Hoppers Crossing is scoring goals at will in the FFA Cup.
The Reds have banged in 10 goals in two games and secured two clean sheets to advance to the knockout competition’s third round.
Reds first-year coach Steve Iosifidis marvels at the quality of some of the goals scored by players in his new team.
Picture gallery: FFA Cup | Hoppers Crossing v Epping City
“I’ve enjoyed sitting on the sideline and I’m becoming a bit of a fan,” he said.
“I wish there was a camera there and we could televise them because some of these goals literally are world-class.”
Marc Barbieri would have made the highlights reel during Hoppers Crossing’s 7-0 whitewash of Epping City at Grange Reserve on Saturday night had the cameras been rolling.
Barbieri unleashed a 35-metre wonder goal in the rout.
“He saw the keeper off the line and his strike hit the bottom of the crossbar and went straight in,” Iosifidis said. “It was just quality.”
Barbieri’s long-range effort overshadowed the fact that two Hoppers Crossing players scored hat-tricks.
Liam McDermott, part of the side that won promotion, and new recruit Patrick McGarrigle fired in three goals apiece.
After four wins on the trot, including two in pre-season friendlies, Iosifidis is starting to warm to the unpredictable nature of his line-ups.
“I hear rumours going around the club that we need a striker, but every game there’s been different goalscorers, which is a beautiful headache for a coach,” he said.
“My theory is, you concentrate on the players you’ve got rather than the players you’re trying to get – so that’s where my effort and focus
is.”
Iosifidis has big shoes to fill at Hoppers Crossing, having replaced the much-loved Alfonso Opazo, who took the club to promotion last season.
Iosifidis, a former national leaguer with South Melbourne and the Melbourne Knights who spent the past three seasons coaching the Caulfield United Cobras, is aiming high in his first season at Hogans Road, despite the team stepping up to a higher grade against tougher opposition.
“When players taste a bit of success, complacency generally creeps in,” Iosifidis said.
“Credit to the previous coach, ‘Fonz’ [Opazo] – he did well with the boys. But I guess I’m there to eliminate any complacency.
“It’s all about winning for me; there’s no second best.”
Iosifidis will continue to field strong line-ups in the cup.
He has urged the Reds to “dream big” and go as deep into the competition as they can.
“We go out there to win every single game and see how far it takes us.”
There will be a strong Wyndham contingent in the third round with Point Cook and Truganina Hornets also advancing.
Meanwhile, Werribee City is without a point after two NPL matches, having suffered a 1-0 defeat to Heidelberg United at Galvin Park on Sunday.
The Bees will face Bentleigh Greens in a midweek clash at Kingston Heath Reserve tonight (Wednesday) from 8.15, before returning home on Sunday to host premier South Melbourne.
