After a first half for the A-League ages, Melbourne Victory have held on for a 3-2 win over Brisbane Roar despite being a man down for most of the second half at AAMI Park.
It was a cagey first ten minutes between these two before Victory opened the scoring in spectacular fashion with James Troisi curling a free-kick precisely into the top right corner on 12 minutes.
With Brisbane rattled, Melbourne doubled their advantage with 18 minutes played with Troisi turning provider when he found Marcos Rojas at the top of the box. Rojas gifted the goal when Roar keeper Michael Theo made a mess of a potential interception allowing the Kiwi attacker to drill home his tenth goal of the season.
Dominating the game, Victory would then win a penalty after a Luke Devere foul on Besart Berisha with the Albanian tucking the ball into the far left corner to put his side 3-0 ahead on 28 minutes.
Seemingly out of the contest, the Roar then found a lifeline on the half hour mark when Dimitri Petratos smashed a swirling free-kick from range into the top right corner.
As momentum swung Brisbane’s way, they would pull another goal back in the 41st minute with a Brandon Borrello ball in the box was deflected into the Victory net by former Roar player James Donachie.
After a thrilling five-goal first 45 minutes, the second half started with a similar intensity as the Roar looked for an equaliser.
Brisbane’s search to draw level given a huge boost in the 58th minute when Berisha was given a controversial straight red card for a stray elbow on Luke Devere.
Despite being a man down however, the Victory seemed to rally with the numerical disadvantage as they kept the Roar out and went close to extending their advantage through Rojas and Troisi in the 80th minute.
Having dominated possession with an extra man, Brisbane simply couldn’t force an equaliser as they were handed a third straight defeat as the Victory themselves secured a gritty sixth win in a row.
Final Score:
Melbourne Victory 3
Brisbane Roar 2
Melbourne Victory will be looking to secure a sixth straight win tonight when they welcome Brisbane Roar to AAMI Park. Join us on The Roar from 7:50pm AEDT for all of the action.
The Victory secured a fifth consecutive win last week as they cooly dispatched of Adelaide United 2-0.
A first-half strike to the in-form James Troisi and a 68th minute header to the A-League’s most prolific goal scorer Besart Berisha securing the win over bottom-of-the-table United.
Sitting second on the ladder, seven points behind table-topping Sydney FC but with a game in hand, the Victory will be looking to keep their title push going with another win to extend their streak.
It has been a turbulent season so far for the Roar who though currently sitting fourth enter this clash on the back of two losses.
Last week’s dramatic 3-2 loss to Newcastle Jets at home adding to the pain of the previous week’s 2-0 loss to the Sky Blues.
While current form may be an issue, there’s no doubting the quality of the Brisbane side with striker Jamie Maclaren netting five goals from nine games and the Brisbane defence so far conceding just 17 goals – the third lowest in the league.
The Victory’s search for a sixth straight win has been hampered with the one match suspension handed to Alan Baro. In his place however Max Beister, Rashid Mahazi and Stefan Nigro have all been promoted into the squad.
Though Brett Holman remains sidelined for the Roar, they have no new absentees and are bolstered by the promotions of Nathan Konstandopoulos and Nick D’Agostino.
Prediction
At home and riding high, it’s hard not to see the Victory securing the win. Brisbane’s current form doesn’t suggest anything but a Melbourne win, but if the Roar do show up they could well hold on for a draw. But enough fence sitting, I’m going with a 2-1 win to the Victory.
So can the Victory go six in a row or can the Roar bounce back to form with an upset? Join us on The Roar from 7:50pm AEDT to find out as Melbourne Victory play host to Brisbane Roar.
MarkfromCroydon
Roar Pro
Just watched some of the match that I recorded last night. Have to put it out there that this was a super high quality match, especially in terms of the speed and tactics. Wouldn't have been out of place in some European Leagues.
Slane
Guest
The crowd certainly got whipped up after the Berisha red card. It made the 2nd half very tense.I we I went to the bathroom at about the 26th minute in the first half and missed 2 goals. I heard the crowd roar when Berisha tucked away the penalty. I was fuming.
Fadida
Guest
His assistant "gave" the red
j binnie
Guest
pacman - A shrewd observation. For some time now I have been watching Matt Mackay closely and find he is exceedingly trying to cover most of the midfield laterally being found as often on the right side of the field as his supposed left side "patch" This "drifting" is causing problems with how Brown plays his role at fullback for he can never be sure of cover when an attacker comes at him. I have been watching Matt since he was 14 and he has never been a noted "finisher" so to use him as an attacking midfielder has always been dependent on how he can set up others. This game was no exception to those observations,he had 2 golden opportunities to score and failed. That brings us to who else is available. With reports telling us that Tommy Oar has been playing in a left sided midfield role in Holland why is Matty not given the central midfield role where his energy could be a great asset ,and would not present problems to the fullbacks, and we could see what Oar really has to offer.(in 14 games he has played right winger,left winger and once or twice a bit deeper than usual.). Theo has made some remarkable saves in recent weeks but from the last 2 matches there is evidence that his reaction time is slowing down drastically. On two well taken free kicks he has not even moved as the ball passed him and I suppose we, as fans, would expect to see at least an attempt to stop the ball. The biggest question mark of course lies in the fact that for this game McLaren was dropped,being replaced by another winger Arana.while we continue to see Borella used as a wide player when the lad "made his name" as a centre forward in the youth team That poses the question. If you drop McLaren why not use Borella against Donnachie and Co letting Arana play in his tried and tested position out on the right?. The questions just go on and on. Cheers jb. ps It was interesting to see an obviously confused Broich discussing movement with the coach during a break !!!!! jb
MarkfromCroydon
Roar Pro
Just got back from the match. A superb first half. Top quality football, some of the best I've ever seen in the A League. Second half top quality drama and one of the best atmospheres ever at a regular season match. The crowd was absolutely fantastic and you could feel it was lifting the team. Alan Baro was sitting behind us and he had his smartphone out and was panning around filming the crowd and you could see he was impressed with the atmosphere.
pacman
Guest
We scored twice, which is a 100% improvement on season performances. Don't think it was JA's fault that we LEAKED THREE GOALS in the first half hour. Hats off to Theo and McKay for that situation. No coach can be held accountable for players' brain explosions!
stu
Guest
For a coach to repeat a failed game plan following the same scenario against Sydney only a few week ago, it is time for JA to go. I struggle to remember a more impotent team in front of goal.
pacman
Guest
Doesn't matter a jot. Roar LOST the match in the first 20 minutes thanks to one of our "darlings", namely, Theo. Take those two goals out of the game and, who knows?
TomC
Roar Guru
The delusion is strong in Aloisi.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
It would be pleasing for Muskie that they were able to change structure, game plan and tempo when they had to. In fact, they should be aiming to do the exact same thing with 11 men on the field - they really don't have to keep that same tempo going for a whole game.
hogdriller
Roar Rookie
'Parking the bus' ......must be a Melbourne thing is it?
pete4
Guest
MVFC fans singing "Besart Berisha" even after he was sent off 30 mins before the end of the game
Mister Football
Roar Guru
A valuable win for the Victory.
Joshua Thomas
Roar Guru
FULLTIME Victory hold on with ten men to make it six wins in a row. Melbourne Victory 3 Brisbane Roar 2
Joshua Thomas
Roar Guru
90+4' Brisbane goal kick and this is surely their last chance. Melbourne Victory 3 Brisbane Roar 2
Jack
Guest
This hasn't been a terrible match. I stick by my comments about aloisi. The ref his not good enough
Joshua Thomas
Roar Guru
90+3' North commits a foul in his defensive third. Victory taking their time with the free-kick. Melbourne Victory 3 Brisbane Roar 2
Joshua Thomas
Roar Guru
90+2' Hand ball against Oar as the Victory edge towards a win. Melbourne Victory 3 Brisbane Roar 2
Joshua Thomas
Roar Guru
21,103 in attendance here at AAMI Park tonight!
Joshua Thomas
Roar Guru
90+1' McKay laid up well for the shot by Broich but his shot from the top of the box is weak, low and straight at Thomas who makes the save. Melbourne Victory 3 Brisbane Roar 2