By Ahmed Yussuf (@ahmedyussuf10)

South Melbourne emerged a 1-0 winner over fierce rival Melbourne Knights in the first NPL Melbourne derby.

In a close game in front of 1,419 spectators at Knights Stadium, it took a lovely curling effort on goal in the 85th minute from in-form striker Milos Lujic to seal the three points for South Melbourne, making it six wins in as many league games for the league leader.

The game began with chances for both sides - Lujic was the architect of the first opportunity of the game with his cut-back inside the area to an advancing Jamie Reed, but Reed had his attempt on goal intercepted by Knights midfielder Tomislav Uskok.

Moments later at the other end, Rodrigo Covarrubias was in on goal after a swift Knights counter attack, but his effort on goal was saved comfortably by Jason Saldaris.

The Knights would begin to show their dominance in the middle third of the first half after a flurry of chances to James McGarry – which were deemed offside - and Covarrubias.

The latter half-volleyed from close range after being set up by winger Shayan Alinejad , but his goal-bound effort was heroically saved by Saldaris.

The second half would prove to be a different beast for the home side as South came firing out of the blocks.

The man who inspired the second-half goal fest against Hume City the previous week, Nick Epifano, crossed the ball into the path of Michael Eagar, whose shot flew inches wide of the goal mouth.

Shortly after Epifano re-entered the fray, causing trouble in the Knights’ defensive third and firing into the back of the net, only to have his attempt disallowed for offside.

The Knights’ opportunities on goal were rapidly diminishing but an Anthony Colosimo long throw would change that as a flick-on put Alinejad right on goal, only for the ball to trickle past his legs and out for a goal kick.

South’s pressure was beginning to tell as Reed’s shot on goal skewed wide after a brilliantly worked attack engineered from Tyson Holmes’ set up the Englishman.

Not long after, the deadlock was broken through Lujic’s curling shot on goal which hit the top of the post and nestled into the back of the net.

South Melbourne continued its imperious form and lynchpin Lujic continued his goalscoring record of a goal a game.

Coach Chris Taylor was impressed with how his side remained disciplined in a derby atmosphere.

“We knew it would be a hard battle, derby games are always difficult to predict what’s going to happen,” Taylor said.

“It’s about grinding it out and being disciplined and I though we did that.”

Knights coach Andrew Marth was disappointed to see his side slump to its fourth successive home defeat, but acknowledged that injuries had played a part in the downfall.

“It’s quite difficult, we have a really thin squad and the quality is not there. We have to go back to the drawing board, probably play a different system - a more defensive system,” Marth said.

Marth said he wanted to utilise his youth for the Knights’ future aspirations in the NPL.

“We had four players on the bench under the age of 17, same was the scenario last week,” he said.

“We have our youth develop system going quite strongly, but it’s a bit hard having four on the bench without much senior experience.”

Match Details

FT: Melbourne Knights 0 defeated by 1 South Melbourne  (Milos Lujic 85’) at Knights Stadium [HT: 0-0]

Melbourne Knights: 1. Christopher May, 4. Ben Surey, 5. Milan Batur, 6. Tomislav Uskok, 8. James McGarry, 11. Anthony Colosimo, 13. Antun Kovacic, 14. Rodrigo Covarrubias, 16. Nikola Srbinovski, 17. Daniel Visevic (7. Christopher Talajic, 73’, 18. Anthony Duzel, 81’), 19. Shayan Alinejad
Unused Sub(s): 25. Michael O’Farrell, 12. Ivan Grgic

Yellow Card(s): 5. Milan Batur 51’, 16. Nikola Srbinovski 65’, 17. Daniel Visevic 67’, 13. Antun Kovacic 84’, 18. Anthony Duzel 86’

Red Card(s): Nil

South Melbourne: 1. Jason Saldaris, 2. Tim Mala, 4. Michael Eagar, 7. Nick Epifano (27. Leigh Minopoulos, 69’), 8. Mathew Theodore, 9. Milos Lujic, 10. Tyson Holmes, 11. Brad Norton, 12. Iqi Jawadi, 14. James Musa, 17. Jamie Reed

Unused Sub(s): 3. Andrew Mullett, 6. Dimi Tsiaras, 20. Slaven Vranesevic, 21. Chris Maynard

Yellow Card(s): 12. Iqbal Jawadi 35’

Red Card(s): Nil

Image credit: Cindy Nitsos