Knights claim first win at home

Melbourne Knights claimed their first win of the 2023 NPL Victoria season with a 1-0 triumph over Bentleigh Greens at Knights Stadium on Sunday evening.

Gian Albano’s first half penalty proved decisive in a match where Knights only grievance may have been not converting more of their plethora of chances created throughout the 90 minutes.

The crucial moment came in the 33^rd minute when Albano calmly found the bottom corner and converted his second penalty in as many matches after Ciaran Bramwell was brought down by Ben Carrigan.

Greens Captain, Carrigan received his marching orders for dragging down Bramwell with the Knights forward in on goal.

Ben Cahn’s side who have averaged a league best 65% possession per match so far this season again controlled the majority of the ball but were unable to further impact the score line despite their numerical advantage.

Albano, Bramwell, Mitch Hore and Gevaro Nepomuceno all came close but an assured display from Greens goalkeeper Ben McCauley in a stoic defensive effort from the visitors kept the Knights attack at bay.

Chances for the visitors were few and far between but the Greens came inches from an equaliser in second half stoppage time through Christian Cavallo who rattled the crossbar with a strike from distance.

Despite the late scare the Knights defence, who were boosted by the return of Ivan Franjic after the skipper missed the derby through illness held on for their first clean sheet of the 2023 NPL Victoria season.

Franjic’s return was one of two changes to the Knights eleven with Mohammad Sumaoro, who put in a lively performance on the right coming into the side in place of Gevaro Nepomuceno.

Sunday’s win sees Knights climb to eighth on the NPL Victoria ladder, sitting just a point shy of fourth placed St Albans in a log jammed middle section of the table.

Next up for Knights is a trip to JL Murphy Reserve to face Port Melbourne in Matchday Five action (5:30pm KO).

The Sharks currently sit level with Knights on the league table with five points to their name so far this campaign.

MATCH DETAILS

NPL Victoria 2023 – Round 4: Melbourne Knights 1-0 Bentleigh Greens

Knights Stadium, Sunshine North

Sunday,12 March

Melbourne Knights – 1 (Gian ALBANO 33’)

Bentleigh Greens – 0