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The Weekend Neos Kosmos : 8 August 2015
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DIGITAL.NEOSKOSMOS.COM THE WEEKEND NEOS KOSMOS | SATURDAY 8 AUGUST 2015 29 SPORT Greens, Bergers and Souths in race to the winning post Bergers and Souths hoping for a Greens slip-up The NPL home and away season looks set for a tight finish as it turns into the home straight with just three rounds remaining. Seven points separate the top four teams, with Bentleigh Greens enjoying clear air out in front. Second-placed Heidelberg United and third-placed South Melbourne trail the Greens by five points but both have a game in hand over Bentleigh. The Greens know that a loss or a draw in the remaining three games could allow either the Bergers or Souths the chance to pip it at the post for the minor premiership. John Anastasiadis' team will be going all out to win all its last three matches beginning with last night's home match against 10th placed Avondale Heights. South Melbourne was also scheduled to play its Round 24 match last night, in a bayside derby at home to close neighbour Port Melbourne Sharks. Immediately following his team's Dockerty Cup triumph, South's coach Chris Taylor said: "We've got four games left. Bentleigh Greens have got three. We win all our games and they drop points (we can catch them). That's the way we look at it. Whether that happens or not, that's another thing. “We're going all out to win all four games and put the pressure on Bentleigh." In other Roundd 24 matches, Northcote City, Oakleigh Cannons and Heidelberg United face opponents from the cellar all desperately fighting for their NPL survival. Northcote City travels to second from the bottom Werribee City and it's difficult to see it dropping points against a Bees team which has lost its last nine matches, scoring just three times and conceding 29 goals. On Saturday evening, Oakleigh Cannons visit bottom side Dandenong Thunder in a match which is a far cry from the heyday of their VPL grand final meeting of just three seasons back when Thunder won its first ever title. The Cannons should have too much fire power against a Thunder side which has struggled to find the net since the departure of top scorer Yusuf Ahmed. One team which has fire power in abundance is Heidelberg United and it will be looking to get back to winning ways in the league following its 2-1 loss to the Melbourne Knights in its last outing. The Bergers have ample time to rest since their Rd of 32 FFA Cup triumph away to Broadmeadow Magic and should have too many avenues to goal against 12 th placed North Geelong Warriors at Olympic Village on Monday evening. In the round's other match, fourth-placed Melbourne Knights takes on sixth-placed Hume City. LEAGUE TABLES NPL 1. Bentleigh Greens SC .......................................23 .........51 2. Heidelberg United FC .......................................22 .........46 3. South Melbourne FC .......................................22 .........46 4. Melbourne Knights FC .......................................23 .........44 5. Pascoe Vale SC ....... .......................................23 .........39 6. Hume City FC .......................................22 .........38 Oakleigh Cannons keeper John Honos punches the ball in the derby against Northcote City. PHOTO: KOSTAS DEVES. 7. Port Melbourne Sharks SC .......................................23 .........30 8. Northcote City FC .......................................23 .........30 9. Green Gully SC .......................................22 .........29 10. Avondale FC ......... .......................................22 .........27 11. Oakleigh Cannons FC .......................................22 .........26 12. North Geelong Warriors FC .................................23 .........14 13. Werribee City FC .......................................23 .........12 14. Dandenong Thunder SC .......................................23 .........12 NPL 1 - EAST 1. Melbourne Victory .......................................22 .........50 2. Richmond SC .......... .......................................22 ........ 42 3. Goulburn Valley Suns FC .......................................22 .........38 4. Kingston City FC .......................................21 ........ 38 5. Box Hill United SC .......................................22 .........36 6. Eastern Lions SC .......................................22 .........35 7. Dandenong City SC .......................................22 .........32 8. Murray United FC .......................................22 .........18 9. Springvale White Eagles FC ................................................11 10. Nunawading City FC .......................................22 ............1 NPL 1 - WEST 1. FC Bulleen Lions ..................................... 22 .........46 2. Moreland Zebras FC .......................................22 .........40 3. St Albans Saints SC ..................................... 22 .........37 4. Melbourne City ..................................... 22 .........37 5. Ballarat Red Devils SC .......................................22 ........36 6. Moreland City FC ..................................... 22 .........36 7. Sunshine George Cross SC .......................................22 .........27 8. Whittlesea Ranges FC .......................................22 .........26 9. Bendigo City FC .......................................22 .........20 10. Brunswick City SC .......................................22 .........12 Manchester City gains complete ownership of Melbourne City Roar deal remains under a cloud Melbourne City is now under the complete ownership of EPL giant Manchester City following the reported payment of $ 2.25 million, to buy out a consortium of prominent Melbourne investors led by sports entrepreuner Bart Campbell. Documents lodged with the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) last week indicate the sale has taken place. The consortium, which includes Gerry Ryan and New Zealand businessman Mi- chael Witt, currently owns NRL club Melbourne Storm. It previously held 20 per cent ownership of Melbourne City in 2013 when Manchester City became involved in the club as part of its push to own clubs around the world. The EPL club owns a majority share in US Major League club New York City FC and a 20 per cent stake in Japanese club Yokohama. Another A-League club looking for a change of ownership is Brisbane Roar. Indonesian conglomerate Nirwin Bakrie, who are the current owners of Roar, are looking to sell the club and have reportedly told the FFA they won't inject any more money into the club, making it unclear who will pay playing staff and coaches in August. The month of August could bring Brisbane Roar's financial issues to a head. August 19 is the deadline for the Roar to pay 12 months of rent owing to Queensland Rugby Union for the use of its facilities at Balleymore, or else the liquidators are set to move in and wind up the Brisbane Roar company. Brisbane Roar chairman Chris Fong claims the club has agreed to a sale price with an unnamed buyer but that the legal action threatened by creditor QRU, could scare off the buyer. QRU chief executive Jim Carmichael said in a statement that the financial difficulties surrounding Roar should prompt the FFA to examine the ownership models of A-League clubs, so as to provide "a level of comfort" to creditors which allow it to happen. Source: AFR, AAP Melbourne City sees nothing but Sky Blues. PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES.
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