Melbourne Knights FC Official Website Related Articles
Starting XI
Oldfield, B. Carrigan, M. Cunha, S. Brecevic, A. Hird, M. Chiba, S. Whyte, S. Lawless, L. Mazis, K. Shephard
Substitutes
Morton, A. Duzel, J. Franjic, M. Petheriotis, G. Matti, J. Karantz
It was a tough start to the week for Knights fans, after falling 3-1 to South Melbourne in the first Original Melbourne Derby of the 2025 NPL season.
The game started as a balanced contest, with both teams battling for control in the opening 16 minutes. However, with South Melbourne gradually asserting their dominance, Knights skipper Chris Oldfield was forced into action early on multiple occasions. The defensive unit, led by a determined Oldfield in goals, worked hard to contain the South attack.
Much to the Knights’ efforts, the luck of the home side saw them strike first in the 33rd minute, with new signing George Mells unleashing a powerful shot from the edge of the box. Just four minutes later, Argentine forward Nahuel Bonada capitalized on a loose ball inside the area, slipping past the efforts of Oldfield and doubling the hosts’ advantage before the break.
Despite being two goals down, the Knights emerged from the dressing room determined to mount the scoreline. While South held the lead, the Knights found a way back into the game with an effort from Mark Petheriotis’, which, despite the protests of South’s defenders and goalkeeper Javi Lopez, sneaked itself over the line. It was the goal from Knights’ new signing, which breathed life into the squad as they continued to push for an equalizer, setting the stage for an intense final half-hour.
With the sights of an equalising goal still on the horizon for the Knights, South Melbourne managed to seal the win late in the match. Danish striker, Gustav Moller, saw the home side restore their two-goal cushion and secure all three points.
Whilst the defeat sees a frustrating result for the Knights, their glimpses of promise leaves much to look forward to as the 2025 campaign continues. Despite the sting of a derby loss, the Knights’ resilience sees them ready to bounce back as they set their eyes on Avondale and look to assert their dominance, on home turf.
