The NPL served up a cracker of a catch-up match on Friday night, as reigning champions Oakleigh Cannons were held to a 3-3 stalemate by bottom-placed Melbourne Knights. The fixture, rescheduled after an earlier postponement due to an unplayable pitch, had everything but a winner—six goals, countless chances, and both sides showing a proper hunger for the three points. In the end, both teams had to settle for a point apiece.
The Knights came out swinging, opening the scoring in just the 3rd minute through M. Petheriotis, setting the tone with some real intent. But Oakleigh hit back quickly, levelling through Connor Hampson in the 5th minute before taking the lead via Kingsley Sinclair in the 19th. The hosts weren’t done, though—Ciaran Bramwell’s fine strike after a slick team move made it 2-2 before the break.
The second half was just as lively. The Knights, buoyed by their Croatian Australian faithful, edged ahead again in the 62nd minute with a cracking goal from Tommy Semmy. But the Cannons, led by their talismanic skipper Joe Guest, refused to lie down. Guest’s clever free-kick in the 73rd minute found the in-form Alexi Kasumovic, who rifled home a belter to make it 3-3. Oakleigh pushed hard for a late winner, but the Knights’ resolute and passionate defending held firm.
The draw leaves Oakleigh Cannons in fourth with 39 points, still in the hunt for a top-three finish, while Melbourne Knights creep to 14 points, still scrapping to avoid the drop.
VPL1
Over in VPL1, it was another catch-up clash on Saturday afternoon, as Northcote City’s Iraklis took on Melbourne City’s young guns away from home. The first half was a bit of a snooze-fest—scrappy midfield battles, few clear chances, and little to write home about.
The second half, though, was a different story. Melbourne City broke the deadlock in the 52nd minute, putting Iraklis on the back foot. The Greek-Australian side showed some proper character, circulating the ball neatly and finding gaps to level things up through Robert Harding in the 62nd minute. But the fairytale turned into a nightmare late on. City regained the lead with a spot-kick in the 80th minute before sealing the 3-1 win with a goal in the 95th, right before the final whistle.
The loss keeps Iraklis stuck in eighth with 28 points, their hopes of a top-six finish taking a knock.
NPL – Results
Friday, 11 July
Melbourne Knights – Oakleigh Cannons 3–3 (3′ M. Petheriotis, 32′ C. Bramwell, 62′ T. Semmy – 5′ C. Hampson, 19′ K. Sinclair, 73′ A. Kasumovic)
NPL – Standings
Team Matches Points
1. Heidelberg 21 51
2. Avondale 21 48
3. Dandenong Thunder 21 41
4. Oakleigh Cannons 21 39
5. Preston Lions 21 32
6. Hume City 21 31
7. Dandenong City 21 29
8. Green Gully 21 29
9. St Albans Saints 21 23
10. South Melbourne 21 23
11. Altona Magic 21 21
12. Melbourne Victory 21 15
13. Port Melbourne 21 15
14. Melbourne Knights 21 14
VPL1 – Results
Saturday, 12 July
Melbourne City – Northcote City 3–1
VPL1 – Standings
Team Matches Points
1. Melbourne City 21 45
2. Bentleigh 21 45
3. George Cross 21 42
4. Western United 20 35
5. North Sunshine 21 33
6. Brunswick 21 32
7. Bulleen Lions 20 30
8. Northcote 21 28
9. Melbourne Srbija 21 27
10. Langwarrin 21 26
11. Manningham 21 22
12. Eastern Lions 21 17
13. Kingston City 21 16
14. Moreland City 21 14
