Hellas defeat Knights in Melbourne Derby

VPL Match of the Round by Liam Coventry-Poole

South Melbourne have come from a goal behind in the second half to secure all three points against arch rivals Melbourne Knights.

It took some super coaching from Eddie Krncevic for South Melbourne to claw their way back into the match after looking down and out in the 60th minute.

All three subs had a hand in each of South Melbourne’s three second half goals with another Krncevic, Jesse, scoring the one that put South Melbourne in front.

It was a match which attracted much interest and not just because of the rivalry.

Ljubo Milicevic debuted in a South Melbourne strip creating a big stir around the Alanic Victorian Premier League.

The first half was fairly balanced and guarded as both sides produced half chances at either end.

The Knights treaded carefully, attacking with little numbers, cautious in anticipation of a dangerous South Melbourne counter-attack.

They broke well out of defence with plenty of room in midfield however every time they went forward it was a case of two on four or even five when approaching goal.

It wasn’t a good start to Ljubo Milicevic’s season after a sloppy piece of defending almost allowed Anthony Colosimo to score the opener, shooting narrowly wide of the wood-work.

Marinos Gaparis showed his abilities setting Kliment Tasevski up for a shot just outside the area with a classy back heel.

Tasevski ‘s shot had plenty of venom behind it but flew wide, a given had it been on target.

The Knights looked to break the dead-lock in the 59th minute courtesy of a Josip Kozic penalty.

Referee Alejandro Azcurra awarded the penalty after some support from his assistant on the line, who judged that South Melbourne captain Steven O’Dor had handled the ball inside the penalty area.

It was classy finish by Kozic, who fired the ball into the bottom left hand corner giving Zaim Zenelli in goals no chance.

The Knights dominated the next ten minutes and South Melbourne looked to have thrown in the towel.

Shaun Romein almost scored the Knight’s second in five minutes after a cheeky flick to a deflected ball from a free-kick flew just wide of the goal.

South Melbourne looked flat but against the run of play unleashed Jesse Krncevic who did brilliantly to beat the offside trap. However he couldn’t beat Martin John to the ball who did well to come off his line and save at his feet.

The match began to be a real midfield battle until disaster struck for the Knights, beaten by a stunning free-kick from substitute Daniel Vasilevski, who powered the ball into the top corner from 25-yards.

The goal brought the South Melbourne faithful back into the match and they had a second in as many minutes, this time from their front man Jesse Krncevic.

Krncevic was played into the box after a terrific run and inch perfect ball from another substitute Kamal Ibrahim.

Krncevic only had to tap it past a venerable Martin John in goals putting South Melbourne into the lead.

The Knights looked tired and all their enthusiasm they had possessed 20 minutes earlier had completely disappeared.

Krncevic should have had a second one minute into injury time, getting too much power on a cheeky lob inside the box which flew over the bar.

The Knights had one last opportunity a minute later with a direct free-kick just outside the box.

Craig Sweeney put his hand up for the job but his goal bound drive found the feet of team-mate Ryan Filipovic who then deflected the ball wide for a goal-kick.

South Melbourne rebounded from the restart and substitute Kyle Joryeff caught the Knights defence napping, waltzing in for the easiest of one-on-one opportunities with Martin John.

The restart from the goal signalled the end of a thrilling second half as a distraught Melbourne Knights outfit pondered how they let this one slip through their hands.

The win takes South Melbourne to third on goal difference after Oakleigh failed to secure a point against Heidelberg at Olympic Village.

South Melbourne travel to St Albans next Sunday afternoon to face a struggling St Albans outfit.

A win would have seen the Knights jump three places to 4th, however they still sit at 7th unable to gain a top five spot.

Next Sunday evening the Knights face the Oakleigh Cannons, a must win for Melbourne if they’re to back in reach of a finals spot.

South Melbourne: Zaim ZENELLI (GK), Rhodri PAYNE, Steven O'DOR (C), Steven TOPALOVIC, Carl RECCHIA, Kliment TASEVSKI (Kyle JORYEFF 74’), Jesse KRNCEVIC, Ljubo MILICEVIC, Fernando DE MORAES, Marinos GASPARIS (Kamal IBRAHIM 55’), Sebastian PETROVIC (Daniel VASILEVSKI 65’)
Unused subs: Bobby RUSSELL, Asbelhadi DEROUNE
Yellow cards: Fernando DE MORAES 85’
Goals: Daniel VASILEVSKII 79’, Jesse KRNCEVIC 81’, Kyle JORYEFF 90+3’

Melbourne Knights: Martin JOHN (GK), Shaun ROMEIN (Jacob COLOSIMO 86’), Ryan FILIPOVIC, Ben SUREY (C), Leo SHIN (Ridvan SAGLAM 69’), Josip KOZIC, Anthony COLOSIMO, Jean-Charles DUBOIS (Amadu KOROMA 78’), Daniel DRAGICEVIC, Adam ZILIC, Craig SWEENEY
Unused subs: Joseph FRANJIC, Aaron ROMEIN
Yellow cards: Ben SUREY 50’, Josip KOZIC 71’, Ryan FILIPOVIC 80’
Goals: Josip KOZIC (P) 59’

Match Highlights courtesy of Football Federation Victoria, if you have yet to check out their site we highly recommend you do so!