MELBOURNE Knights scored two goals in the second half against the AIS to record an important victory in the Foxtel Cup clash under lights in Ballarat.
Knights attacking midfielder Anthony Pelikan could have given the Knights the lead on two occasions in the opening 10 minutes, but both his attempts at goal went wide.
The AIS scored the first goal of the game in the 16th minute.
A long diagonal ball found Jason Naidovski at the back post, and he headed it towards the middle where Daniel Mullen got to the ball first and flicked the ball into the back of the net.
As both teams started to settle down, a dangerous and clumsy tackle by Sam Munro on Steve Iosifidis saw him receiving his marching orders with a straight red on the 26th minute.
Anthony Pelikan had another great opportunity to level the scores on the 34th minute.
Cameron Watson made a great run down the line, got past two AIS players with ease, then cut the ball back to Pelikan, who was along the 18 yard line and his shot went straight to Mark Birighitti’s chest.
Howard Fondyke could have double the Institutes lead on the 43rd minute, when he controlled the ball inside the box, turned his defender and forced Savas into pulling off a fine save.
Three minutes into the second half Melbourne Knights found the equaliser.
Ivan Franjic caused a turnover in the Institute’s defensive half, passed it to Andrew Barisic, who laid the ball of for him and Ivan took a cracking shot 25 yards out which slammed into the back of the net and left Mark Birighitti in no mans land.
Substitute Joe Spiteri almost scored Melbourne Knights second goal of the night, when a curling cross by Cameron Watson found Joe Spiteri and his header just went wide of the top right hand corner.
With a minute left in normal time Melbourne Knights found the winner.
Zoran Petrevski received a through ball by Anthony Pelikan and Zoran’s shot was well saved by Mark Birighitti but the Institute couldn’t clear the ball out properly.
The ball fell to Alex Kiratzoglou on the 18-yard line, and he placed the ball past the keeper to assure Melbourne Knights of all three points.
BY Tugrul Ozdemir
The AIS scored the first goal of the game in the 16th minute.
A long diagonal ball found Jason Naidovski at the back post, and he headed it towards the middle where Daniel Mullen got to the ball first and flicked the ball into the back of the net.
As both teams started to settle down, a dangerous and clumsy tackle by Sam Munro on Steve Iosifidis saw him receiving his marching orders with a straight red on the 26th minute.
Anthony Pelikan had another great opportunity to level the scores on the 34th minute.
Cameron Watson made a great run down the line, got past two AIS players with ease, then cut the ball back to Pelikan, who was along the 18 yard line and his shot went straight to Mark Birighitti’s chest.
Howard Fondyke could have double the Institutes lead on the 43rd minute, when he controlled the ball inside the box, turned his defender and forced Savas into pulling off a fine save.
Three minutes into the second half Melbourne Knights found the equaliser.
Ivan Franjic caused a turnover in the Institute’s defensive half, passed it to Andrew Barisic, who laid the ball of for him and Ivan took a cracking shot 25 yards out which slammed into the back of the net and left Mark Birighitti in no mans land.
Substitute Joe Spiteri almost scored Melbourne Knights second goal of the night, when a curling cross by Cameron Watson found Joe Spiteri and his header just went wide of the top right hand corner.
With a minute left in normal time Melbourne Knights found the winner.
Zoran Petrevski received a through ball by Anthony Pelikan and Zoran’s shot was well saved by Mark Birighitti but the Institute couldn’t clear the ball out properly.
The ball fell to Alex Kiratzoglou on the 18-yard line, and he placed the ball past the keeper to assure Melbourne Knights of all three points.
BY Tugrul Ozdemir
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