Jasmine Ceni
MELBOURNE Knights claimed its third win on the trot with a 3-1 victory over Port Melbourne at JL Murphy Reserve on Friday night.
A brace to mid-season signing Andrew Barisic and Marijan Cvitkovic’s sealer cancelled out Port Melbourne’s Luka Prelevic’s 15th minute strike and sent the Knights up to third place on the Victorian Premier League ladder.
Port Melbourne applied most of the early pressure and it took Prelevic only 15 minutes to get the host on the board after his brilliant strike sailed past Chris May, ending his four-week clean sheet streak.
The goal seemed to spark the Knights into action, however, and it was Barisic who continued on his goalscoring form in his return to the club, levelling the contest at the 30 minute mark.
There was slight drama just before the halftime whistle as the Knights were adamant their goal attempt had crossed the line, but a goal was not awarded.
Port Melbourne took advantage of the counter attack and a clever pass in to Luke Bowen from Daniel Visevic ended in the back of the net.
But to the disappointment of the home crowd, the goal was ruled offside.
Knights continued where they left off after the halftime break and were unlucky not to go ahead after Ljubo Milicevic and Barisic set up a wonderful attempt for James McGarry who was unable to steer it past Adam Hrehoresin in goal.
Only four minutes later Barisic captured his brace after brilliant play by Milicevic, earning his third goal in three games this season.
Marijan Cvitkovic sealed the three points for the visitor with 20 minutes remaining after latching on to a header following some wonderful play by the Knights up front.
The Knights had the chance to score their fourth in stoppage time, but substitute Jacob Colosimo’s shot was brilliantly saved by Hrehoresin and Cvitkovic’s follow up attempt was blasted wide of the bar.
Melbourne Knights will be looking to keep making its way up the table when it takes on Green Gully at Knights Stadium on Sunday afternoon, while Port Melbourne travels to league-leader Northcote City next weekend.
Match statistics
Port Melbourne: Adam HREHORESIN, Amadu KOROMA, Felix ROSMAN, Christopher GROSSMAN (Peter ROBERTS 84′), Adam NAKIC, James RICCOBENE, Graham HOCKLESS (Timothy PATON 75′), Lambros HONOS, Daniel VISEVIC, Luke BOWEN, Luka PRELEVIC
Unused subs: Martin MASON, Evan BATSIS, Dennys MARTIN
Goals: Prelevic 15′
Yellow cards: Nakic 61′
Melbourne Knights: Christopher MAY, Ryan FILIPOVIC (Josh BERRIOS 82′), Adam ZILIC, Ljubo MILICEVIC, James McGARRY, Andrew BARISIC (Jacob COLOSIMO 71′), William McLACHLAN, Marijan CVITKOVIC, Milan BATUR, Ben SUREY, Shayan ALINEJAD (Sam TORRENS 59′)
Unused subs: Christopher TALAJIC, Matthew HRASTOV
Goals: Barisic 30′ 59′ Cvitkovic 70′