Melbourne Victory have revitalised their season, and sent a warning to the rest of the competition: the giant is waking.
» Click here to read the full match report
Final score
Melbourne Victory 3
Adelaide United 0
TV
This match will be broadcast by via free-to-air TV on channel One, and on Fox Sports 501.
Live stream
You can live stream Foxtel’s coverage of the match by using the Foxtel App if you already have a Foxtel TV subscription, or Foxtel Now if you don’t.
Fifth hosts fourth, as we have reached the stage of the season where the term “must-win” will get thrown around a lot.
This is a must-win game, more so for Melbourne than the visitors. A loss here will see the Victory 6 points out of the top four, and with very few games to make up that gap.
How do you gauge Melbourne’s form at the moment? Taking in the Asian Champions League, they were indifferent against Brisbane, spirited against Ulsan, and terrible against Shanghai. Berisha continues his poor form, and Melbourne just cannot seem to get moving in the middle of the park anymore. Of more concern will also be the 9 goals they’ve conceded in their last three competitive matches, a stat that does not bode well for a team that believes it should be contending for the championship every season.
As for Adelaide. Well, what can anyone really actually make of Adelaide?
The Reds have had a horrid season, in terms of ‘forces’ not necessarily favouring them. Everything has seemingly been going against them when it comes to officiating, yet here we are, seven rounds to go, they are fourth, with a chance to put a two-win gap on fifth.
Marco Kurz has done an amazing job with Adelaide this season. Whether it has been playing with ten men, playing with juniors, horror refereeing decisions, Kurz has still found a way to get his men up for every contest.
Tonight should be no different, and after their stellar comeback against the Mariners, with only those ten men, Adelaide will and should be primed for the kill. Isaias should also have a big say on this contest.
Reds to win it for me. Melbourne should be worn out (after the split round that was tailored to their needs) and nervous. Adelaide should feel confident and strong, and the result should tell for them on the scoreboard.
Adelaide 1-nil.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Darts.
perry cox
Roar Guru
Incredible pick Stuart. How do you do it?!
perry cox
Roar Guru
Lolz - great name Kanga!
perry cox
Roar Guru
Full Time Melbourne Victory have revitalised their season, and sent a warning to the rest of the competition: the giant is waking. On a night when Besart Berisha shook off some ordinary form, and Melbourne jumped back into the Top 4 race, Adelaide were again forced to look within, as their horrid disciplinary record came back to haunt them. The first half was evenly poised, though Victory seemed nervous. Such nerves were even evident in their opening goal, when Leroy George crossed in to find James Troisi, who moved the ball back seemingly towards Berisha. However, Berisha would not get a touch, and the ball instead continue into the goal, despite Taylor Regan's efforts. From there, the night was Victory's, as George again was involved in the second goal. However, this time, entirely on his own, as he scored with a free kick that should make highlight reels for years to come. Paul Izzo again exposed in the Reds goal from a set piece. Adelaide, at 2-nil down, would not have lost heart, having come back from the same deficit a week earlier, but still with all their players on the park. That would all change in the second half. In a match that had been bubbling below the surface all night, mostly though between Regan and Berisha, a clash between substitute Dzengis Cavusevic and Rhys Williams was an ultimately turning point. When Cavusevic laid a hand on Williams' face, the defender went down, and the ref pulled out the red card. From there, Victory took hold of the match. George again sending the ball into the area, landing at the feet of Berisha, who finally had the ball in the net, and the game in Melbourne's hands. Melbourne would spend the rest of the game banging on the door for a fourth, but to Adelaide's credit, the score did not change. Melbourne will look to the next round with energy, as they get ready for the Melbourne Derby. Adelaide will need to look at their discipline. They have received five red cards this season, and their coaching staff were yellow carded again. Kurz might blame the officials as much for the result as anything, however they were still down 2 goals when Cavusevic was sent from the park. A thrilling and exciting contest, despite the result being clear early in the second half. Melbourne now can use this as a charge up the table, and take some confidence into the Asian Champions League fixtures to come. Melbourne Victory: 3 Adelaide United: 0
perry cox
Roar Guru
93' - Victory are actually still looking for goals here. This may not be the final scoreline after all. Victory pressing in attack, trying to force the error. Winning the midfield battle. Antonis with the shot - Elsey with the block! Last ditch stuff in the area there. Melbourne Victory: 3 Adelaide United: 0
perry cox
Roar Guru
91' - Five minutes of stoppage time. Fair enough - subs and cards galore in this half. Melbourne Victory: 3 Adelaide United: 0
perry cox
Roar Guru
90' - Troisi unfairly called back for a foul. To be fair, there was a push on Isaias there. Lucky for the Reds, because it was about to be 4-nil. Troisi has worn the captains armband well tonight. Melbourne Victory: 3 Adelaide United: 0
perry cox
Roar Guru
88' - This game appears to be fizzing out somewhat, and you can understand why. Victory have the points, Reds must be exhausted. What can Marrone do here? He will be bundled off the ball by Troisi, that's what. Troisi back in charge on the halfway line. Muscat yelling at his men to go in for the kill. Melbourne Victory: 3 Adelaide United: 0
perry cox
Roar Guru
86' - Konstandopoulos has looked good since coming on. Marrone good too. SUB: Berisha off, Waring on. Debutant comes on for the veteran, who gets some nice applause as he takes a seat. Melbourne Victory: 3 Adelaide United: 0
perry cox
Roar Guru
84' - Melbourne continue to work the ball around the park. Williams on the ball, nice to see him back on his feet after his assault earlier on. Victory give it up through a long ball and Marrone intervening. Looks like Reds are not giving up, as they attempt an attack. AAAND it's gone. Victory have the ball through Theoharous. Melbourne Victory: 3 Adelaide United: 0
perry cox
Roar Guru
81' - CHANCE MELBOURNE! Antonis tries to replicate Troisi's strike, Izzo is up to the task, and punches it over the crossbar. Melbourne Victory: 3 Adelaide United: 0
perry cox
Roar Guru
80' - SUB: Theohaurus on, George off. George leaves to wild applause. And rightly so. Melbourne Victory: 3 Adelaide United: 0
perry cox
Roar Guru
79' - What will Izzo do with his wall here? George ready to pull the trigger - but he shoots just over. Melbourne Victory: 3 Adelaide United: 0
perry cox
Roar Guru
Yellow Card 77' - Donachie tries to do something in attack. Throw in Adelaide. O'Doherty remains industrious, and he keeps trying. Berisha on the ball, out wide to George, who is having a blinder! Now it's Antonis' turn, but there's George again, right in the thick of it. Great play, results in a free kick to Victory, right in that George zone again. Regan in the book for the foul. Melbourne Victory: 3 Adelaide United: 0
perry cox
Roar Guru
75' - Strain is trying to make something here, out of nothing. Isaias has been taken out of the game, but he's still working away. Reds work meticulously around on the left, but this all feels obviously too late. Melbourne Victory: 3 Adelaide United: 0
perry cox
Roar Guru
No.
perry cox
Roar Guru
73' - SUB: Deng off, Donachie on. Deng went down with cramp. Hope that's what it was anyway. Melbourne Victory: 3 Adelaide United: 0
perry cox
Roar Guru
72' - George has worked down the sideline wonderfully there for a corner. Couple of perfectly executed back heels, really held the possession well. Williams meets the corner at the back post, can't get underneath it though. Reds goal kick. Melbourne Victory: 3 Adelaide United: 0
perry cox
Roar Guru
70' - Reds try to work it out, and a Troisi foul helps a fair bit. Reds will do well not to repeat the Melbourne City result here. Reds will make another change. SUB: Marrone on, Mileusnic off. Not sure what the thinking is there, I thought Mileusnic was playing well. Melbourne Victory: 3 Adelaide United: 0
perry cox
Roar Guru
68' - Melbourne are toying with Adelaide now. They had a counter there, and were moving like grease-lightning. Victory play around with it in the middle, out wide and back in the middle. Now Broxham on the left, but Elsey clears the danger. Melbourne Victory: 3 Adelaide United: 0