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NPL action returns this Friday night as your Melbourne Knights face off against Pascoe Vale FC in what’s sure to be an intense showdown.
Despite a minor physical separation on the ladder, the teams are really only separated by one win and four points. With the Bureau forecasting a wet one for this Friday, both teams look as if they’ll be battling it out in slippery conditions.
The Knights enter the round on a high note after their resounding 3-4 away victory against the Cannons in the previous round. The Knights dug deep to come back twice from behind to pinch the victory in the dying embers of the match. Confidence boost aside, the win gave the team a much needed three points, allowing them to jump up from 9th to 8th, with the goal difference deficit slightly decreasing.
Newcomers to the side, Andelo Svalina and Teeboy Kamara were both given a starting position and proved to be decisive members of the squad, with Svalina converting a spot kick and Kamara providing the assist for the first goal while also creating a number of attacking pieces of play from the wings.
After losing to Paco at home all the way back in round two, the Knights will be looking to exact some sweet revenge by claiming the win on their turf this time around.
Pasco Vale have also been active in the transfer window, with the side releasing Ethan Docherty, Amir Osmancevic, Nicolas Gonzalez and Stephen Hatzikostas, and picking up four new players; Nicolas Abot, Hakeem Aloraibi, Jonathan Vakirtzisand Damien Peters. Apart from Aloraibi, all three incoming players for Paco made the final team selection in their last outing.
Whatever the selection outcomes, a win here for the Knights could see them end the round on 21 points, jumping from 8th to 6th, and re-entering the top half of the table and putting them in a fantastic position to make a dash for finals.
Team News
Melbourne Knights FC squad: 1. Harry Cakarun, 2. Luke Jurcic, 3. Shaun Timmins, 4. Ben Surey, 7. Nate Foster, 8. Brody Taylor, 9. Kym Harris, 10. Marijan Cvitkovic, 12. Anthony Dezic, 13. Ayden Brice, 14. Teeboy Kamara, 17. Nicholas Jurcic, 19. Anthony Duzel, 20. Jordan Gifkins, 21. Andelo Svalina
Ins: 6. Tomislav Uskok (returns from suspension)
Outs: 23. Tim Purcell
Unavailable: 5. Milan Batur (injury), 11. Nikola Jurkovic (injury)
Kick-off: 8:15pm
Venue: CB Smith Reserve
Forecast: 15°C, Showers
Referee: Jack Morgan
Assistant Referee 1: Ben Schepers
Assistant Referee 2: George Loukeris
4th Official: Joshua James
