A second half hatrick from Sydney United favourite Luka Glavas (47p?, 68?, 94?) cancelled out goals from Jean Charles Dubois (37?) and Liam Cannell (89?) in what was an excellent hit-out for the 2009 NSW Premier League Premiers.
The game opened with a flurry of possession for the home side but it was the Knight?s who looked the more dangerous on the counter-attack.
Melbourne winger Liam Cannell came close to opening the scoring in the 4^th minute after expertly cutting in from the right-hand touchline to unleash a low drive to rattle the woodwork from inside the 18-yard box.
Sydney United started to find their range as the match went on and should have taken the lead in the 14^th minute after former Blacktown City and Sydney Olympic defender Michael Cindric found himself in an excellent position to header in a Shane Lyons corner but pushed wide.
As the Edensor Park outfit pressed for the opener, Melbourne were able to counter expertly, pushing the ball wide to the impressive Ivica Prajz who delivered a perfect cross for Jean Charles Dubois to header home in the 37^th minute and take a 1-0 lead into half-time.
The second half opened much like the first with Sydney United dominating possession and in the 47^th minute Elsid Barkhousier was able to latch onto a through ball and before pulling the trigger was fouled inside the 18-yard box.
Luka Glavas stepped up and expertly dispatched the penalty to equalise.
Melbourne continued to find themselves on the back foot as United continued to push forward.
Sydney United soon took the lead thanks to some brilliant work from substitute Ante Tomic to keep the ball in play and feed Elsid Barkhousier who produced a sublime low cross for Luka Glavas who slotted home his second of the evening.
With the match seemingly headed towards a United victory, Melbourne drew level in the 89^th minute thanks to Liam Cannel who headed powerfully following an excellent Josip Magdic cross.
However it was Glavas who had the last laugh, slotting home an injury time winner after Ante Tomic found space in behind the napping Melbourne defence and drove a low ball across the 6-yard box for Glavas to finish.
The 2009 NSW Premier League Premiers continue their pre-season campaign with a friendly match against K-League side Daejeon Citizen FC at Valentine Sports Park on Wednesday 3^rd of February 2010 (7:30pm).

Line Ups

Sydney United
50. Vedran Janjetovic (23. Roy Bell 45?), 25. Michael Cindric, 40. Joe Vrkic (8. George Strogylos 55?), 29. Shane Lyons, 3. Damon Collina (38. Adam Jenner 55?), 21. Ivo Bosnar, 33. Steve Hayes, 18. Petar Markovic (5. Ante Tomic 64?), 35. Elsid Barkhousir (41. Sean Mitchell 76?), 13. David Zdrilic (9. Tommy Cirjar 88?), 11. Luka Glavas
Subs not used: 28. Daniel Rezo, 2. Steven Veleski
Melbourne Knights
1. Ante Longaric (22. Mate Vrbec 90?), 6. Daniel Rocco, 7. Liam Cannell, 2. Ryan Filipovic (15. Scott Lucas 55?), 4. Ben Surey, 10. Ivica Prajz (17. Josip Magdic 88?), 5. Anthony Bran, 12. Anthony Colossimo (19. Andrew Bourakis 68?), 8. Kevin Thompson, 9. Adrian Zahra (11. Tomislav Ples 80?), 14. Jean Charles Dubois (16. Jake Collossimo 48?)
Subs not used: nil