Major Semi-Final: Richmond v Green Gully

Friday, August 27 at Kevin Bartlett Reserve - 7.30pm

 

Meetings in 2010:

Round Two - Richmond 1 (Daniel Visevic 70'), Green Gully 3 (Nick Robinson 6'73', Steven Burton 20')

Round 13 - Green Gully 1 (Steven Burton 80'), Richmond 2 (Jesse Krncevic 7', Tomislav Milardovic 20')

 

Green Gully was aggrieved by the non-penalty in the round 13 clash earlier this season, won 2-1 by a slick Richmond outfit.

 

The Cavaliers are high on confidence while the Eagles will benefit from having a week off.

 

Gully striker Brent Fisher scored a brace last week to take his season tally to three after making his debut in the clash between these two teams during the penalty drama.

 

Richmond took advantage early on that day, punishing Gully twice in the opening 20 minutes before the Cavaliers fought their way back into the contest.

 

There is likely to be little change to the Gully side that beat Hume, with Fisher and Mathew Sanders likely to take the roles up front.

 

There may be a temptation for coach Paul Harris to use Nick Robinson, who scored a brace against the Eagles in round two.

 

The Eagles enjoyed a stunning run during the regular season, but slowed up towards the latter end.

 

They have a settled back four with Tom Milardovic and Antun Kovacic in the centre.

 

The midfield has the talents of Michael Ferrante and speed out wide of Davey van't Schip, while the work of captain Dimitri Tsiaras is vital in the middle of the park.

 

The real talents are up front, where Daniel Visevic and Jesse Krncevic have dominated all season.

 

They have scored nine and seven times respectively; with the former also proving he is valuable in setting up and constructing set pieces.

 

If the Cavaliers can control the two front men they will enhance their chances by a long way in one expected to go down to the wire.

 

 

Minor Semi-Final: Hume City v Heidelberg United

Saturday, August 28 at Epping Soccer Stadium - 3pm

 

Meetings in 2010:

Heidelberg United 1 (Saso Alexovski 90'), Hume City 3 (Zoran Petrevski 56', Andrew Vlahos 63', Dusko Delic 75')

Hume City 0, Heidelberg United 0

 

Hume City will hope it can bounce back and avoid a straight sets exit out of the final series when it takes on Heidelberg United.

 

City was outplayed by Gully last week and missed Andy Vlahos as an attacking outlet through injury.

 

Veteran Richard Cardozo was taken out of the game by tight marking, but he still managed to get on the scoresheet.

 

The organisation in defence will need to improve under Lupce Acevski's guidance in goal.

 

Midfield work from Ross Thompson and his partner will need to be more creative in comparison to last week and the last time these teams met at Broadmeadows Valley Park.

 

If Heidelberg can get the same performances from Yannis Galanos and Osagie Ederaro as they did last week, they will back themselves to knock out another contender.

 

The duo is quick and capable of finding the net, and much rests on their shoulders for the Bergers going forward.

 

The concern for Heidelberg has been in defence, but after holding the high-scoring Northcote City and Trent Rixon to a consolation goal, those problems may have been solved at the right time of the season.

 

Also concerning is that United is away from home, but if they can control Hume's front third, they can find some reward going forward.

 

 

STORY SO FAR

(Qualifying Final) M1: Hume City v Green Gully

(Elimination Final) M2: Heidelberg United v Northcote City

 

(Major Semi-Final) M3: Richmond v Green Gully

(Minor Semi-Final) M4: Hume City v Heidelberg United

 

(Preliminary Final) M5: Loser of Richmond/Green Gully v Winner of Hume City/Heidelberg United

 

(Grand Final) M6: Winner of Richmond/Green Gully v Winner of M5