The Melbourne Knights are back on the road this week, this time travelling to the home of the Bentleigh Greens, following a massive two home wins back to back.
The Knights sit high on the table, in 4th position in the league standings following their Derby win against South Melbourne. While the Bentleigh Greens remain in 5th – one point behind the Knights. The top of the table is quickly becoming a tight race, with the top five teams all sitting within two points of each other.
Last week, the Knights bowed out of the FFA Cup to the hands of the biggest rivals – South Melbourne, after 120 minutes of football and a penalty shootout. Redemption struck only days later, when the Knights handed South Melbourne their first loss of the 2021 NPL Victoria season – in the second OG Melbourne Derby of the week. The win marked back to back home victories for the Knights, something the side will be looking to maintain on the road.
On the other hand, Bentleigh also enjoyed a 2-1 away win against Dandenong City last week. All three goals in the match were scored in the first half – before the scoreboard dried up in the second. Danger man Braedyn Crowley is one the Knights will be looking to subdue, after scoring a goal in his last three outings for his side.
The last time these sides faced, Bentleigh were victorious in a rather convincing fashion, earning the three points in a 4-0 drubbing of the Knights back in 2019. After falling to ten men on the park, the Knights were defensively compromised, giving Bentleigh the chance to ease past the Knights in the second half.
With a high chance of showers on Friday, bring your MKFC brolly, puffer jacket and beanie and show your support as the Melbourne Knights travel to Kingston Heath, to claim another important three points!
– Tom Hayes
Melbourne Knights FC:
2- Jack Marth, 4- Nikola Jurkovic, 5- Ayden Brice (C), 6- Anthony Duzel, 8- James McGarry, 9- Alun Webb, 10- Gian Albano, 11- Caleb Mikulic, 13- Daniel Petrov, 14- Trevor Zwetsloot, 15- Felipe Sanchez, 16- Mohammed Sumaoro, 17- Trevor Ssemakula, 18- Dor Jok, 19- Nicholas Glavan, 21- Thomas Manos (GK), , 23- Joseph Colina, 99- Harry Cakarun (GK)
Head Coach: Steve Bebic
Bentleigh Greens SC:
Squad: 1- Javi Lopez (GK), 2- William Doumanis, 3- Jacob Alexander, 4- Ben Carrigan, 5- Jack Webster (C), 9- Brent McGrath, 11- James Xydias, 13- Corey Sewell, 14- Damian Iaconis, 15- Daniel Bowman, 16- Will Bower, 17- Alex Caniglia, 20- Alex Pavlidis (GK), 21- Braedyn Crowley, 22- Mitch Hore, 23- Callum Goulding, 24- Thierry Iradukunda, Sean Grella, George Lambadaridis, Ryan Losty
Head Coach: Nick Tolios
2021 NPL Victoria Round 12 – Bentleigh Greens SC v Melbourne Knights FC
Date: Friday, May 14
Kick-off: 8:30PM (AEST)
Venue: Kingston Heath Soccer Complex, Cheltenham
Where to watch: Livestream via Facebook & YouTube