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Western Sydney Wanderers have claimed their second win on the bounce to begin the new A-League season with a 1-0 defeat of Melbourne Victory at AAMI Park on Saturday.
It is the first time Western Sydney have won their opening two games since 2019-20, and their first back-to-back wins since May 2021.
Tomislav Mrcela’s 41st-minute goal proved the difference between the sides in a tight affair that at times threatened to boil over.
There was a hint of luck in the winner as the big centre-half’s weak shot rebounded straight back to him before making no mistake with his second bite at the cherry.
Mrcela celebrated in front of the Victory fans while the packed Wanderers away bay erupted into ecstasy, including lighting a flare.
Alex King had his work cut out for him, dispensing 10 yellow cards as tempers flared throughout the contest.
First blood could have gone to Victory, when Nick D’Agostino’s 11th-minute cut-back deflected beyond Jake Brimmer and fell to former Manchester United star Nani at the back post.
The Melbourne marquee hit the woodwork from a tight angle.
Shortly after, Victory goalkeeper Paul Izzo punched a Nieuwenhof cross to safety, collecting Milos Ninkovic in the process.
Victory pushed for an equaliser, Brimmer skimming a free kick over the bar in the 51st minute and heading a Noah Smith cross wide 17 minutes later.
Tempers flared when Nieuwenhof dragged down a bursting D’Agostino in the 85th but Josh Brillante fired the subsequent free kick just over the bar and Victory were unable to find their way back into the game.
Earlier on Saturday, Beka Mikeltadze’s injury-time strike sealed a 2-1 victory for Newcastle over Perth Glory at McDonald Jones Stadium.
The Jets played with 10 men for 20 minutes after Jordan Elsey received a second yellow for an awfully high boot on David Williams, giving away a penalty in the process. It could have easily been a straight red.
The defeat leaves Perth without a competition point or a goal from open play after two rounds, and it’s now just one win in 19 outings for Ruben Zadkovich’s side.
For Newcastle and Arthur Papas it was a perfect start after their Round 1 clash with local rivals Central Coast was postponed due to last weekend’s wild weather.
“It was just a great goal,” Papas said of the winner.
“(Mikeltadze) is a guy who works so hard and for him to score that goal in the last minute, it means something.”
© AAP
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