The Melbourne Knights produced a dominant performance with a fairly under-strength squad coming out 4-0 winners over VTC at Knights Stadium on Tuesday night.
Knights fans come out in force on a chilly Melbourne night to witness their clubs second win in succession.
Jacob Colosimo put his side ahead on 19 minutes before an own-goal from VTC substitute Enes Sivic doubled the Knights advantage five minutes before the break.
Tomislav Uskok made it 3-0 on 65 minutes before Colosimo put the result beyond doubt five minutes later with his second goal of the match.
The Knights thrashed Springvale in the last round of the VPL and another big win does wonder for their goal-difference with nine goals in their past two games and none conceded.
The win also lifts them to ninth on the Premier League table over-taking Richmond, but with an extra game played over the Eagles.
Knights were without Josip Magdic, Yusuf Yusuf and Martin John with Knights manager Paul Magdic giving starts to Melvin Beckett, Joseph Franjic and Aaron Romein.
VTC made just two changes to the side that lost 5-2 to St. Albans on Sunday with Sebastian Mattei and Bobby Vidanovski given a start in place of Rani Dowisha and the suspended Daniel Sweeney.
In that match VTC conceded a goal just 20 seconds in and were hoping to get off to a better start against the Knights by pushing forward early with decent pressure on the Knights midfield and defence.
But it was the Knights who created the first chance of the game when Josip Kozic fired in a shot from the edge of the area which Mattei pushed away straight into the path of Welmant, but the winger could only direct his header wide of the left post.
Knights then took control of the match and deservedly took the lead on 19 minutes. Melvin Beckett, who was given his first start for the Knights, layed off a ball to Jacob Colosimo on the edge of the area which he controlled before slotting the ball past Mattei to open the scoring.
Joseph Franjic almost doubled the Knights advantage minutes later when Shaun Romein played in a great cross to the centre but Franjic’s half-volley sailed just wide of the right post.
Five minutes later Welmant played in a brilliant cross to Melvin Beckett who was un-marked at the back-post and the youngster should have done better with his effort.
But the Knights did finally extend their lead when Enes Sivic looped a header over his own goalkeeper’s head from a completely harmless cross whipped in from the right flank.
Melbourne Knights came out of the break with a much more relaxed approach but that didn’t stop them from extending their advantage shortly after the hour-mark.
Jacob Colosimo drilled in a low-shot which Mattei got down brilliantly to save but he could only push the ball out in-front of Tomislav Uskok and the big central-defender tapped home the ball from close range for the Knights third and his first goal since moving from St. Albans last month.
Jacob Colosimo made it four just five minutes later with a cracking effort from outside the area, netting his second of the match and sixth goal in four games.
Shayan Alinejad and Josip Kozic had late chances but neither could find the back of the net.
Knights will have to recover quickly before travelling to Kingston Hearth Complex on Friday night where they face the Bentleigh Greens whilst VTC take on St. Albans for the second time in three games next Tuesday night.
By David Manuca
Final Score: Melbourne Knights 4-0 VTC.
Scorers: Jacob Colosimo 19′ 70′, Enes Sivic 37′ (OG), Tomislav Uskok 65′.
Melbourne Knights: 21. Aaron ROMEIN, 2. Shaun ROMEIN, 3. Ryan FILIPOVIC, 5. Leo SHIN, 6. Tomislav USKOK, 10. Josip KOZIC, 11. Anthony COLOSIMO, 17. Joseph FRANJIC, 18. Melvin BECKETT, 20. Jacob COLOSIMO, 23. Mathieu-Luc WELMANT.
Subs: 1. Martin JOHN, 7. Ridvan SAGLAM, 12. Shayan ALINEJAD, 19. Adam ZILIC.
VTC: 1. Sebastian MATTEI, 2. Daniel CHAABANI, 3. Bobby VIDANOVSKI, 4. Daniel PETROV, 5. Andrew MULLETT, 6. Paulo RETRE, 7. Christopher CRISTALDO, 8. Luc JEGGO, 11. John REALE, 16. Alon BLUMGART, 14. Stipo ANDRIJASEVIC.
Subs: 12. Enes SIVIC, 15. Jason RICCUITI, 27. Liam FRANCIS, 42. Philip PETREVSKI, 20. Keegan COULTER.