In need of an NPL Victoria victory to reignite the 2022 season, the Melbourne Knights remain at home as they face Dandenong City in Round 14 action tonight.
Despite a competitive 1-0 loss in Round 13 against the Port Melbourne Sharks, the Knights rallied together for a mid week win in Round 6 of the Australia Cup against Collingwood City. A quick reaction from Anthony Frangie in the 20th minute snapped the deadlock enabling the Knights to progress to Round 7, with the round still to play before the Knights find out their next opponent.
Returning to NPL action, our opponents tonight, Dandy City, will arrive to Knights Stadium coming off a 2-1 loss to the Bentleigh Greens. The second half held all the action of the match, with a flurry of goals coming in the final 30 minutes. But it was Bentleigh who prevailed with the winner being scored in the 81st minute.
Having been knocked out of the Cup competition in round five, Dandy City will likely be fresher for this fixture. However, the Knights’ Cup line-up was a departure from the staple NPL starting 11, meaning the Knights should have enough regular starting players on fresh legs to see the match through. That and the Knights will be hungrier than ever, not only to win, but against a rival.
Last time the Knights took on Dandy City, the boys took out a scintillating 5-0 victory in the opening round of the 2022 competition. The five-star performance saw four goal scorers, including Anthony Frangie’s first half brace.
The Knights sit one place above Dandy City, 11th and 12th respectively, but despite this, the Knights have eight more points and a game in hand. A win for the Knights could take them onto the brink of the top six – still with a game in hand.
Make sure to get down to Somers Street, to support the lads in what will be an exciting derby spectacle!
– Tom Hayes
Melbourne Knights FC:
Head Coach: Steve Bebic
Squad: 1- Harry Cakarun (GK), 2- Jack Marth, 3- Fuki Ishibashi, 4- Theiry Iradukunda, 5- Ayden Brice (C), 6- Anthony Duzel, 9- Luka Celic, 10- Gian Albano, 11- Justin Micallef, 12- Andy Robertson, 14- Anthony Frangie, 16- Mohammad Sumaoro, 17- Trevor Ssemakula, 18- Jack Morton, 19- Luka Kolic, 21- Thomas Manos (GK), 23- Steve Sokol, 24- Ivan Miletic
Dandenong City SC:
Head Coach: Ljuban Palinic (interim)
Squad: 1- Jasko Keranovic (GK), 3- Dominic Cep, 4- Nathan Cook, 5- Shaun Timmins, 6- Kurt Kouakou, 7- Cooper Legrand, 8- Gavin De Niese, 9- Jon McShane, 10- Delarno Pharoe, 11- Ardi Ahmeti, 12- Tasos Houndalas, 14- Jayden Unmack, 17- Pedro Formosa (GK), 18- Luca Slavica, 19- Patrick Ayoul, 22- Patrick Spaleta, 23- Nick Kalmar, 27- John Kuol, 30- Martin Palinic, 33- Marko Delic, 36- Steve Topalovic (C)