Expert
The battle between the two teams needing a victory so desperately has ended in a draw that will please neither of their managers.
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Final score
Melbourne Victory 1
Brisbane Roar 1
Melbourne Victory and Brisbane Roar meet in a crucial game at Etihad Stadium with both sides looking for their first victories of the season. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 7:50pm (AEDT).
The Victory will be buoyed by the point they nabbed on Monday night against the Wanderers after looking like being two goals down and playing with ten men. A stirring second half of composed tactics and simple, effective strategy saw Kevin Muscat’s men finally show some real steel.
For Brisbane, it has been much of a muchness in 2017. They look disjointed, clunky and easily dispirited. John Aloisi has the chance here to show that as the team develops a better fitness base and the combinations start to come, this squad is capable of challenging the teams higher on the ladder.
The unfortunate reality for Aloisi is indeed just that, the ladder. Gone are the days of claiming it is too early in the season and stating that you can’t judge teams based merely on a few early results.
After six rounds patterns are clear, and after the first five weeks the Roar have looked anything but title contenders.
The Victory are coming off a short turn around and could be ripe for the picking tonight, although Besart Berisha is back, a few key players are on international duty.
Prediction
Melbourne Victory are about to hit a sustained period of better play after a rocky start to the season. There is too much depth in the squad for the current results to continue. Despite Brisbane putting up a better performance, Victory will be too strong tonight.
Melbourne Victory 2, Brisbane Roar 1
Catch all the action on The Roar live coverage from 7:50pm (AEDT).