just seven minutes later, with none other than Lujic getting his head on a cross to bring South back into the game. From then on it was all South.

Minopoulos should have equalised four minutes later but after getting past the defence and creating some space his shot was brilliantly blocked by Sean Lewis.

Nicholas Epifano hit the crossbar after some great work in the box before Lujic had a shot saved from Minopoulos’ cross.

Lujic had another chance saved, this time from a header, before half-time substitute Dane Milovanovic had a shot cleared off the line in added time.

South did all they could but the underdogs from Tasmania stood tall and came out shock 2-1 winners.

Olympia advance to face the winners of Sunday's PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues Elimination Final between West Adelaide SC and Bayswater City SC.

They join PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland Premiers Moreton Bay United in the Semi-Final stage of the end-of-season knock-out series.

This story originally appeared on the official PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues website

South Melbourne FC 1 (Milos LUJIC 61’)
Olympia FC 2 (Lachlan NICHOLS 3’, own goal 30')

 




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