Knights ends Pascoe winning streak
By Brad Hutchings @BradHutchings_
Melbourne Knights have handed Pascoe Vale its first defeat in five game with a gritty come-from-behind 2-1 win at Knights Stadium.
A big week for the Knights got even bigger with this win, coming just days after a famous victory over South Melbourne in the Dockerty Cup mid-week, which ensured qualification to the Westfield FFA Cup.
It had to work for the three points on this occasion as Pascoe Vale took the lead in just the sixth minute through Luca Santilli.
Ivan Grgic got the home side back on level terms eight minutes from half time before Tomislav Uskok grabbed the winner in the 87th minute of play for the home side.
The late drama didn’t end there however with Pascoe Vale having what appeared to be a clear penalty waved away in the dying moments of the game which would have given them an opportunity to take a share of the spoils.
It was a tenacious fight back from the Knights who was still buzzing from their mid-week showing.
Knights were however slow out of the blocks with Pascoe Vale dominating the early passages of the game.
They took the lead in just the sixth minute of play when Santilli got on the end of an inch-perfect Davy van’t Schip cross, who was playing his last game for the club before returning to Holland.
Pascoe Vale continued its ascendency on the match after the goal and were looking dangerous as it searched to extend its lead.
The Knights’ first real chance on goal for the afternoon came in the 26th minute when Daniel Visevic saw his free kick well saved by Stefan Sardelic.
As the half went on the Knights grew into the contest and were all square when Grgic headed home a corner in the 37th minute.
The deteriorating conditions affected the match in the second half with sights on goal few and far between.
Knights came close to taking the lead when Uskok had a shot cleared off the line in the 69th minute and he didn’t waste his second sight on goal as he headed the Knights into the lead just five minutes before the end.
Pascoe Vale were denied an avenue back into the game with the referee waving away a legitimate penalty claim when van’t Schip went down in the box.
The visitors refuted passionately with the man in charge to point to the spot but their shouts were in vein with that decision ensuring Melbourne Knights took the three points.
Melbourne Knights head coach Andrew Marth was pleased after the game with his side’s ability to turn it around after their slow start.
“Huge result for us on Wednesday night, full confidence coming into today’s game but I think we struggled in that first half and in the second half we made some adjustments and I think the boys did quite well,” Marth said.
“We never give up and in the end I think we could have scored one or two extra. It was a great result under trying conditions.”
Pascoe Vale head coach Vitale Ferrante was disappointed to have left Knights Stadium empty handed.
“We had very good chances to equalise in the end, I thought a draw would have been a fair result,” Ferrante said.
“They scored from their strengths. We knew their set pieces would cause us problems and it did, they scored from it and we conceded a silly second goal.
“I thought we gave them everything we could and we gave them a good scare.
“I’m very disappointed in the final decision from the officials. That was as clear a penalty that I have seen in my soccer career.”
MATCH DETAILS
Melbourne Knights 2(Grgic 37’, Uskok 87’) defeated Pascoe Vale 1(L Santilli 6’) at Knights Stadium. [HT:1-1]
Melbourne Knights: Chris May, Sam Torrens, Ben Surey, Milan Batur, Tomislav Uskok, Daniel Visevic(Marijan Cvitkovic 65’), Leo Athanasiou(Jordan O'Doherty 46’), Stipo Andrijasevic (Antun Kovacic90+1’), Ivan Grgic, Michael Doyle, Shayan Alinejad.
Unused Subs: Michael O'Farrell, Nikola Srbinovski
Yellow Cards: Uskok(45+1’), Doyle(23’), Andrijasevic (77’)
Pascoe Vale: Stefan Sardelis, Adrian Talarico, Nathan Megic, Tomislav Milardovic. Luka Santilli, Joseph Youseff, Davey van 't Schip, Alvaro Carillo, Marlo Santilli(Carl Rechia 72’), Lindsey Henderson, Melvin Becket(Matthew Lazaridis 78’)
Unused subs: Daniel Hutchinson, Vladimir Khamees, Yarrew Boxer
Yellow cards; L. Santilli (24’)
Image Credit: Sportsgraphy: By Frank Khamees
Comments
Comment Guidelines: The SportsTG Network is made up of players, families and passionate sports followers like you who have a strong opinion about sport. That's great - we want you to have your say and share your thoughts with the world. However, we have a few rules that you must follow to keep it fun for all. Please don't be rude, abusive, swear or vilify others. Apart from some pretty serious sport sanctions, we also can ban you and report you if things get out of hand. So play fair and have fun, and thanks for your contribution.