Barisic double sees Knights defeat Northcote
By Lou Verga (@LouVerga)
A double from Andrew Barisic has helped Melbourne Knights prevail over Northcote City 2-1 at John Cain Memorial Park on Saturday.
The striker scored near the start, and end, of the affair to seal the result for the visitors despite a late consolation from James Kalifatidis.
Barisic gave the Knights the upper hand in the sixth minute as he latched onto a loose ball and poked it calmly past Chris Theodoridis into the bottom corner.
Northcote striker Calvin Mbarga headed a cross over the bar in the 13th minute before Barisic did the same from Anthony Colosimo’s corner four minutes later, coming very close to doubling his tally.
Ten minutes before half time a Marino Gasparis free kick skimmed the crossbar from a tight angle but the Knights went into the break with their lead intact.
Gasparis had a good sight at goal in the 54th minute as he dribbled to the edge of the area and rifled a low shot, but it was straight at Chris May.
Northcote continued to search for an equaliser and their best opportunity came with 20 minutes remaining.
Evan Kounavelis was played through and his pace got him one-on-one with Chris May with the goal at his mercy. But May won the standoff as he made a reflex save with his foot to the frustration of the home support.
Ten minutes later, it seemed the Knights had tied up the result with Barisic’s second goal.
A long clearance saw the striker get in behind the Northcote rear-guard, and the assistant’s flag stayed down despite suspicions of offside. Barisic never looked like missing and outwitted Theodoridis with an assured finish.
Northcote did find a goal in stoppage time as substitute Kalifatidis held his nerve to slot an effort across May and into the far corner from a tight angle.
But that was to be the last action of the match as the Knights picked up the three points.
Match details:
Northcote City 1 (Kalifatidis 90+2’) defeated by Melbourne Knights 2 (Barisic 6’, 81’) at John Cain Memorial Park
Northcote City: 22. Chris THEODORIDIS, 4. Jacob ELIOPOULOS, 12. Jordan WILKES, 5. Greg LOMBARDO, 19. Ryan GO, 10. Marino GASPARIS, 20. Nicholas KOKLAKIS (18. Nikola MARKOVSKI 69’), 14. Anthony RAMZY, 23. Jonathan BOUNAS, 11. Evan KOUNAVELIS (8. James KALIFATIDIS 76’), 9. Calvin MBARGA
Unused substitutes: 7. Bonel OBRADOVIC, 3. Mitchell BISSINGER, 1. Mason INTERLANDI
Yellow card(s): Wilkes 50’, Kounavelis 58’
Red card(s): None
Melbourne Knights: 1. Chris MAY, 5. Milan BATUR, 6. Tomislav USKOK (8. James McGARRY 46’) 7. Chris TALAJIC (2. Luke JURCIC 89’), 10. Marijan CVITKOVIC (14. Rodrigo COVARRUBIAS 66’), 11. Anthony COLOSIMO, 12. Ivan GRGIC, 15. Alex DAO, 17. Robbie ZADWORNY, 21. Stipo ANDRIJASEVIC, 27. Andrew BARISIC
Unused substitutes: 25. Michael O”FARRELL
Yellow card(s): Andrijasevic 28’, Barisic 58’
Red card(s): None
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