Melbourne Knights left the door open too long and South Melbourne took advantage in a cut-throat Victorian Premier League semi-final at Knights Stadium on Friday night.
The Knights’ inevitable fate came 23 minutes from time, when South striker Trent Rixon ghosted to the back post to tuck away the decisive goal.
It came on the back of a sustained spell of South attacking, which was nothing compared to the barrage the Knights unleashed without success in the first half. How they failed to score in the first 45 is anyone’s guess. They had close-range shots, headed chances, and even one-on-ones with the goalkeeper.
PICTURE GALLERY: Melbourne Knichts v South Melbourne
The best of the chances fell to the feet of lightning-quick striker Shayan Alinejad, but his chip over advancing South goalkeeper Peter Gavalas cleared the crossbar.
Anthony Colosimo, so damaging on the left side, had a clear-cut chance saved by an outstretched Gavalas.
The goalkeeper was a pillar at the back, as was central defender Bryan Bran, the man of the match.
At the other end, South was limited to long-range attempts, with Knights defensive pair Tomislav Uskok and Milan Batur in total control.
After the break, it was a tired and frustrated Knights.
South had absorbed a lot of pressure in the first half but weren’t going to die wondering in the second with a shoot-on-sight approach.
While some of the shots barely raised a sweat for Knights goalkeeper Christopher May, South’s wresting of control was a concern for Knights coach Andrew Marth and the 4750-strong mainly-Knights crowd.
And they were right to be concerned because South’s increased share of play eventually led to the Rixon goal.
And, try as they might, the Knights couldn’t find an equaliser.
Andrew Barisic, the most dangerous of the Knights forwards, had a goal ruled out for offside and that was as close as the Knights got.
South advanced to the preliminary final, while the Knights were left to ponder what might have been.
Full time: Melbourne Knights 0 South Melbourne 1 (Rixon 67)
