By Shaun Moran (@moranshaun)

A wasteful Melbourne Knights succumbed to a spirited Dandenong Thunder to lose 2-1 at Knights Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Dandenong opened the scoring five minutes into the second period courtesy of Jake Nakic’s sublime finish. He had merely a moment to pull the trigger ahead of an on-rushing Christopher May, but finished with aplomb.

Melbourne did find its equaliser and it was Covarrubias who brought the crowd to its feet when he held off his marker to slide the ball past an outstretched Frazer Siddall.

Dean Hennessey’s men were to have the last say though and it landed the killer blow when Marcus Schroen set up substitute Brendan Craig to nudge the ball home threw a number of bodies in the 85th minute.

Knights midfielder Marijan Cvitkovic proved early why he was awarded the 2013 Victorian Premier League Gold Medal, playing through a splitting ball to send Covarrubias on goal.

His shot was palmed away by the Siddall, before Covarrubias went close again with a header which the former Northcote City ‘keeper miraculously kept out.

The hosts continued to mount the pressure and were denied again. Covarrubias found himself with only Siddall to beat, but he was drawn wide by the Thunder custodian as the move broke down.

Covarrubias was once again involved and this time turned provider for Daniel Visevic, who had his shot saved by Siddall just seconds prior to the interval.

Melbourne threw men forward following its concession at the beginning of the second stanza and looked as if it would draw level on the hour mark thanks to a goalkeeping howler.

Siddall was pickpocketed by the determined Covarrubias, who was taken down in the process. Ben Surey stepped up to blast the spot kick into the post, while the Thunder ‘keeper managed to knock away the goal-bound deflection.

Alan Mulcahy’s free kick almost gave Dandenong a two-goal buffer but for the woodwork which kept it out, before the Knights squared the ledger at the other end to set up a grandstand finish.

Late drama ensued in the dying seconds and the Knights thought they had drawn level when the ball appeared to roll across the goal line. The linesman confirmed that the ball did not make its way in however, leaving them to ponder what may have been.

Knights star Marijan Cvitkovic bemoaned his side’s inability to take its chances.

“It’s disappointing after having created a lot of chances and to dominate the majority of the game and then to concede is disappointing,” Cvitkovic said.

“We’re doing things right but not capitalising on our chances. It’s a case of déjà vu really. The same thing happened last week against Werribee. It’s back to the drawing board.”

Dandenong boss Dean Hennessey was ecstatic with his side’s third consecutive win.

“We’d have taken a point away from home but to win and get three valuable points is superb,” Hennessey said.

“To have the character and to nab a winner late on – I can’t be more proud of them.”

Melbourne will be looking to bounce back against Hume City on Wednesday night, while Dandenong returns home to face the in-form Oakleigh Cannons on Thursday evening.

MATCH DETAILS

Melbourne Knights 1 (Covarrubias 72’) defeated by Dandenong Thunder 2 (Nakic 51’ Craig 85’) at Knights Stadium  [HT: 0-0]

Melbourne Knights: 1. Chris MAY (25. Michael O’FARRELL 85’), 3. Sam TORRENS (11. Anthony COLOSIMO 67’), 4. Ben SUREY 5. Milan BATUR, 6. Tomislav USKOK, 7. Daniel VISEVIC, 8. James McGARRY, 10. Marijan CVITKOVIC, 13. Antun KOVACIC, 14. Rodrigo COVARRUBIAS, 19. Shayan ALINEJAD (18. Anthony DUZEL 81’).

Unused subs: 2. Nikola SRBINOSKI, 12. Damien RASTOCIC.

Yellow Cards: Cvitkovic (28’), Surey (33’), Kovacic (70’)

Dandenong Thunder: 1. Frazer SIDDALL, 12. Brendan ELMAZOVSKI, 4. Ramazan TAVASANCIOGLU, 5. Faisal SAKHI ZADA, 11. Kristopher KIOUSSIS, 6. Alan MULCAHY, 16. Alan KEARNEY, 15. Ryan BURNS (14. David KING 75’), 7. Kieran DOVER (10. Brendan CRAIG 66’), 23. Jake NAKIC, 17. Marcus SCHROEN (3. Ilir PALI 89’)

Unused subs: 21. Zaim ZENELI, 13. Anthony GIOUNOPOULOS.

Yellow Cards: Schroen (71’), Craig (87’)

Image credit: Jason Heidrich Photography