Melbourne Knights FC Official Website The Melbourne Knights will be looking to bounce back from their 3-1 loss to Avondale when they face Oakleigh Cannons away this Friday, 28th February at 8:15pm.
After a tough defeat, the Knights will be eager to regain momentum and secure a positive result against a strong Oakleigh side. Speaking on their recent performances, Coach Ivan Franjic mused that the side “had a couple of tough first few games and some unexpected injuries” but were “looking strong this week in trainign in preparation for Friday.”
The Knights have faced some tough injury setbacks this season, with both Karantz and Mazis sidelined with serious knee injuries. These key absences from the promising new signings will undoubtedly impact the team’s depth, but with depth in their squad with talented rotations, Franjiic’s squad remain confident in their approach. Advantageously, Tomas Karlovic will make his return to the squad, providing a welcome boost to the side as they look to strengthen their defensive stance in the hopes of mitigating an Oakleigh attack.
Despite the injuries, the Knights will have a strong desire to make amends for their recent loss, their tasters against with top squads of the league early on in the 2025 season, setting their expectations high. The matchup promises to be an intense and closely contested fixture as the Knights aim to pick up valuable points and push for a better run of form moving forward.
Oakleigh Cannons head into this match with confidence after a solid 2-0 victory over Port Melbourne. With a record of 12 wins to Melbourne Knights’ 4 in their previous 21 meetings, Oakleigh has had the upper hand historically. However, the Knights will be determined to challenge that trend and prove they can compete against one of the league’s top teams. One to watch for the Knights fans is Cannons familiar forward, number 28, Joe Knowles, who has already added two goals to his name in the Cannons’ first three outings.
With both teams entering the match in contrasting spirits, the stage is set for an exciting clash under the Friday night lights. The Knights will be hungry for redemption, and Oakleigh will look to continue their winning ways. It’s all to play for, in what promises to be a thrilling encounter.
