Images: Cindy Nitsos
Stefan Zinni was one of the inclusions for South Melbourne as Chris Taylor’s men travelled to the Grange to inflict Kingston City’s second consecutive 2-1 defeat after Heidelberg notched up the same result a week earlier.
Spectators had barely walked through the gates when a ball forward by Matt Foschini caught out the hosts’ defence, with Nick Epifano latching onto it and knocking it past the onrushing Sermin Sadikovski, while Milos Lujic was on the line to apply the finishing touch.
Nick Tolios would have wanted to avoid a repeat of his side’s slow start against Heidelberg but instead witnessed the worst possible opening minute as the rampant visitors looked to continue their spectacular recent run of form.
The goal rattled the hosts into life, however, and Mouad Zwed was the first to fire a response, forcing Nikola Roganovic into a save from distance.
But Lujic and South so nearly had a second goal minutes later when a loose ball fell to Jesse Daley in the box – his shot was deflected into the path of the striker but his point-blank header just missed wide.
Kingston had a couple more bites of the cherry following a corner when Slaven Vranesevic pounced on a clearance to drive a powerful strike into traffic, with the rebound falling at Zwed who got a shot away that didn’t trouble Roganovic.
Vranesevic then came even closer with another launch from midfield as his shot fizzed past the upright.
By now Kingston had wrestled the momentum and were finally rewarded in the 36th minute when Velibor Mitrovic sliced open South’s defence to play through Chris Irwin for an impeccable finish – the former South trialist and championship-winning midfielder combining for the equaliser.
With their tails up the hosts pushed once more to take the lead before the break as Zwed found Damian Iaconis in transition, but his shot flew off target.
The second half saw the introduction of Stefan Zinni, who returned from Western Sydney Wanderers – after two A-League appearances – to the NPL with South Melbourne, where he signed from Melbourne City before his short stint Wanderers stint.
He was nearly involved in a goal moments after coming off the bench. On the counter, Lujic flicked the ball on to Epifano, finding Zinni darting into the box, his delivery across the face was met by Lujic from close range but he again missed from close range.
The latter two were nonetheless involved in the winner in the 75th minute when Zinni’s lofted pass forward was headed on by Lujic into the path of Matt Millar, who chipped the ball past Sadikovski for the 2-1 lead.
Irwin almost had the perfect response and his brace when played in by Vranesevic despite suspicions of offside, though it didn’t matter as he missed wide in a one-on-one with Roganovic.
That would be the best of the chances for the hosts to square the ledger again as a few efforts by Zwed missed the target, with the visitors holding on for the 2-1 win.
Now moving into fifth, South have gone undefeated since a Round 6 defeat to Oakleigh Cannons, and conceding just four goals in their last six to sit just three points off top spot.
Meanwhile Kingston continue to sit 10th, though just a point above 12th placed Melbourne Knights.