Heidelberg United erased the majority of last week’s mauling at the hands of South Melbourne, by obliterating a hapless Melbourne Knights 6-1 at Olympic Village.
The Bergers were on-song, but life was made easy by the poor showing put on by the Knights, who are still searching for their first win of the campaign.
Kostas Kanakaris returned to the Heidelberg starting line-up to nab a brace off the right flank, while Jack Petrie, Harry Noon, Reuben Way and Kenny Athiu grabbed a goal a piece, only for Jason Colosimo to score a consolation in the second half.
It took just four minutes to break the deadlock – and start a run of four goals in just 13 minutes – as Kanakaris tapped home the opener.
On eight minutes, it was 2-0 through Petrie, who dipped a long shot from the edge of the penalty area into the net.
Noon showed good instinct to follow up a saved effort from Knights custodian Michael O’Farrell to make it three with just 12 minutes on the clock.
With three came four as Kanakaris grabbed his second of the night with a tidy placed finish into the bottom left corner.
Stipo Andrijacevic sought to strike back almost immediately, beating Heidelberg shot-stopper Pierce Clark with a header, only for Milos Ilic – in his second NPL Victoria start – to sweep clear on the goal line.
Jason Hicks registered the Knight’s best chance of the half with a well struck effort from James McGarry’s short corner, while Colosimo got a header blocked out for a corner.
Athiu attempted a speculative long drive in search of a fourth which went over the bar, just moments before Way arrowed in on goals from the left flank.
The winger broke free of his marker and arrowed in-board before sliding a low shot past O’Farrell, who was tormented all night by a potent United.
The Knights defence were finding it hard to contain the destructive physicality of Athiu up front as he tore down the left flank to find Kanakaris with a cross, but with a hat-trick on offer was unable to round the keeper who saved on the second attempt.
Athiu decided to do it all himself instead as he added his name to the scoreboard with a 53rd minutes header.
The bloodshed helped force the Knights into some sort of retaliation, as they looked the more likely in a 15 minute purple patch.
They grabbed a goal for their troubles through a neat chipped effort from Colosimo, young Clark standing firm to the flurry of other chances the Knights threw his way.
Petrie nearly grabbed a second long-range goal, but O’Farrell was positioned well to palm the effort away.
It should have been seven at the death – and with it a 0 goal difference – but Athiu lost his footing at the vital moment after rounding O’Farrell and staring into an empty net from a tight angle.
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MATCH DETAILS
Heidelberg United: 1. Pierce CLARK, 15. Milos ILIC, 17. Steven PACE, 13. Luke BYLES (c), 3. Les DOUMBALIS, 11. Kostas KANAKARIS (24. Emmanuel TSAKIRIS 73′), 10. Jack PETRIE, 6. Lewis HALL, 14. Harry Noon (8. Andrew CARTANOS 46′), 7. Reuben WAY (5. Andreas MILTIADOU), 12. Kenny ATHIU
Unused Substitute(s): 29. Ben ROBINSON, 23. Jack EVANS
Yellow Card(s): Noon 19′, Kanakaris 30′, Way 69′, Petrie 83′
Red Card(s): Nil
Melbourne Knights: 1. Michael O’FARRELL, 3. Ivan GRGIC, 5. Milan BATUR (c), 6. Stefan CALI, 9. Jason COLOSIMO, 8. James MCGARRY (14. Caleb MIKULIC 68′), 10. Nikola JURKOVIC (4. Ben SUREY 26′), 16. Jason HICKS, 19. Nick GLAVAN, 17. Tim PURCELL (18. Josh BREKALO 46′), 21. Stipo ANDRIJACEVIC
Unused Substitute(s): 20. Fraser CHALMERS, 13. Anthony KATAFORIS
Yellow Card(s): Jurkovic 17′, Grgic 22′, Andrijacevic 25′, Colosimo 30′, Batur 44′
Red Card(s): Nil