In hot conditions at Mobil Park, South Melbourne needed nothing less but three points to maintain any hope of making the finals this year. The Falcons on the other hand were coming off an impressive away victory at Sydney United and determined to stay on the winners list.

The first half started at a slow pace with both sides keen to conserve energy and let the ball do the work. The first chance of the game feel to a lively Curcija who hit a long range effort in the 15 minute, only to see the ball sail high. South Melbourne through the efforts of Trimboli in midfield began to dictate play with a period of domination that almost saw them score. Curcija was proving to be a real handful for the Falcons defenders with a clever flick in the 18 minute hitting the crossbar and a long-range effort by Goutzoulis also going close in the 19 minute.

The first chance to the Falcons came in the 23 minute when an impressive John Hutchinson played a beautiful ball over the South Melbourne defence. Igor "The Phantom" Mandic in his protective mask, ghosted in behind the defence only to be denied by Jones diving well at his feet.

The South Melbourne defence was well on top with Orlic and Liparoti negating the high ball game employed by the Falcons. The experience of Lozanovski and Trimboli in midfield and the lively Curcija up forward had the Falcons defenders on the back foot and unable to bring their midfielders into play. With the oppressive heat, most efforts by both sides where long range and no threat to the respective goalkeepers.

The second half started with the sun down, the lights on and the heat turned up by the Falcons players determined to get a result from the match. A great run and clever back heal by Mandic in the 49 minute set up Vargas to deliver a perfect cross to MacNicol at the far post. The header well saved down low by the inform Jones in the South Melbourne goal.

The Falcons players were being inspired by their captain and former South Melbourne champion Mehmed Durakovic. Durakovic was making decisive interceptions and bringing the Falcons midfield into the game. Hutchinson and Marcina dominating for the Falcons. Another great chance to Mandic in the 57 minute after lead up play from Hutchinson almost saw the Falcons open their account. A quick turn on the edge of the box and shot by Mandic yet again well saved by Jones down low to his right. The Falcons attack was relentless and a great run by Marcina and long range shot rattling the cross bar in the 59 minute.

The Falcons pressure and dominance clearly had Angie Postecoglou worried when in the 60 minute he mad a double substitution bringing on Clarkson and Coveny for Goutsoulis and Anastasiadis.

The substitution seemed to stem the Falcons domination and South Melbourne slowly clawed their way back into the match with Coveny almost scoring with his first touch. A pinpoint cross by Lozanovski in the 71 minute found Coveny unmarked at the far post. His header well saved by Jevdjevic down low.

The game had opened up with both sides going end to end exchanging blows desperate to get a result. MacNicol having a long-range effort well saved in the 75 minute and Falcons having a confident appeal for a penalty turned away. Juan Nilo a late substitution by Hopkins had the chance to steal the game in the 85 minute when he dispossessed Alagich in the last line of defence only to yet again be thwarted by Jones who forced him to shoot into the side netting.

The Falcons had thrown all they had at South Melbourne who had soaked up the pressure well with a combination of luck and good defending. A great second half performance by Falcons in which they were unable to consolidate on their domination.

As is often the case, a champion side can not be kept down for 90 minutes. Consecutive corners in the last few minutes to South Melbourne resulted in the first effort being scrambled off the line by Durakovic and the second corner met perfectly by a glancing Curcija header. 1-0 and the victory to South Melbourne.

A relieved Postecouglou after the game, emphasised the importance of the three points to South Melbourne in their endeavour to defend their title, while a devastated Jeff Hopkins praised the efforts of his players and the great support of the Falcons fans.

Jevdjevic – Savage – Gotis – Durakovic – Marcina – Puca (Katz 78 min) – Vargas (Nilo 81 min) – Robertson – Hutchinson – Mandic - MacNicol Sub not used: Kakos

Jones. – De Amicis (Alagich 68 min) – Orlic – Liparoti – Panopoulos – Goutzoulis(Clarkson 60 min) – Lozanovski – Trimboli – Curcija – Anastasiadis (Coveney 60 min) – Vlahos

Yellow Cards: Gippsland Falcons - Robertson 16 min, Vargas 45 min,

South Melbourne - Goutzoulis 19 min, Anastasiadis 50 min, Vlahos 90 min

Votes: 3 Curcija (South Melbourne); 2 Hutchinson (Gippsland Falcons); 1 Marcina (Gippsland Falcons)