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Adelaide United vs Melbourne Victory highlights: Victory win in injury time

Roar Guru
22nd October, 2016
Kick-Off: 7:50PM (AEDT)
Venue: Coopers Stadium, Adelaide
Referee: Peter Green
Last Meeting: Adelaide defeated Victory 1-0, February 19, 2016
Betting: Adelaide $2.35, Melbourne $2.80, draw $3.50
Teams

Adelaide United
1 Eugene Galekovic (GK) (C), 3 Iacopo La Rocca, 4 Dylan Mcgowan, 5 Taylor Regan, 7 Henrique, 8 Isaías, 9 Sergi Guardiola, 14 George Mells, 15 Ben Warland, 16 Jesse Makarounas, 18 Riley McGree, 19 Ben Garuccio, 20 John Hall (GK), 21 Tarek Elrich, 22 Ryan Kitto, 24 Jordan O’Doherty, 25 James Holland, 45 Danny Choi
**two to be omitted**

Melbourne Victory
2 Jason Geria, 4 Nick Ansell, 5 Daniel Georgievski, 6 Leigh Broxham, 7 Marco Rojas, 8 Besart Berisha, 11 Mitch Austin, 13 Oliver Bozanic, 14 Fahid Ben Khalfallah, 15 Alan Baro, 16 Rashid Mahazi, 17 James Donachie, 20 Lawrence Thomas (GK), 21 Carl Valeri (C), 22 Stefan Nigro, 23 Jai Ingham, 25 Sebastian Pasquali, 27 Alastair Bray (GK)
**two to be omitted**
Melbourne Victory cross the ditch to take on the Phoenix at their home away from home in Auckland. (AAP Image/Julian Smith)
Roar Guru
22nd October, 2016
82
3861 Reads

Match result:

Melbourne Victory took their first win of the season, scoring the match-winner with the last kick of the game through Marco Rojas.

» Click here to read the full match report

Final score
Adelaide United 1
Melbourne Victory 2

Match preview:

Reigning champions Adelaide United and Melbourne Victory will be searching for their first win of the season when they clash at Coopers Stadium on tonight. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 7.50pm (AEDT).

Both teams are coming off disappointing losses, although they came in different circumstances. The Reds conceded a last-minute winner to the Western Sydney Wanderers in a controversial match that left United dismayed with a couple of refereeing decisions.

In the first minute, Reds winger Sergio Cirio was crunched by Wanderers defender Jack Clisby who received only a yellow card despite Cirio being forced off the field with an injury which will force him to miss ten weeks.

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Then, late in the game with the scores tied 1-1, Wanderers striker Brendon Santalab was lucky not to be given a red card for his tackle on United’s James Holland. Santalab then went on to score the winner shortly afterwards.

Still, there were good signs for United’s coach Guillermo Amor. Striker Sergi Guardiola and Henrique were lively up forward and young speedster Ryan Kitto was terrific when he came on to replace Cirio.

Melbourne Victory are coming off one of their worst losses in recent times, being completely outplayed in the local derby against cross-town rivals City. Inspired by Tim Cahill’s brilliant debut goal, City dominated all over the pitch to win 4-1.

Victory coach Kevin Muscat would have been particularly disappointed with his midfield that just couldn’t keep up or create any chances. Oliver Bozanic, Carl Valeri and Mitchell Austin were ineffective.

Marcos Rojas was also quiet, showing the effects of a midweek international, although he had one superb cameo scoring a lovely goal late in the game.

Victory’s defence was also a worry. Alan Baro was barely sighted and James Donachie doesn’t look up to it at this level. The fullbacks were chasing the ball all night.

Prediction
Adelaide were far more impressive in their loss last week and Guardiola and Henrique will create some huge headaches for Victory defenders, although their increasing injury list is a worry for coach Amor.

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For the Victory, Rojas will be fully over his jet lag and should be back to his best. Melbourne’s midfield needs to lift and star striker Besart Berisha has had few opportunities in the first two games.

Muscat needs to find a key to unlock the midfield otherwise it’s hard to see Victory troubling the reigning champions.

Adelaide United 2-1

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