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Hume City FC continued its fine form in the 2010 Victorian Premier League after beating a gallant Melbourne Knights 2 – 0 at Anderson Reserve.
Melbourne Knights started the better of the two teams playing a strong and quick brand of football utilising its wings trying to breakdown the most consistent defence in the VPL. With Ross Thompson and Alfonso Opazo missing in the City midfield, Mehmet Karakilic was called up to do battle. Melbourne Knights keen to capitalise on the undermanned midfield, set up its team to penetrate and use its speed at the early stages of the match.
Adrian Zahara and Kevin Toenson caused headaches for Goran Talevski teaming up well down the left hand side for the Knights.
Zahara took a great shot on goal only to have the ball cleared by the City defence at the 7 minute mark.
Melbourne Knights defender Anthony Bran fouled Petrevski at the 9 minute mark outside the box. Richard Cardozo, with the ball at his feet had Hume City’s first real chance taking the free kick only to have the ball saved by Ante Loncaric.
Talevski came close to setting up a Hume City goal crossing the ball at the 10th minute mark, only to have the ball cleared by the Knights defence.
Richard Cardozo came close at the 19th minute mark after Andy Vlahos was fouled outside the box, just sending the ball wide of Knights keeper Ante Loncaric.
Cardozo followed up with a great pass at the 20th minute to put Petrevski through only to have the linesman lift his flag for offside.
Anthony Bran continued to close down Petrevski, marking him tightly and Melbourne Knights looked in control of the match, with misses by Zahara and Anthony Colosimo. Just when the supporters were waiting for a Knights opener, Baser almost turned the tide with a brilliant right foot volley after the cross came in by Talevski hitting the post at the 35th minute.
Kevin Toenson came ever so close at the 38th minute only to have shot denied by City captain Louie Acevski.
With Hume still struggling to gain control of the midfield, Petrevski was fouled 30 metres out of goal at the 40th minute. Mitch Bosevski, renown for his powerful free kicks went behind the ball, and sent a rocket at the Knights goals and sent Hume City 1-0 up at the 41st minute after an unacceptable lapse in concentration by the Knights keeper allowing the ball to creep through his hands.
Demoralised by the City goal the Knights went into the halftime break 1-0 down.
Hume City came out the better of the two teams, enjoying a lucky 1-0 lead, made the most of its position forming attack on attack on the Knights goals. Melbourne Knights able to hold off the attacks until Cardozo put his playing coach Andy Vlahos through who scored a brilliant left foot goal to send his team 2-0 up at the 54th minute.
Hume City sensing complete control of the match continued to attack the Knights goals.
Melbourne Knights cheersquad increased their level of support to find the goal to put them back in the game, with Toenson and Jabcob Colosimo both missing chances infront of goal.
Izzy Erdogan and Steven Pace won everything that came their way and Bosevski controlled his side of the ground to fend off opposition runs at the City goals.
Baser and Talevski tried to find some form through the midfield as the Knights started to play more as individuals rather than as a team to find a goal. Hume City Substitute Jake Nakic almost made it 3 – 0 after he showed great composure only to send the ball millimetres wide of goal at the 83rd minute.
Hume City was content with the result as the last 5 minutes of the match saw both teams go through the motions until the referee blew his whistle for full time.
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