Melbourne Knights couldn’t find a winning goal despite their best efforts against Avondale FC as the sides played out a 0-0 stalemate Doyle St on Saturday afternoon.
The Knights fashioned multiple chances, particularly in the second half, but weren’t able to finish off an Avondale team who weren’t without their own opportunities.
Alex Khrapko was the first to threaten the goal on ten minutes, as he made himself some space in the box before seeing his shot deflected just wide of Chris May’s left-hand post.
Ben Surey, Jonathan Munoz and Stipo Andrijasevic all tried decent long-range efforts, but couldn’t make the keepers work as the sides went in level at the break.
Avondale were inches from taking the lead just before the hour mark when new signing Mat Sanders connected well to a bouncing ball, but May made a stunning save to tip the effort over the crossbar.
Ten minutes later Robbie Zadworny drew Fraser Siddall into a low save after the pacy winger was slipped in behind.
The home side were to have their best and final chance with 15 minutes remaining, as Khrapko’s cut-back found Burakhan Koca who was arriving at pace. But the substitute put his shot wide from ten yards out with the net looming large.
Fellow substitute Adrian Zahra missed an equally straightforward opportunity in the 85th minute, as some fantastic one-touch approach play by the Knights ended in the winger rolling the ball past the post from a similar distance.
Seconds later Zahra found himself in behind and laid the ball into the middle for Andrew Barisic, but the striker’s boot didn’t connect with the ball.
That was to be the final opportunity in a match where neither side were able to make their chances count.