North Geelong Warriors bowed out of the Westfield FFA Cup in Round 6, going down by a score line of 2-0 to reigning NPL Premiers South Melbourne.
Second half strikes from Miloš Lujić and Matthew Millar sent South Melbourne into the final eight of the Victorian competition, just one win away from the national stage of the FFA Cup Round of 32.
Kene Eze made a welcome return to the starting XI after managing only minimal minutes in previous weeks through a persisting hamstring injury.
For South Melbourne, head coach Chris Taylor was forced into a late change as Nikola Roganović injured himself in the warm up, with Zaim Zeneli brought into the side.
Other than Luke Adams, who missed the tie by virtue of being on international duty with the New Zealand senior squad, the Lakeside-based club named a full strength line-up.
The first twenty minutes of the encounter was played at a frenetic pace, with South pressing North high up the park and dominating proceedings.
Chances fell to the “away” side, but some fine saves from North Geelong shot-stopper Daniel Zilic and some resolute defending from the rest of the side saw the Warriors take a 0-0 score line into the change rooms at the break.
After the re-start, the match continued to be played at a high pace and quality was on show from either side.
North Geelong thought that it had taken the lead when Nicholas Jurčić sent a gorgeous volley past Zeneli in goals, only to have the strike chalked off for a marginal offside decision.
Only moments later, South Melbourne took the lead. Perhaps still reeling from the dubious offside decision, Lujić popped up inside the six-yard box to tap home for Hellas and send its fans into delirium.
Pacey winger Millar added a second goal for South with only minutes remaining and secured progression for the ambitious Melbourne outfit.
South Melbourne will face Bentleigh Greens in Round 7 of the FFA Cup, looking to secure a place in the national stage.
For North Geelong, their attentions now turn to the league and the battle it faces against Nunawading City at Mahoneys Reserve on Sunday afternoon at 3.00pm.
The curse of JL Murphy Reserve continues for North Geelong, now having lost their last five ties at the ground against five different teams (South Melbourne, Port Melbourne, Melbourne Victory Youth, Melbourne City {friendly}, Avondale Heights).
North Geelong: Zilic, Long, Lewis, Townley, Pugh, Simms, Cichello, Jurcic, Saglam (Kozul), Eze (Anderson), Thorne
South Melbourne: Zeneli, Mala, Eager, Epifano, Lujic, Norton, Koroma, Schroen, Millar, Foschini, Jawadi
