The A-League champions are back. After coughing and spluttering their way through a turgid summer, Melbourne Victory produced a sharp and sparkling performance on Friday night to rout league leaders Brisbane Roar 4-0.
Kosta Barbarouses scored a first-half double after Fahid Ben Khalfallah opened the scoring in just the fifth minute.
Besart Berisha wrapped up the win early in the second half for Victory’s best win – and performance – of the campaign.
The result delighted the 23,207-strong crowd but more pleasing to Victory coach Kevin Muscat would be the premiership ramifications.
Another loss would have left the Victory 10 points behind the league-leading Roars. As it stands, the champions are just four points adrift of Brisbane and still in with a shout of reeling them in.
On his first visit to AAMI Park as the Roar’s manager, John Aloisi witnessed a performance reminiscent of his poorly performed Melbourne Heart side.
His former home stadium had been transformed into a house of horrors under his term and the ghastly show continued on Friday night.
The Victory’s opener was a gift from Brisbane’s defence
Berisha dispossessed a casual Javier Hervas, allowing Gui Finkler to play in Ben Khalfallah.
The Tunisian let the ball run and lashed past Jamie Young at the near post.
Hervas played his part in the Victory’s second, playing a cross-field pass that missed its mark and allowed Barbarouses to swoop.
The result was the same: the Kiwi burying a one-on-one chance past a stranded Young.
The first two goals might have been Roar-assisted but the third was sublime.
Teenage debutant Stefan Nigro, already having nutmegged Thomas Broich, flicked a ball over the star German’s head to start a Victory move that ended up with the ball in the net.
Finkler’s centimetre-perfect cross allowed Barbarouses to head home.
The Victory were rampant and looking every inch the side that soared to last season’s championship.
By contrast, the Roar’s Aloisi was the first man down the tunnel at halftime.
He might as well have stayed there.
Berisha managed to get in on the scoring act on 52 minutes, tapping in from Ben Khalfallah’s cut-back.
When the Albanian scored last year against his former club, he didn’t celebrate but, on Friday night, he didn’t hold back.
Young produced a stunning save to prevent Berisha giving the Victory a five-star night but Muscat would settle for four – his best win as coach.
Nelson
Guest
I really enjoy watching a team that can control possession and dictate the game. I also enjoy watching a team that can utterly smash the opposition. Sometimes these things coincide, all the better if they do, but sometimes you can have all the possession yet not grab the three points. Sometimes with less of the ball you can still dictate the play. MV are averaging 55.6% possession over the season, BR are at 58%. I don't think that 2.4% is worth quibbling about, possession and passing football are important to both teams. Friday night's match possibly demonstrates, however, that when needed MV are able to change their game to suit their opponent. We may have had less of the ball, yet that didn't make the football we played any less enjoyable to watch or appreciate.
Ian
Guest
He has improved from the first few rounds this year and quite a number of lead up work through assists and better passing options has shown his skill. Got the winner a few weeks ago also that got us 3 points.
RBBAnonymous
Guest
I totally agree Peter. Possession for the sake of possession without using the ball or doing anything with it is almost as bad as not having the ball and giving it away.
Peter Cotton
Guest
I agree RBBA, providing the teams enjoying greater possession use that asset to their advantage. Too often, unfortunately, they sit back and assume their superior possession will automatically reward them. They become wasteful, bereft of ideas and unimaginative, resulting in the "unworthy team" taking the spoils.
Peter Cotton
Guest
Watched the match jb, and was astonished at Wellington's lack of ideas in attack, and yes, Wellington 67% v Newcastle 33% possession wise. Also astonished by Wellington's lack of urgency in the last 15 minutes or so. Surely the time had arrived to adopt a more direct approach, considering their possession was not creating any chances, not even half chances? Very disappointed in Ernie Merrick's failure to change tactics. Cheers pc.
RBBAnonymous
Guest
More often that not the team with the most possession will win the game. It doesn't mean they will win the game. I will rather follow a team playing with 65% of the ball than a team who has 35%. More often than not the team with 35% is giving the ball back cheaply, is sitting deep defending and only has options on the counter. More often than not the team with 35% will lose the game. This is because it takes great concentration for playing with long periods without the ball, you also tend to run your teams ragged from running trying to get the ball back for a brief period before giving it back. There are not too many positives from teams who have 35% possession stats. We had somewhat of an anomaly on the weekend where a lot of teams with the lowest possession seem to have won. More often that not however, they lose and in a few of those matches it was because they were down to 10 men.Not criticizing any particular style of football either or saying one is better than the other because all styles of football are valid. My preference is for a team to have the ball.
j binnie
Guest
Peter- Did you see the possession stats for today's game Jets 37%; Wellington 67%. Result Jets won 3-1. Same thing as discussed.jb
Horto Magiko
Roar Rookie
Well to be precise, I said "fold the club"., it doesn't mean I was ready to ditch them,. It just meant I wanted them put out of their misery at the time.. Euthanasia comes from a place of tough love,, Anyway let's put the focus back on the drubbing. Always nice to see you rangas go home with your tail between your legs.
Lionheart
Guest
And loyalty is yours
Lionheart
Guest
No Horto, you know what I mean.
BtoPower3
Guest
It is interesting to read the debate over possession football and the style of EPL. Also, some say about a younger MV outplay an older BR. Noun of you are wrong on both sides because football have already developed to a very complicated sport. Still, I would like to give an example. Remember the last time BR played MV in Suncorp last season (Round 26: 17 Apr - 19 Apr)? In that match, BR used all young players. These very young players could have won the then would-be Champ and Premiership winner, MV. They only lost on a dubious penalty. Sydney fans complained because they lost the Premiership consequently. High-technique alone cannot win necessarily. There are many other aspects. At least, physicality, speed, stamina, formation and strategy are included. Also, socceroos won Asian Cup after rejuvenation.
BtoPower3
Guest
You said what I forgot to say: "This is still a good team and will finish in the top 6. But it is not by any realistic measure a Premiership or Championship possibility". Probably, BR will be top 3 this year. However, there have to be some subtle and clever arrangement to win the Champ.
BtoPower3
Guest
Thank
Peter Cotton
Guest
Ian, who do you bring up the EPL? I certainly didn't mention it. I prefer Bundesliga, La Liga, Serie A, etc. Agree EPL is kick and rush rubbish.
Fadida
Guest
Agree Fuss. An age old argument. I watched Spurs v Sunderland (asleep by half time) and the second half of Leicester v Villa this am. Two teams at the top of the table. Awful quality, tactically rubbish. Only Spurs attempted to keep the ball at all. 3/4 A-League games this weekend were more entertaining and arguably better quality. EPL = get it forward, physical challenges, too fast pace(dozens of skill errors) and shoot from anywhere (dozens of blocked shots).
Fadida
Guest
Missing the point Punter. They lack attacking potency and pace. Let's revisit this at the end of the season
Horto Magiko
Roar Rookie
True. Just tip against your own club for the rest of the season and she'll be apples.
Horto Magiko
Roar Rookie
"especially our man Barbarousis." I think you mean the nux's man...sorry, the man from panathinaikos.
Horto Magiko
Roar Rookie
"Just two weeks ago you were ready to ditch MV for the season." Clearly irony (and/or humor) isn't your strong suit ;)
FIUL
Guest
"As for the HAL, I think anyone who rates it higher than 2nd-3rd tier European league level is engaging in wishful thinking." Europe is a continent made up of 54 football nations from Germany to Gibralter. To make the blanket statement HAL is about 2nd-3rd tier Europe is ridiculous. Sure it may be 2nd-3rd tier Germany; you're kidding if you think it's 2nd-3rd tier Scotland. Some fans sitting on their couch may not rate the quality of the ALeague, but I'd rather listen to the people who know what they're talking about. Players who've played at the highest levels in Europe - the Uefa Champions League rate ALeague higher than 3rd tier Europe. Players who've played EPL (Emerton, Heskey, Koren), LaLiga (Pivoccari, Costra) have come to Aleague & have said they struggle to keep up with the pace of the game under the Aussie summer conditions. Tomi Juirc, Sainsbury, Oar, Zullo, etc. had no problem moving straight from Aleague to Eredivisie. Maty Ryan moved straight from CCM to be Champion of Belgium & ranked best goalkeeper in Belgium; now he plays LaLiga