Undefeated Knights make it five in a row against Werribee
By Brad Hutchings (@BradHutchings_)
Melbourne Knights has kept its undefeated start to the season in tact with a 2-1 away win over Werribee City at Galvin Park on Sunday afternoon.
The win was the Knights’ fifth in as many matches, but were forced to work for the win thanks to a dogged second half performance from the hosts.
Winless Werribee looked to have earned a point when Simon Zappia cancelled out Tomislav Uskok opener in the 82nd minute.
But it didn’t take long for Knights to retake the lead when Milan Batur headed home a free kick to deny the Bees their first points at home for the season.
It was a tame first half with meaningful chances on goal eluding both teams.
Knights enjoyed more of the ball than their hosts but failed to break down a stoic Bees defence.
Werribee showed its physical intent on the match straight from the kick-off as Daniel Chaabani received a yellow card just two minutes into the match for a robust tackle on Knights wide-man Adrian Zahra.
As the match settled into its rhythm, it was the traveling Knights who looked the more likely to open the scoring.
The games first real chance for a goal came from Knights corner in the 12th minute when Werribee ‘keeper Frano Saric saved a smart Stipo Andrijasevic header from an Alex Dao delivery.
The early save for Saric gave the number one an abundance of confidence, as he was on hand to deny Zahra in the 32nd minute.
Werribee started the second half in a much-improved fashion, enjoying its most fruitful period of the game immediately after the break.
The Bees’ good work came undone just shy of the hour mark when Uskok was on hand to give the Knights the opener.
A scrappy bit of play resulted in Uskok tapping home after seeing his initial shot blocked by Saric.
Werribee thought it had earned itself a point after much-improved second half showing in the 82nd minute, when Zappia finished off a swift counter-attacking move to level the scores.
It took the Knights all of four minutes to retake the lead, when Batur headed home a free kick which found its way to the back of the net via the crossbar.
The goal sealed the win for the Knights, and kept its perfect start intact.
Match Details
Werribee City 1 (Zappia 82’) defeated by Melbourne Knights 2 (Uskok 59’, Batur 86’) at Galvin Park [HT:0-0]
Werribee City: 1. Frano Saric (GK), 8. Daniel Chaabani, 23. Steven Cudrig, 3. Ryan Filipovic, 15. Nicola Carafiglio (11. Bobby Vidanovski 75’), 13. Milan Savic (C), 6. Anthony Ragusa, 19. Rob Naumoski (16. Angus Martin 72’), 7. Simon Zappia, 10. Chris Christaldo, 18. Gazmend Ajdini
Unused Subs: 14. Julian Cassano,12 Robert Kilmartin, 9. Evan Batsis
Yellow card: Chaabani (2’) Savic (66’)
Melbourne Knights: 1. Chris May(GK), 3. Adrian Del Monaco(7. Chris Talajic 46). 4. Ben Surey, 5. Milan Batur. 6. Tomislav Uskok. 8. James McGarry. 11. Anthony Colosimo. 18. Josh Brekalo. 21. Stipo Andrijasevic, 23. Adrian Zahra (17. Josh Berrios 90+2). 15. Alex Dao (Ivan Grgic 90+1)
Unsued subs: 25. Harry Cakarun, 9. Jacob Colosimo,
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