Melbourne Victory secured three points for the second time this season after a dramatic 3-2 win over Gold Coast United. A game that see-sawed over 90 minutes in front of a crowd that provided an electric atmosphere throughout, Victory rocketed up to 3rd place.
Here is what I learnt:
Melbourne Victory
1. Dramatic, imperfect but what was needed
After a week from hell, nothing other than three points would have been acceptable for Mehm Durakovic and his men. After blowing another 2-0 lead, Carlos Hernandez somehow headed home the winner with 11 minutes remaining.
It was Victory’s best performance of the season, with Melbourne playing with confidence and verve in the opening 35 minutes. However, it wasn’t the perfect performance and there is still improvements to make
2. Mehm got his team right… and wrong
Looking at the team sheet, it was a good, balanced for the Victory. Broxham was at full-back in place of an injured Matt Kemp and suspended Matt Foschini, Marco Rojas returned to the starting XI, as did Harry Kewell. Also pleasing was seeing Diogo Ferreira starting as well.
However, I couldn’t understand why Mehm would take Harry off. Kewell looked most likely to score (after netting his first goal for Victory from the penalty spot) and showed no signs of the niggling leg injury. I understand precautions need to be taken, but with a player doing well, don’t take him off.
3. Billy Celeski shuts me up… for now
The veteran midfielder played his best game for a very long time on Sunday. Celeski has come under pressure from many of the fans, even being booed before the game, for his recent poor performances this season and came back well on the weekend. His passing, workrate lifted and hopefully his confidence did as well on the weekend. Mehm looks like he is going to keep playing him, Billy needs to take that oppurtunity and keep warranting his selection.
4. What was Roddy Vargas thinking?
The veteran centre-back was rightly sent off after a horrible tackle late in the first half. It was silly, reckless and unsettled the side. Diogo Ferreira, the makeshift centre-back, gave away a penalty soon after.
Would that have happened if Vargas was still on? I doubt it. He has copped a two-week suspension, unsettling the Victory back four, with Foschini still suspended and Kemp with fitness issue.
5. Consistency, please
The win relieves some of the pressure on Mehm and his team, but there is still work to do. A problem for mine was the switching off at crucial parts of the game.
Toward the end of the first half and the opening 20 minutes of the second half, Victory let go of any momentum they had in the first half and let Gold Coast back into it. They can’t afford to let it happen in next games, which will be crucial in setting up the Victory’s season.
Gold Coast United
1. Hard done by?
The strugglers from the Strip were put on the backfoot in the opening half-hour, conceding two goals from penalties. Both penalties, you could argue, shouldn’t have been given. However, football works in funny ways.
Referee decisions can even out, and in this game it did, after they were awarded a penalty and had a man advantage on the park for 50 minutes. To answer my question, no.
2. Golgol Mebrahtu suckered in Diogo Ferreira
The young striker started on Sunday and looked like giving the Victory defence headaches as Gold Coast slowly got into the game.
His effect on the game was getting Gold Coast back into the game earning a penalty. He was smart getting that penalty, outwaiting Diogo Ferreira into a rash challenge. Mebrahtu looks a prospect, he’ll continue to develop over the season.
3. Welcome back Jonas Salley
The veteran midfielder joined the Gold Coast on a short term deal and started in a defensive midfield role. He had an eventful game, almost poaching a goal and conceding a penalty and yellow card. He is a good signing on short notice, adding strength to the midfield and helping to develop the Coast’s younger brigade. The Gold Coast need tough bodies in midfield, Salley and Peter Jungschlager can provide that.
4. Plenty of heart and fight but…
Gold Coast are going to struggle. It is not for lack of effort, but the lack of class players in midfield and attack that can change a game. Maceo Righters has been brought in to fill that void and looks a dynamic player, but he’s not at top fitness. They have young players who give their all, but short of experience. They haven’t replaced all the talent lost in the off-season and have a thin squad.
5. Does Miron start coming under pressure?
The Gold Coast are in a rebuilding phase and that will require time to get through. Miron is the best man to keep that going. He is an experienced coach and that is important for the Gold Coast at this stage.
An interesting article appeared on ‘The World Game’ website yesterday reporting that Miron’s position at GCU “could become untenable unless results improve” and that “fractures are beggining to appear in the Bleiberg-Palmer relationship”.
We’ll know more about that as the season goes on. If I were Clive Palmer, I would be patient with this team. But then again… I’m not Clive Palmer.
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