Melbourne Knights FC Official Website In round three of the NPL Victoria season, the Knights will travel to Lakeside Stadium for the OG Melbourne Derby.
Last week, the Knights unfortunately received their first loss of the season, falling to the Avengers at home, 3-0. The Knights’ round two fixture saw both teams reduced to ten men, however they were unable to capitalise while they were a man to the good.
South Melbourne continued their winning run, defeating the Bentleigh Greens 3-2, away from home. Hellas took a 2-1 lead into the half, before Bentleigh equalised with just over ten minutes to go. Although, moments later, South’s Jai Ingham found the net after coming off the bench to rescue the three points.
With bragging rights on the line and looking to rectify last weeks result, Bebics’ Knights will be aiming to tighten up their defence and utilise their broad upfront firing power through attackers Steve Sokol and Anthony Frangie. Although early, Hellas are one of four teams to strong two wins back to back, so far this season, giving more intent to Bebic’s team to make a statement early in the season. One to watch for Hellas will be former Knight Alun Webb, who made the move down South earlier in the year., and has already added goals to his name this season.
It was another memorable affair the last two times the sides faced off, with Hellas heartbreakingly knocking the Knights out of the 2021 FFA Cup followed by a revenge laden return of serve with the Knights edging Hellas 1-0 at home three days later. In the memorable win, Dor Jok’s welcome to the squad was intensified when he scored the sole goal to split the sides in his senior debut, and ultimately put him on the radar of his new club Central Coast Mariners.
The story continues so be there or be square this Friday night, for the unmissable OG Melbourne Derby!
Melbourne Knights FC:
Squad: 1- Harry Cakarun (GK), 2- Jack Marth, 3- Fuki Ishibashi, 4- Theiry Iradukunda, 5- Ayden Brice (C), 6- Anthony Duzel, 7- Atilla Ofli, 8- James McGarry, 9- Luka Celic, 10- Gian Albano, 11- Justin Micallef, 12- Andy Robertson, 14- Anthony Frangie, 16- Mohammad Sumaoro, 17- Trevor Ssemakula, 18- Jack Morton, 19- Luka Kolic, 21- Thomas Manos (GK), 23- Steve Sokol, 24- Ivan Miletic, 77- Lionel Masudi
Head Coach: Steve Bebic
South Melbourne FC:
Squad: 1- Javi Lopez (GK), 2- Lirim Elmazi, 3- Perry Lambropoulos, 4- Marco Jankovic, 5- Jake Marshall, 6- Patrick Langlois, 7- Chris Irwin, 9- Harrison Sawyer, 10- Marcus Schroen, 11- Brad Norton (C), 12- Matthew Loutrakis, 14- Josh Wallen, 15- Joshua Addo, 16- Esad Saglam, 17- Andy Brennan, 19- Alun Webb, 20- Chris Couesnon (GK), 22- Maximillian Mikkola, 23- Jai Ingham, 24- Ben Djiba
Head Coach: Estaban Quintas
2022 NPL Victoria Round 3 – South Melbourne v Melbourne Knights FC
Date: Friday, March 4
Kick-off: 7:30PM (AEST)
Venue: Lakeside Stadium, Albert Park
Where to watch: Livestream via Facebook & YouTube
– Tom Hayes