Melbourne Knights FC Official Website Melbourne Knights go up against Port Melbourne in a do-or-die NPL Victoria Elimination Final at Knights Stadium on Friday night.
Knights make a return to finals football for the first time since 2015, matching their best ever NPL Victoria finish of fourth from that season in 2023.
In a strong 70th anniversary campaign at Somers Street Knights also set a club record eight match unbeaten run in the league and scored a club high 51 goals along the way.
A third clash this year against Port Melbourne, who finished the season in fifth stands between Knights and a Semi Final berth.
The sides have taken one win apiece from the previous two meetings with late goals proving decisive on both occasions.
Knights ran out 3-2 winners in Round 5 thanks to an 87th minute Mohammad Sumaoro winner at JL Murphy Reserve.
A Mitch Hore strike and an own goal had Knights 2-0 up at the break before the home side clawed their way back into the contest through Luca Tevere and Chris Duggan but it was Ben Cahn’s side who ultimately came up trumps when Sumaoro popped up with a winner three minutes from time.
The Sharks got their revenge with an 87th minute of their own through Duggan in a 1-0 win when the sides met again in the reverse fixture at Knights Stadium.
In total Knights and Port have met 18 times at NPL Victoria level with Knights winning on nine occasions, Port winning six and there having been three draws between the pair.
Friday’s match marks the start of Knights biggest week of the season with an Australia Cup Round of 16 clash against NPL SA outfit Campbelltown City at Somers Street to be played on Tuesday night.
Friday’s NPL Victoria Elimination Final kicks off at Somers Street at 7:30pm and will be live stream on NPL.TV.
MATCH DETAILS
NPL Victoria 2023 – Elimination Final: Melbourne Knights v Port Melbourne Sharks
Knights Stadium, Sunshine North
Friday, August 25
