Melbourne Knights FC Official Website Starting XI: G. Matti, B. Carrigan, S. Brecevic, T. Karlovic, S. Whyte, C. Bramwell, S. Lawless, F. Dunlop, D. Nikolaidis, K. Sheppard, J. Morton.
Substitutes: , A. Duzel, A. Hird, M. Chiba, M Petheriotis, D. Anastovski, H. Mcdonald.
Friday, 20th March, saw Melbourne Knights face Melbourne Victory Youth at Tompsett Stadium, in what was a thrilling encounter that marked the first of four consecutive home games for the Knights. The match, with high tensions, saw the Knights’ attack unrelenting despite ultimately falling short, suffering their fifth loss of the season with a 2-1 scoreline.
The game started with intense energy from the Knights, who made an early statement in the first five minutes. Nikolaidis was especially active, making multiple attempts in the box that set the tone for a fast-paced opening. Despite their early pressure, the Knights conceded first when Jack Mihailidis capitalised on a squared ball in the box to score with a textbook finish, putting Victory Youth 1-0 ahead.
The Knights quickly responded with a dangerous moment of their own. Lawless fired a snapshot from outside the box that narrowly sailed over the crossbar. Moments later, a free kick was awarded to the Knights when Morton, an ex-Victory Youth player, aiming for the top corner, was stopped by goalkeeper Daniel Graskoski, diving to punch the ball away. Graskoski’s acrobatics continued throughout the match, and as Dunlop unleashed a powerful shot from outside the box, the young goalkeeper once again came to the rescue with a diving save to preserve the 1-0 lead for Victory Youth.
As the second half began, the Knights emerged with a clear plan to push for an equaliser. Steve Whyte, the Knights’ captain, also stepped up in the second half, taking several shots from the edge of the box as the Knights pushed relentlessly for a goal. However, Victory Youth extended their lead in the 63rd minute. Jordan Hoey, who made a run down the right-hand side, expertly picked out his brother, Jesse Hoey, in the box. Jesse finished clinically, slipping the ball past Knights goalkeeper Matti to make the score 2-0.
The Knights continued to fight and, in the 80th minute, managed to pull one back. After a chaotic scramble in the penalty area following a cross from Chiba, Steve Lawless found himself in the right place at the right time, pouncing on the loose ball and pushing it over the line to reduce the deficit to 2-1.
Following the game, Lawless, who had been a standout performer for the Knights, spoke to Knights TV, offering some insight into the team’s mindset. “We’ve got a young squad with some experienced heads as well, there are leaders in that dressing room,” Lawless remarked. “As difficult as these last few weeks have been, I am enjoying my football here. We train well, we’re a good bunch, we’re together.”
Despite the loss, the Knights can take pride in their performance, registering an impressive 23 shots on goal, with 11 of them on target. While the result was not what they hoped for, their determination remains strong as they look forward to the upcoming home fixtures in what promises to be a pivotal stretch of games.
Round 7 also marked an emotional moment for the Knights, as the club bid farewell to Miguel Cunha. The newly signed midfielder announced his retirement and return to Portugal to receive treatment for an unfortunate ongoing injury. The club wishes Miguel the best in his future efforts and a speedy recovery back to full health.
