Knights top two aspirations live on
BY MATT McNAMARA
A late Robbie Zadworny strike has seen Melbourne Knights temporarily move up into second place on the NPL Victoria ladder after a 2-0 victory over Pascoe Vale at CB Smith Reserve on Friday night.
Both teams were toothless in the first half, before Zadworny beat Alexander Pavlidis with 10 mintues to play, whilst Luke Jurcic rounded things off in injury time when he slotted home.
Pascoe Vale striker Davey Van’t Schip had the opening chance of the game after he broke free in the area before dragging his shot just wide of Chris May’s far post.
The hosts looked the more likely to break the deadlock, the ever present Mathew Lazarides hitting his left footed drive wide after cutting in from out wide.
The Knights were forced to look to score from long range, Stipo Andrijasevic going closest for the visitors when his strike from all of 30 yards was easily held by Alexander Pavlidis.
The Knights were the most progressive team in the early stages after the break, Alex Dao guilty of missing a glorious chance after a great save from Pavlidis to smother the former Bulleen man’s strike.
But Pascoe Vale continued to press forward, continually sending numbers forward on the counter.
Both Van’t Schip and Luca Santilli were guilty of missing chances and that came back to haunt the hosts when in the 79th minute Robbie Zadworny broke free after a neat ball from Andrijasevic and the former North Geelong winger made no mistake when he easily beat Pavlidis.
The match threatened to get ugly in the 90th minute after both teams were involved in a melee which resulted in yellow cards to Chris Talajic and Tomislav Milardovic respectively.
The match was wrapped up however in injury time when youngster Jurcic scored his first ever senior goal for the Knights, to give his side a 2-0 victory.
The win moves Knights into second position whilst Pascoe Vale are now winless in their past 4 outings.
MATCH DETAILS
Pascoe Vale: 35. Alexander PAVLIDIS, 2. Adrian Talarico, 4. Adam NAKIC, 7. Luca SANTILLI, 8. Joseph YOUSSEF, 10. Davey VAN’T SCHIP, 13. Mathew LAZARIDES, 16. Tomislav USKOK, 17. Aaron TURNER, 21. Michael FERRANTE, 23. Jake HALLIDAY
Subs: 1. Dennys MARTIN, 3. Nathan MEGIC, 15. Mark PISTANINZI, 18. Tom BLACK
Melbourne Knights: 1. Chris MAY, 4. Ben SUREY, 5. Milan BATUR, 6. Tomislav USKOK, 8. James McGARRY, 10. Marijan CVITKOVIC, 11. Anthony COLOSIMO, 12. Ivan GRGIC, 15. Alex DAO, 17. Robbie ZADWORNY, 21. Stipo ANDRIJASEVIC
Subs: 25. Michael O’FARRELL, 2. Luke JURCIC, 7. Chris TALAJIC, 19. Anthony DEZIC
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