MELBOURNE Knights have overcome a gallant Green Gully outfit in a tense and nail biting penalty shoot-out at Green Gully Reserve.

Normal time and extra-time could not separate the top two sides of the Foxtel Cup, despite the home side being reduced to 10 men late into the first half.

Wet and windy conditions greeted the players onto Green Gully Reserve, as both sides struggled to adapt to the conditions early on.

In the fourth minute Craig Elvin's cross caught the wind and totally bamboozled Gully keeper Tilovksi who was grateful that the crossbar came to his rescue.

Cameron Watson's drove his free kick from 30 yards out that required a fingertip save from Tilovski as the Knights made all the early running.

However against the run of play Green Gully took the lead.

Jamie Cumming made a meal of a simple clearance that allowed Gully's top scorer Joel Nikolic a free run at goal.

Nikolic made no mistake striking his shot past the helpless Loncaric in the Knights goal for an 18th minute lead.

The response from the visitor's was swift and deadly, managing to level the scores just ninety seconds later.

Quick one touch passing from Watson, Spiteri and a flick from Barisic carved up the Gully defence allowing Ivan Franjic to slide his shot under the advancing Tilovksi from an acute angle.

Green Gully looked to utilise the height of Campbell Banks as their target man, Mathew Sanders cross narrowly missing the unmarked Banks at the back post.

At the other end Joe Spiteri latched onto a cross from Cumming, but was unable to hit the target.

The match turned on its head late in the first half, Kole Delev received his marching orders for a last man challenge on Andrew Barisic leaving his side to play out the remainder of the match with 10 men.

Early in the second half Gully captain Dean Fak was very fortunate not to be sent off himself, two minutes of madness saw the defender earn a yellow card for pushing Barisic with a hand to the face, before twice knocking Craig Elvin off his feet.

The referee gave Fak his last warning indicating that one more offence would see him join Kole Delev in the change rooms.

Chances were few and far between, as the Knights struggled to break down a defensive minded home side.

Ivan Franjic set up Kiratzoglou whose strike from 20 yards rattled the crossbar.

With the home side obviously playing for penalties the Knights pushed numbers forward in search of a late winner.

Tilovksi again was called into action acrobatically tipping over a Barisic header, before Dean Fak headed a Watson cross onto his own crossbar in a bizarre finale to normal time.

Extra time also failed to separate the sides as the frustrated Knights spurned opportunities to seal the game before penalties, the most notable opportunity falling to youngster Adrian Zahra who scooped his effort over the bar from close distance.

Both sides made late changes in extra time in preparation for the penalties, Gully bringing on Brazilian import Olivera, whist the Knights opted to change goalkeepers, introducing Savas Ozdemier into to the game.

Gully were the first to flinch in the penalty shootout as John Adam saw his spot kick saved by Ozdemir.

The Knights had a chance to take a 4-2 lead in the shootout, however Muriqi's effort struck the post.

In a marathon shootout the scores were 5-5 after six penalties each as James Timmons effort clipped the post and went wide.

Pedro Coelho De Olivera stepped up to become the hero for the Cavaliers, but succumbed to the pressure blasting high over the bar.

Kiratzoglou put the Knights up 6-5 in the shootout, before Ozdemier kept out Medjedovic's effort sending the players and fans into delirium.

The crowd which consisted of over 75% of traveling supporters bore witness to one of the dramatic finishes of the season.

Next week the Melbourne Knights will battle Altona Magic for a spot in this season's Foxtel Cup Grand Final, whist the Green Gully Cavaliers will tackle an in-form Heidelberg United side in the minor semi-final.

The loser will be eliminated, whilst the winner will play off against the loser of the Knights/Magic game. 

MATCH STATS 

SHOTS: GG 4 MK 17

TARGET: GG 2 MK 4

CORNERS: GG 1 MK 5



Penalty Sequence: (Knights had first penalty).

Ivan Franjic (MK) GOAL (Knights 1-0)

Steven Burton (GG) GOAL (1-1)

Cameron Watson (MK) GOAL (Knights 2-1)

John Adam (GG) SAVE (Knights 2-1)

Andrew Barisic (MK) GOAL (Knights 3-1)

Koce Delev (GG) GOAL (Knights 3-2)

Rinor Muriqi (MK) POST (Knights 3-2)

Mathew Sanders (GG) GOAL (3-3)

Steve Iosifidis (MK) GOAL (Knights 4-3)

Kristijan Ivesic (GG) GOAL (4-4)

Craig Elvin (MK) GOAL (Knights 5-4)

Andy Vargas (GG) GOAL (5-5)

James Timmons (MK) POST (5-5)

Pedro Coelho De Olivera OVER (5-5)

Alex Kiratzoglou (MK) GOAL (Knights 6-5)

Mile Medjedovic (GG) SAVE (Knights win 6-5)