By LOU VERGA (@LouVerga)

Photo STEVE STAREK

Avondale FC and Melbourne Knights have played out a scoreless draw at Doyle St on Saturday afternoon.

Both teams had chances to score a telling goal, particularly in the second half, but neither could break the stalemate as the points were ultimately shared.

Alex Khrapko was the first to threaten the goal on ten minutes, as he made himself some space in the box before seeing his shot deflected just wide of Chris May’s left-hand post.

Ben Surey, Jonathan Munoz and Stipo Andrijasevic all tried decent long-range efforts, but couldn’t make the keepers work as the sides went in level at the break.

Avondale was inches from taking the lead just before the hour mark when new signing Mathew Sanders connected well to a bouncing ball, but May dived to tip the effort over the crossbar.

Ten minutes later Robbie Zadworny drew Fraser Siddall into a low save after the pacy winger was slipped in behind.

The home side were to have their best and final chance with 15 minutes remaining, as Khrapko’s cut-back found Burakhan Koca who was arriving at pace. But the substitute put his shot wide from ten yards out with the net looming large.

Fellow substitute Adrian Zahra missed an equally straightforward opportunity in the 85^th minute, as some fantastic one-touch approach play by the Knights ended in the winger rolling the ball past the post from a similar distance.

Seconds later Zahra found himself in behind and laid the ball into the middle for Andrew Barisic, but the striker’s boot didn’t connect with the ball.

That was to be the final opportunity in a match where neither side were able to make their chances count.

 

Match details:

Avondale FC 0 drew with Melbourne Knights 0 at Doyle St, Avondale Heights

Avondale FC: 20. Frazer SIDDALL, 4. Jacob COLOSIMO (23. Daniel SLOVACEK 90’), 5. Jeffrey FLEMING, 6. Anthony STRANO, 8. Matthew SANDERS, 9. Alex KHRAPKO, 13. Michele CRAZIA, 15. Zoran PAJIC, 18. Jonathan MUNOZ, 19. Jason PRINCIPATO (10. Burakhan KOCA 72’), 28. Anthony FALLONE

Unused substitutes: 1. Chris MAYNARD, 23. 27. Julien CANNIZZARO, 31. Omar AMMACHE

Yellow card(s): None

Red card(s): None

 

Melbourne Knights: 1. Chris MAY, 12. Ivan GRGIC, 5. Milan BATUR, 6. Tomislav USKOK, 18. Josh BREKALO, 7. Chris TALAJIC (23. Adrian ZAHRA 61’), 4. Ben SUREY, 8. James McGARRY (10. Marijan CVITKOVIC 46’), 17. Robbie ZADWORNY, 21. Stipo ANDRIJASEVIC, 27. Andrew BARISIC

Unused substitutes: 25. Michael O’FARRELL, 11. Anthony COLOSIMO, 2. Luke JURCIC

Yellow card(s): Surey 82’

Red card(s): None