Melbourne Victory are the toast of Melbourne as they defeat Melbourne City 5-2 at Etihad Stadium.
Melbourne City took the lead twice in the first half, but it would be Victory that stormed home in the second half off the back of a flurry of goals to their key pair up front.
The Victory may have just earned themselves premiership favouritism.
FINAL SCORE:
Victory 5 (Berisha 3, Thompson 2)
City 2 (Weilaert, Hoffman)
Can David Villa, in his first and last derby game, provide Melbourne City with their first win for the season against their cross town rival Melbourne Victory? Join The Roar for a live blog of the Melbourne derby from 7:30pm (AEDT).
This week has all been about the Spanish international on the field, and off it. Against Newcastle he scored his second goal in two games for the club.
On Wednesday it was announced he would just play four games for the club instead of the ten originally announced by the club.
Tonight’s match, his third for the club, will be the biggest of his City career so far as they play the Victory at Etihad Stadium.
It is a big match for both clubs with bragging rights on the line for each team. A win for either club would also move them high on the ladder.
If Victory wins they could move to the top of the A-League ladder for around 24 hours. A City win would keep them undefeated for the season and also move them to third on the ladder.
The interest for the game has been the highest it has been since the Melbourne Heart entered the competition. The name change, and the arrival of David Villa, has seen the match sell out during the week.
This is the first time that has happened in the history of the derby, and if everyone turns up for the match, then it could break the record of 45,202 between the two which was set last year.
It would also be the highest crowd for an A-League match in the regular season in 8 years. 50,333 turned up in 2006 for the match between the Victory and Sydney FC.
Predicting what will happen in this match is like predicting the lottery numbers in a draw. Last year, in the three matches between the two, both teams won once, and the other match was a draw.
Overall the record is four wins to the Victory, four wins for City, and four draws. Any result can happen and form matters little in the matches between the two.
Having said that the Victory are the favourites with the bookies for the win against City.
The key to tonight’s match is the attack of both teams. The Victory have an abundance of options with Kosta Barbarouses, Besart Berisha , Archie Thompson and Fahid Ben Khalfallah all in good form so far this year for Melbourne.
While they struggled to score against Adelaide last week, they did put four goals past the Wanderers in Round 1.
They look to be a real threat to the defence of the City and they will score goals tonight. On the other hand, Melbourne City has struggled to score goals this year.
In two matches they have scored only two goals with both of them scored by David Villa. Apart from Villa the other players have struggled to score goals in the first two rounds of the season.
With Villa leaving in two games, this needs to change and change quickly.
City though has a good range of options that have scored plenty of goals in previous years. David Williams scored 12 goals last year but hasn’t scored this year in two games so far.
Mate Dugandzic has scored 11 goals in his 56 matches so far for the City. Combine that with the new signings in James Brown, Damien Duff, Connor Chapman, and Aaron Mooy; City have options that can score goals.
Tonight will be interesting to see if things can finally click and the City can score those much needed goals.
They certainly did it when they defeated the Victory 4-0 earlier this year in the final derby of the season. When you least expect a performance from City in a derby, they usually win, and surprise everyone.
Tonight could be one of those matches.
Predicting this match is tough. Both sides can win the match and it really is anyone’s match.
I’m going to go for a draw between the two teams but it wouldn’t surprise me if one of the teams wins tonight.
Prediction: 1-1.
Domitian
Guest
Sydney Melbourne could be big this year.
Midfielder
Guest
Team to beat must be the fav...
pete4
Guest
Fantastic derby! City started strongly but Victory reeled them in Berisha, Barbarouses and Archie where excellent along with Valeri and Milligan took control in the 2nd half and there was only going to be 1 winner after that. Villa was quiet for most of the match
Stevo
Roar Rookie
Kosta was excellent and exploited Ramsay who had a shocker. We should have recruited proper defenders rather than makeshift types.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
That is all from me tonight. What a night for Australian football. The Wanderers win in Sydney and the Melbourne derby was a cracking match between two strong teams. The Victory though, with the win. may have just put themselves into premiership favouritism. Thanks for joining me tonight and joining in on the conversion. I'll be back tomorrow for the V8 Supercars from the Gold Coast. Until then it is bye from me.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
THOUGHTS - It was a tale of two halves as City dominated the first half and Victory controlled the second half. Unfortunately for City they conceded too many goals in the second half when the Victory had the momentum. They started well scoring two goals in the first 30 minutes. Aaron Mooy and Damien Duff were instrumental for the team in the first half. Victory hung tough during the dominance by City and did well to come back in the game. The goals to Thompson and Berisha before half time were crucial to Victory coming back into the game. The goal to Berisha before half time gave Victory the momentum. At the start of the second half they took that momentum and blew the game wide open with the goal to Berisha after twenty seconds. Berisha was brilliant overall and it was a good comeback from the Albanian after a poor 30 minutes by his standards. In the second half the attacking options of the Victory overpowered City and they ran out of puff. The fifth goal to Thompson put the icing on a nice cake for the Victory. MAN OF THE MATCH - Kosta Barbarouses - He played a role in four of the five goals and his run from the wing was unbelievable. He may not get much credit during the week, but he deserves plenty of praise.
morebeer
Guest
VVVVVVVVVVVVVVICCCCCCCCTORRRRRRRRRYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
FULL TIME - Melbourne Victory are the toast of Melbourne as they defeat Melbourne City 5-2 at Etihad Stadium. MELBOURNE VICTORY 5 Berisha 3, Thompson 2 MELBOURNE CITY 2 Weilaert, Hoffman What a match.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
93' Barbarouses almost adds a sixth goal to the tally for Victory. He runs into the box and shoots wide of Redmayne and the goals. He has been excellent tonight.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
There will be no bingo for Melbourne City?
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
Well done to Western Sydney who won 1-0 against Al Hilal in the first leg of the Asian Champions League final. They now take the vital goal with them to Saudi Arabia for the second leg. Let's hope they can get the job done over there. Wonderful result for Australian football.
jamesb
Guest
Game set bingo to Victory!
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
90' 4 minutes of added time.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
87' Kosta Barbarouses again. He puts in a wonderful pass to Thompson who runs into the box. He is then one on one with the goalkeeper, and goes around him. Thompson then puts the ball into the net and scores his second goal of the night. He now has 5 goals in the derby and 81 goals in the A-League. Victory 5-2.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
87' GOAL FOR MELBOURNE VICTORY.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
84' SUBS - Adrian Leijer is off for Victory. Mahazi is on. Massimo Murdocca is off for City. Jacob Melling is on.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
82' Big chance for Victory. Finkler sends a nice through ball to Thompson who runs into the box. Thompson then passes to Khalfallah, after beating a defender, and gives him a good chance to have a shot on goal. Khalfallah misses the ball though and falls to the ground without touching the ball. Victory 4-2.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
80' 43,729 is the official crowd for the match. It is just short of the 45,202 record which was set last year between the two.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
80' Time is running out if City want to stay alive in the match. Adrian Leijer has gone down with cramp for the Victory.
Shane Jones
Roar Guru
75' Besart Berisha is off for the Victory. Fahid Ben Khalfallah will replace him.