DANDENONG Thunder stormed into the sixth round of the FFV State Knockout Cup with a 10-1 win over struggling Springvale White Eagles at George Andrews Reserve on Saturday.
The Thunder entered the match as unbackable favourites as they top the Victorian Premier League while the White Eagles have been struggling in State League 1 after being relegated at the end of last season.
It took just two minutes for the Thunder to get on the scoreboard, with veteran striker Veton Korcari scoring with a header, and from that point on the Thunder cruised.
Little-used striker Sean McIlroy made his case for more game time with an unheard-of five goals while Korcari and midfielder Luke Sherbon both scored braces and defender Shane Rexhepi added a single goal.
The Thunder won’t know who they will face in the sixth round until later in the month.
■ Springvale City is just four points behind Doveton on the FFV State League 3 ladder after thrashing Knox City 6-0 at the Knox Regional Soccer Centre on Saturday.
The game, which was postponed in round 1, was played on Saturday.
Knox was given a football lesson by Springvale.
It took only seven minutes before Springvale got onto the scoreboard. After an attacking raid, Springvale got a free kick just outside the 18-yard box and Ali Osmani rose above the defence and headed the ball home for a goal.
On 26 minutes, Springvale beat the offside trap but had a player fouled and once again got a free kick not far outside the 18-yard box.
The cross-in appeared to be well covered by the Knox keeper but he spilled the ball and, after some goal-mouth scrambling, Osmani was on hand to again put it into the back of the net to make the score 2-0.
For a short period Knox held some possession but
Springvale got the ball into the box with another free kick. Tom Szarbo from Knox rose above the pack to try and head clear only to see the ball misdirected and beat the keeper and Springvale was up 3-0.
After a slow start to the second half Springvale started to dominate again and a fourth goal came from some quick passing at close quarters with Osmani scoring his third for the day from close range. From here on Springvale continued the dominance with goals in the 85th and 89th minutes completing the rout.
-Roy Ward
