The Melbourne Victory return to AAMI Park for a Friday night fixture against top-six hopefuls Brisbane Roar, with both teams coming off a loss. Join The Roar for live updates from 7:50pm (AEDT).
These teams are starting to get to desperation stages, though for different (but not entirely dissimilar) reasons.
Both need to not only start accumulating some serious points – one to make the top four, the other just to make the six – but some consistent form.
Kevin Muscat is always good at defending the upside of his team, as was shown last week, despite a 2-nil loss in Newcastle. As the coach pointed out, the Victory created more chances than the home side, but their finishing in front of goal was the issue.
The problem for Muscat is that his team don’t finish enough, and concede easy goals too often.
As for Brisbane, well, if their star striker knew how to take a convincing penalty, maybe they’d be riding a bit higher, having lost to Melbourne City in their last start.
The Roar have not got going this season, and if they’re hoping to make a run into form and finals, they’re leaving it late – perhaps a little too late.
Brisbane have won three of their last four away from home, which John Aloisi should have plastered on every available space in training this week, because to stay in the top-six race, they need to win yet another game on the road.
Prediction
Melbourne too strong at home. Besart Berisha doesn’t go too long without scoring, so he should cause some trouble.
Melbourne 3-1.
Nemesis
Guest
Sure. But word matter if you're reporting & analysing a match. I have no issue with spelling or grammar errors in a football analysis, but each sentence has to stand up to scrutiny. Too many match reports I read on The Roar are based purely on the score. Whilst the score is the only thing that matters, in football, very often the score is irrelevant to the story of what transpired during 90'.
perry cox
Roar Guru
Agreed. That's actually my point. I think we're in agreement, bearing in mind that you are responding to seven words out of a four paragraph response.
Nemesis
Guest
"If Melbourne were more menacing up front" Depends what you mean by "menacing up frong" To me it means creating lots of dangerous moments for the opposition. In that case, MV were menacing up front. The fact the ball doesn't end up in the net doesn't mean a team wasn't menacing. It means a team isn't finishing/clincial. Brisbane weren't menacing, but they were clinical with finishing. By end of 2nd half, MV were creating constant problems for BRI, but the ball isn't going in the net. Berisha is a classic example. He's menacing because he gets in dangerous spots. But, he doesn't finish. Doesn't mean the threat of Berisha isn't omnipresent.
perry cox
Roar Guru
I think it's partly tactics, and also the cattle. Berisha was absolutely awful last night. And the year is proving that possession stats are really not the barometer people once thought it was. Tactically, Brisbane came with a clear plan: defend, and counter, and it worked. If Melbourne were more menacing up front though, you can only defend for so long - remember, Melbourne had two chances (better than the ones Brisbane took) in that first half. So if Melbourne took their chances, they would have won that contest. This A-League season is turning very much into he who shoots straight, wins. Think of Newcastle this season. First round, less possession, but they shot on target five times, and destroyed Central Coast. But then, later in the season, dominated the statistics at home to Melbourne, couldn't take their chances, lost 1-2. So while tactics certainly played into Aloisi's hands, Melbourne need to start finishing, and on current output, they are not capable of scoring.
Cousin Claudio
Roar Guru
You can call all the Victory games. We are the true believers and supporters. The A-League will never die!
Cousin Claudio
Roar Guru
They have to be or they will sustain serious injuries.
Cousin Claudio
Roar Guru
Roar on a roll. So sad to see Victory do so bad. He He ;) Great strike by Troisi. He should send the tape to Aussie Bert.
Bfc
Guest
Thanks KT..!
Kangajets
Guest
Stuart That accidental head clash could have occurred anywhere on the field . Just this time it was a keeper. Do we do away with heading the ball ?
Kangajets
Guest
Good onya karlo
perry cox
Roar Guru
Many thanks for the following tonight Roarers. I think this was one of my better interacted Live blogs. Hope you're enjoying it, that's me for the weekend. But hope I see you all again for the next live blog. Keep supporting Australian football!
Kangajets
Guest
Muscat in forever until relegation.
Kangajets
Guest
Muscat inherited a good team and made it very ordinary They only challenged Sydney in the gf by kicking the cr/p out of nincovich .
perry cox
Roar Guru
Possibly. I just don't think a player should be punished for simply trying to head a ball. Goalkeepers are well protected as it is.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
I agree, he had no intention to create the contact but it is a lot easier for the attacker than the keeper, who is actually trying to take possession of the ball and has no protection. None of those incidents are pretty or intentional, yet a flying attacker can do a lot of damage to a diligent keeper who is unprotected to some extent.
Kangajets
Guest
Stevo Melbourne Victory are cactus It’s between your team city or the jets that will play a grand final against Sydney.
perry cox
Roar Guru
Full Time Brisbane Roar have made it 4 wins from their last 5 away games, with a deserved 2-1 win over a Melbourne Victory side that will have more concerns than positives. When Massimo Maccarone opened the scoring early on from the edge of the area, the 1-nil lead should have enlivened the home side. Instead, it only invigorated the away side further, as they continued to attack through an evergreen Brett Holman. Assisted by Maccarone, who had a stellar night, Holman found himself in position to score. When he cut onto his left foot and let rip, Brisbane were 2-nil up, and completely in control. That is not to say that Melbourne did not have their chances in the first half. If Rhys Williams had connected properly with a carefully planned set piece, and if Young hadn't pulled off an incredible save on Leroy George, Melbourne may well have been level. But they instead could not score, and were well behind. The end of the first half was met with a chorus of boos, and an unsettling home chant, as Muscat walked down the tunnel to speak to his team. The second half offered little more for the home side. Melbourne tried to attack, but at each instance looked simply listless and off the pace. Besart Berisha was pulled from the field for Kenny Athiu, and while the youngster added some energy, that clinical touch required was never there. The addition of James Troisi would prove to have some impact, when late in the piece he let rip with his left foot from 35 years, and the ball swerved into the top corner of the net, to guarantee that Troisi will make many highlight reels when this season is done. Unfortunately for Melbourne, while they finished the match well, the finishing touch to impact the scoreboard never really looked there. Brisbane tired, but they held for the win. Melbourne will now look to the Asian Champions League, and if their opponents were watching, Victory will have caused little concern. As for Brisbane, they find themselves back in the 6, and while it may be somewhat momentary, if they can replicate their away form at home, Brisbane's season is far from over. Melbourne Victory: 1 Brisbane Roar: 2
Kangajets
Guest
?
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Is this our first fight?
Kangajets
Guest
Stuart I’m sorry, but Nabbout had eyes only for the ball , pure accident, A rare time we disagree.