Melbourne Knights FC Official Website The Knights will be looking to bounce back quickly after suffering two defeats in the opening rounds of the 2024 NPL Victoria.
A quick Sharks outfit were able to capitalise through Amanhoum Khanis, Maker Maker and Iliya Shalamanov-Trenkov. Despite last week’s loss, positives were gleaned out of the match, like the attacking threat of Semmy down the flanks and the aerial threat of Woerndl from set pieces. After losing captain Ivan Franjic in their Round 1 fixture against South Melbourne, the Knights look set to readjust their backline and their focus this week against rivals Avondale FC.
Turning to opponents Avondale FC, the side, like the Knights, retained the majority of their squad leading into the 2024 season, adding only a few new signings, including Mayen Mayen (from Western United FC), Kur Kur (from Brisbane Roar FC), Yusuf Ahmed (not to be confused with the other Yusuf Ahmed already at Avondale) and Cian Cuba, who had previously been linked to Port Melbourne, but late into the preseason, made the switch to the Avengers.
Two games in and Avondale have taken all three points from their first two outings, beating newly promoted Dandenong City SC at home 4-3 despite a late Dandy City surge which looked like both might share the spoils, and beating St Albans Saints SC away from home 2-1.
Looking to prove their worth, newcomers Kur Kur scored a brace last week against St Albans Saint, and Cian Cuba a goal against Dandy City, with Stefan Zinni and Yusuf Ahmed also getting on the board unsurprisingly.
MELBOURNE KNIGHTS FC: 2.Ben Carrigan, 4.Corey Sewell, 5.Ivan Franjic, 6.Anthony Duzel, 7.Mitch Hore, 8.Steve Whyte, 9.Ciarran Bramwell, 10. Gian Albano, 12. Felipe Sanchez, 13. Chris Oldfield, 14. Tomas Karlovic, 15. John Mabok 17. Mohammed Sumaoro, 18. Jack Morton, 21. Jakeb Wiseman, 23.Tom Woerndl, 27. Joseph Franjic, 29. Saif Eddine Sakhi, 32. Tommy Semmy
AVONDALE FC: 4. Ayden Brice, 5. Matthew Reid, 7. Stefan Zinni, 9. George Ott, 10. George Mells, 11. Kur Kur, 13. Yitay Towns, 14. Blake Carpenter, 15. Jacob Chinnama, 19. Liston Diaz, 21. Thomas Manos, 22. Dillon Jakupi, 23. Kristian Trajceski, 24. Adam El Hayek, 33. Joey Katebian, 38. Mayen Mayen, 41. Yusuf Ahmed, 68. Kalilou Kamara, 80. Cian Cuba, 99. Yusuf Ahmed
Match Details
NPL Victoria 2023 – Round 22: Melbourne Knights FC vMoreland City
Knights Stadium, North Sunshine
Sunday, 16 July (4pm KO)