Melbourne Knights FC Official Website Melbourne Knights are in NPL Victoria at Somers Street for the second time this season when they go up against Bentleigh Greens in Round 4 action on Sunday night.
A new look Knights side go in search of their first three points of the new campaign on Sunday, having played out draws against St Albans and Oakleigh in their opening two games before suffering defeat in the Original Melbourne Derby against South Melbourne on Monday night.
Despite leaving Lakeside empty handed Knights put in a strong shift against the defending Premiers, controlling the majority of possession with only a fine display from South custodian Javi Lopez keeping the Knights attack at bay.
Knights only breakthrough of the evening came via Gian Albano, who opened his account for the new campaign, netting his 27th NPL Victoria goal with a second half penalty.
Sunday’s opposition Bentleigh Greens currently sit bottom of the NPL Victoria standings without a point to their name after suffering defeats to newly promoted North Geelong and Moreland City as well as Green Gully from their three matches so far.
Amongst Knights new recruits are two players who will go up against their former club on Sunday night in Corey Sewell and Mitch Hore, both players swapped Kingston Heath for Somers Street in the off season.
Both Knights and Bentleigh have submitted expressions of interest for Football Australia’s proposed National Second Division which is set to kick off in 2024.
The sides have met fifteen times at NPL Victoria level with Knights winning on four occasions, Bentleigh nine with two draws having been played out between the teams.
Knights came out on top the last time the two met at Somers Street with a brace from Albano being added to by a Mohammad Sumaoro strike as the Knights overcame an early 2-0 deficit to win 3-2.
Melbourne Knights FC
2. Jack Marth, 3. Josh Phelps, 4. Corey Sewell, 5. Ivan Franjic (C), 6. Anthony Duzel, 7. Mitch Hore, 8. Steve Whyte, 9. Ciaran Bramwell, 10. Gian ALbano, 11. Gevaro Nepomuceno, 12. Felipe Sanchez, 13. Chris Oldfield (GK), 16. Mohammed Sumaoro, 17. Trevor Ssemakula, 18. Jack Morton, 19. Luka Kolic, 21. Matt Wiseman (GK), 27. Joseph Franjic, 33. Tomas Karlovic
Bentleigh Greens SC
1. Bon Scott, 2. Scott Hilliar, 4. Ben Carrigan, 8. Mario Alberto Barcia, 9. Luka Ninkovic, 10. Tom Strickland, 11. Lucas Derrick, 14. Manase Abandelwa, 16. Jackson Morgan, 17. Thiak Kuel, 18. Christian Cavallo, 20. Christian Pavlidis, 21. Chris Droutsas, 23. Mitch Rooke, 25. Joshua Jackson, 27. Sebastien Fernandes, 35. Michael Guerra, 37. Oliver Zalakos, 39. Patrick Bayne, 41. Jacob Nasso