Avondale FC starting XI: Manos, Courtney-Perkins, Kamara, Edwards, Wellsmore, Towns (captain), Tevere, Trajcevski, Ahmed, Aguek, Kur
Goals: Ahmed 38’ 71’, Aguek 48’, Edwards 65’, Cuba 92’
The Avengers were coming into the contest with some confidence after having a strong performance and comprehensive win, midweek, in the Docherty Cup against Manningham FC.
Avondale started the game quickly and looked strong and confident in possession, trying to breakdown a sturdy and resilient Melbourne Knights defence. In the 29th minute and against the run of play, Melbourne Knights went 1-0 up after one of their midfielders had worked his way into the Avengers penalty box and got on the end of a cross.
Just nine minutes later, Avondale equalised when Yusuf Ahmed headed in a corner taken by Luca Tevere.
Three minutes into first half added time, Avondale broke forward quickly after winning possession in the middle of the ground and constructed a series of passes that ended with striker Manny Aguek nodding in his 12th Goal of the season.
The second half saw Avondale coach Zoran Markovski forced to make two changes with Jackson Courtney-Perkins and Kristian Trajcevski coming off with injuries and Cian Cuba and Ethan Pisani coming on to replace them.
In the 65th minute, left-back Dan Edwards combined well with Yusuf Ahmed before driving into the penalty box to slot the ball past the advancing goalkeeper and make it 3-1.
Six minutes later, Edwards and Ahmed combined again brilliantly as the former found the latter in the box, allowing him to score his second of the afternoon.
In the 92nd minute, Avondale midfielder Joey Katebian won possession in the middle of the pitch and played a defence-splitting pass in toward Cian Cuba, who cut past a defender and slotted in the Avengers’ fifth goal.
The 5-1 scoreline marked a strong and convincing performance from Avondale, who jump back into first place on the NPLVIC Ladder.
