Vanuatu United FC became the first team to secure victory over South Melbourne FC after a superb performance in their opening Round 4 match in Honiara.
The Australian side left a number of first-choice players at home, including captain Marco Jankovic and Jordon Lampard, as they balanced their OFC Pro League campaign with domestic commitments.
Vanuatu United looked to take advantage of the circumstances and enjoyed the wealth of possession in the first-half, as they bid to rebound from defeat to PNG Hekari FC in their final Round 3 fixture.
There was an early setback when the influential Bill Kaltack was forced off within the half hour through injury. Kerry Iawak coming off the bench for the unforeseen reshuffle.
Alex Saniel has been Vanuatu United’s biggest goal scoring threat this season and it was the No.7 again who made the impact for Lars Hopp’s side.
William Cardona whipped an excellent corner kick in from the left-hand side and Saniel rose highest to power a header past Ilia Shalamanov-Trenkova.
The same combination almost yielded a second soon after, but Saniel was unable to properly connect with a Cardona cross and South Melbourne were able to hang on and survive just one down heading into the break.
Sinisa Cohadzic made a change at half-time, bringing on James Lackay for Che Gorr Burchmore, but it was Vanuatu United who started the second period on the front foot, when Owen Smith went close to doubling the lead.
The game opened up considerably as both sides pushed forward, with South Melbourne trying desperately to get Yuki Uchida and Jordan Swibel into influential positions.
Winger Arran Cocks was the first to go close for his side as the clocked ticked over the hour mark. Cutting in from the right-hand side, his effort was well hit, but too close to Matt Acton, who held on firmly.
Despite their best efforts however, it was Vanuatu United who looked more threatening and they finally made their pressure pay with a wonderful second goal.
Alex Saniel’s aggressive press forced a mistake at the back, with Otto Ingham picking up the ball. He played it to Cardona who flipped a delicate pass over the defensive line to Owen Smith. Smith in turn laid it off first time to Ingham who finished past Shalamanov-Trenkova to make it 2-0.
South Melbourne looked to have won an immediate chance to pull a goal back when referee Ben Aukwai pointed to the spot following a foul by Jason Thomas on Jack Pope. A VAR check however deemed the infringement took place outside the area.
Swibel took the resulting free-kick and after Acton spilled his effort, Luka Coveny hooked a rebound up and off the top of the bar, as Vanuatu United breathed a sigh of relief.
It proved to be the final genuine chance as Vanuatu United held on to inflict South Melbourne’s first defeat of the campaign and push themselves to the brink of the top four.
