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It was not a superhero story last night for Keisuke Honda on A-League debut, but it was a nightmare night for referee Kurt Ams and his video assistant.
Veteran Japanese international Honda couldn’t drag Victory back after a Riley McGree goal and a VAR controversy put City ahead despite Keisuke’s opener.
The 40,504-strong crowd saw a frantic opening, with action bouncing from end to end just after kick-off.
Corey Brown set the tempo with a late challenge on Luke Brattan, earning himself a yellow card from referee Ams, who was eager to stamp his authority on the match to stop the always-heated derby from descending into chaos.
Terry Antonis, newly adopting the No.8 vacated by Besart Berisha, had the first real chance of the game when a cross and shot nearly caught out A-League veteran Eugene Galekovic, the keeper scrambling to touch it wide for a corner.
Victory had the better of the opening stanza. Honda showed his quality throughout, and on the stroke of the 28th minute he announced himself to the league.
Honda nodded home from six yards after Storm Roux’s well-weighted cross picked out the Victory No.4, giving Victory a deserved lead.
(Mike Owen/Getty Images)
But controversy reigned when City were given a lifeline. A soft free kick awarded outside the box was turned into a penalty by the VAR.
Fornaroli had steamed into the box but made incidental contact with Raul Baena and Corey Brown, with Ams deeming after review it was enough to award the penalty.
Yet they made it hard for themselves, with Florin Berenguer-Bohrer missing the penalty thanks to a fine save from grand final hero Lawrence Thomas, but Ritchie de Laet saved the team face by knocking in the rebound, giving City the shot in the arm they needed.
The Victory-dominant crowd booed Kurt Ams off at half-time, with the sides drawn at 1-1.
The second half started off much the same as the first, with both sides trying to establish dominance in the middle of the park.
The first chance fell to Kenny Athiu chipping way over the bar, trying to make up for his embarrassing faceplate after chasing a ball.
A very compact half nearly blew wide open when Socceroo James Troisi unleashed a curling shot only to be denied by the inside of the right post.
Honda was pulling all the strings in the midfield, spraying passes left and right and almost always finding a teammate in space.
(Paul Kane/Getty Images)
Yet it was substitute Riley McGree, fresh off a Puskas Award nomination, who broke through the line after a delightful ball from Luke Brattan to slot it past the oncoming Thomas.
Instantly the game took a turn, with Victory looking unlikely to nab an equaliser, but that didn’t stop Honda, who made Galekovic scramble again.
Keisuke was up and down the field with the spring of a youngster, yet no matter how hard he tried the 32-year-old captain just couldn’t lift his die to victory, with City claiming their first win of the 2018-19 season.
Victory manager Kevin Muscat will feel hard done by technology tonight, but maybe some fans will think it karma for the dubious offside goal in their grand final win last year.
Melbourne Victory: 1 (28’ Honda)
Melbourne City: 2 (40’ De Laet, 70’ McGree)
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