Second half header gives Knights win over Paco
By Lou Verga (@LouVerga)
A 72nd minute header from Chris Talajic has given Melbourne Knights a narrow 1-0 win over Pascoe Vale at Knights Stadium on Friday night.
The match looked to be heading for a stalemate before Talajic popped up to head the home side in front from a corner.
Pascoe Vale was awarded a penalty and a way back into it five minutes later, but Chris May saved Michael Ferrante’s spot kick to keep the lead intact.
It was a forgettable first half at Somers St, with neither side able to create sustained pressure on the other’s defence.
Marijan Cvitkovic came closest to opening the scoring in the 35th minute, as he poked a shot inches wide of the upright while the home fans argued the midfielder was obstructed as he shot.
Pascoe Vale’s first effort on target came five minutes before the break, as Mark Pistininzi got plenty of power behind his strike but it was straight at May who was able to hold onto it.
Davey van’t Schip had a great chance to put the visitors ahead five minutes after the restart after being played in behind, but his shot was too tame to trouble May.
Andrew Marth’s side upped the ante with 20 minutes remaining. Stipo Andrijasevic saw his header blocked on the line before a corner soon after produced the game’s solitary goal.
Substitute Anthony Colosimo delivered a dangerous corner and Talajic, starting his first match of the season, obligingly headed it past Stefan Sardelic to cue joyous celebrations.
The Knights’ jubilation seemed like it would be short-lived, as Matthew Lazarides was brought down in the box soon after with 75 minutes on the clock.
Ferrante stepped up to take the penalty and hit it low and hard to May’s right, but the keeper guessed correctly and made an excellent stop in the latest of a string of top shelf performances from the custodian.
Paco’s confidence seemed shot and Colosimo came closest to changing the scoreline, as his 89th minute curler was placed right in the top corner, before a super save from Sardelic saw it tipped onto the crossbar.
Match details: Melbourne Knights 1 (Talajic 72’) defeated Pascoe Vale 0 at Knights Stadium
Melbourne Knights: 1. Chris MAY, 12. Ivan GRGIC, 5. Milan BATUR, 6. Tomislav USKOK, 18. Joshua BREKALO, 7. Chris TALAJIC (19. Anthony DEZIC 90+2’), 4. Ben SUREY, 8. James McGARRY, 23. Adrian ZAHRA (11. Anthony COLOSIMO 68’), 10. Marijan CVITKOVIC (9. Jacob COLOSIMO 79’), 21. Stipo ANDRIJASEVIC
Unused substitutes: 25. Hrvoje CAKARUN, 17. Reuben QUINN-WALTERS
Yellow card(s): Cvitkovic 20’, Uskok 62’, Andrijasevic 87’
Red card(s): None
Pascoe Vale: 1. Stefan SARDELIC, 2. Adrian TALARICO, 4. Adam NAKIC, 10. Davey VAN’T SCHIP, 11. Connor KASS, 13. Matthew LAZARIDES, 15. Mark PISTININZI, 16. Tomislav MILADROVIC, 18. Tom BLACK (7. Luca SANTILLI 73’), 21. Michael FERRANTE, 23. Jake HALLIDAY
Unused substitutes: 27. Jayden ALLAN, 3. Nathen MEGIC, 12. Matthew CONVERSANO, 17. Carlos MATTI
Yellow card(s): Black 47’, Santilli 88’
Red card(s): None
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