Melbourne Victory have moved top of the A-League table after an inspired first half saw them down Big Blue rivals Sydney FC at AAMI Park.
It was their big three who fired, with Daniel Arzani grabbing the first, Zinedine Machach the second and Bruno Fornaroli the third.
Arzani, who has so long threatened but underwhelmed, finally delivered with an excellent run and finish for the opener, while Machach, who might well be the best player in the competition, showed all of his skill to chip FC keeper Adam Pavlesic.
Fornaroli, who had spurned a superb chance to make it 3-0 before the break, finally got his too, ending the game as a contest just before the hour mark.
Both strengthened their case for inclusion in Graham Arnold’s Asian Cup squads, and if the manager is picking on form he will have to consider them.
Fornaroli now has 12 in eight games this season, five more than anyone else in the A-League, while Arzani is among the most talented players available and, finally, might have found some end product at the right time.
This was the performance that Victory have threatened to deliver. Their attack has never been in doubt – though their finishing has – and tonight, they allied efficiency in front of goal with security at the back, recording their first clean sheet since the opening weekend.
It was no surprise, however, that it came against Sydney FC. The Sky Blues drew a blank at home to Victory in Round 1 and have failed to score in all six of their defeats so far this season.
Though they have changed managers since, the results have barely altered.
For the first half, they were more than in the contest and had two very close calls, with Paul Izzo forced into several smart saves and Fabio Gomes denied a goal by the offside flag, but as the game went on, the threat receded.
Melbourne Victory’s Bruno Fornaroli celebrates a goal. (Photo by Jeremy Ng/Getty Images)
Where Victory are now top – at least until Macarthur FC play on Monday night – Sydney FC are third last. They have scored just eight goals all year, and five of them were in the same game, one of only two they have won.
“Most important was to win, we haven’t been at home for a month so it’s been a tough time,” said Tony Popovic.
“Sydney played well in the first half, Paul (Izzo) made some great saves and we’ve come away with a vital win. We were really keen on backing up our performance last week (winning at Western Sydney).
“We got the bonus of the clean sheet and after scoring four last week we scored three today, so the boys are in good goalscoring form.”
Jake Girdwood-Reich fluffed his lines at the back post and allowed Izzo to clear, and quick as a flash, Machach was free on goal at the other end. Only a last ditch effort kept the scoresheet blank.
It wouldn’t last as Victory went back to back with two excellent goals.
First, Fornaroli had the presence of mind to take a quick free kick and switch the ball to Arzani, who drove at the defence and picked out the bottom corner.
Before Sydney FC knew what had hit them, it was two. This time Brimmer was the architect, slipping a pass for the onrushing Machach, who dinked the keeper superbly to double the lead.
Though that would end the scoring for the half, it was not for lack of trying.
Fabio Gomes had the ball in the net but was pulled back for the most marginal of offsides and, at the other end, Fornaroli forced an excellent save out of Pavlesic when he could have given any of three teammates a tap in.
They went to the sheds with Victory leading 2-0, but it was a minor miracle that only two goals were scored after a madcap half.
Fornaroli needn’t have worried about his miss late in the first half. With Victory pressing high, Jake Girdwood-Reich gave the ball away, allowing Machach to expertly draw the two remaining defenders to him, slip the ball between them and get the striker into space. The rest was a formality.
With the scoreline secure, Victory focussed on the clean sheet that had eluded them for so long, and Sydney FC were all too happy to oblige.
They bossed the ball but played almost entirely in front of Victory’s defence, with only a Kucharski header off the post to show for the bulk of possession.
Grem
Roar Rookie
Luongo’s international retirement will further test the Socceroos’ depth, with six other players – Brandon Borrello (Western Sydney Wanderers), Awer Mabil (Grasshoppers), Nick D’Agostino (Viking FK), Ryan Strain (St Mirren), Gianni Stensness (Viking FK) and Bailey Wright (Lion City) – all injured and unavailable for selection. Awer plays in Switzerland.
NickA
Roar Rookie
Agree with everything you've said here - apart from your comments around Yengi. I don't see him as that similar to Duke and although I'm on the fence about him being picked, I wouldn't be upset if he was. Think he's very capable and given our issues around strikers, I don't think we need to have the same 'prove yourself first' threshold as we do for blooding midfielders & defenders. But yes, Duke + Bruno walk ins, MacLaren probably gets selected just because it's MacLaren - otherwise it'll be a fight between Yengi & Toure.
NickA
Roar Rookie
Armenakas was selected for Olyroos when he was younger but he’s 25 now and playing 2nd div in the USA. Who do you want him to be selected for? Socceroos? Don’t think so, especially not for his first cap at a major tournament. Too many other midfielders ahead of him I think – but he has been playing well. I am not sure Rech is technically eligible right now, based on what I’ve read.
TenTribesOfTexas
Roar Rookie
ok. i would be looking at Panos Armenakis if Mabil is out. check him out on Transfermarket. in top form albeit in usa league.
TenTribesOfTexas
Roar Rookie
Why are Panos Armenakis currently in the USA and Raffael Rech in Brazil constantly ignored by Australian selectors?
Grem
Roar Rookie
Published on December 10 - Awer Mabil suffered an injury scare on the eve of next month’s Asian Cup, forcing him off in the 12th minute of Grasshoppers’ 1-0 win at FC Basel in the Swiss Super League. Swiss outlet Sportal is reporting he suffered an undisclosed muscle injury, sustained without contact.
TenTribesOfTexas
Roar Rookie
mabils not injured hes playing well atm
TenTribesOfTexas
Roar Rookie
no way Arzani can be selected for the socceroos after 1 performance. 1 goal in a dozen games is entirely inadequate and he was easily beaten by young Farrell at Mariners last time out. Bruno should be selected. He is in great form and offers a different type of attacking option to Duke while Taggart and Mac Claren are either injured or not in top form. Yengi is too similar to Duke but his time will come soon. Yengi is a big strong boy and if he can string some games together he is one for the future but not at the moment. Asia Cup Finals is not a development opportunity. It's there to be won and fit and in form players need to be selected. That means Metcalf, Bachus, Irvine starting in the midfield with Luongo, O' Neil, Robertson or Silvera as backup mids and Goodwin, Duke and Boyle starting in attack with Mabil, Fornarolli, M Toure as back ups. Neither Tillio nor Garang Kuol are setting the world on fire atm. Defence is a bit of a problem but Aitkinson is back playing full games for Hearts albeit on the wing and in the midfield and Lewis Miller is going great guns at Hibs. With Strain still injured and Degenek without game time, Miller and Aitkinson seem to be the only options available at right back. All of these players are in good form and should acquit themselves well. Only hope Langarek accepts a call up after the way Arnold ignored him for the World Cup.
NickA
Roar Rookie
Kucharski has promise but his decision making needs a bit of work.
NickA
Roar Rookie
Agree Grem - Arzani should noooot be picked. at 18 doing what he did, yes, he earned a chance - but he's mid career now and needs to perform for more than just a few games I think. Bruno is surely a lock now.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
Arzani did three assists in one half to Fornaroli only for him to miss all 3. What about Fornaroli not passing with 3 free players on the inside.
Grem
Roar Rookie
Arzani hasn’t earned his spot, but Bruno has. The only thing that may get Arzani in the plane is - we may be reluctant to choose Irankunda, Tourre, Kuol, Tilio, Robertson, etc as we need them for Olympic qualification and players like Leckie, Mabil, etc are injured. This means someone like Arzani could be a great last 15 minute sub - go out and defend when we don’t have the ball and take them on when we do - go and change the game!
Sheffield WesDay
Roar Rookie
Very optimistic linking Arzani to the Socceroos, with one goal and 2 assists for the year?? Mileusnic has 3 goals and 3 assists and Henry Hore has been so dangerous with 3 goals in 6 matches. I would suggest both those boys should be considered well before Azani.
Marcel
Roar Rookie
I like your optimism Red. We really are lacking any "personality" in the midfield. But as far as I can see we are pretty much toothless upfront. Lolley has 1 trick..Mak none.. Gomes...I have an awful feeling that he is here because he won a Radio competition in Brasil. Kucharski gives me hope....he is guilty occasionally of overthinking things...but as he grows in experience I expect he will become more instinctive.
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
Difficult to select from that game, Sydney defence was poor and disorganised at times.
Redondo
Roar Rookie
If they had a decent no 10 they'd score so many goals the other squad deficiencies wouldn't matter. Caveat: Gomes might not even score with Messi assisting.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
Sydney played better with 10 men last week , and what was bizzare was the tracking back. The tracking back seemed to be based on its too late for one to intervene so jog back but if you look at the three goals Victory took a fair amount of time before the final shot was taken . Particularly the first goal they were caught of position , but by the time Arzani took the shot if they showed some urgency. Girdwood Reich had a horror game with the giveaway , and his tracking back on the other goals. What about Brattan , he is last man so decides to go towards the side line when Macach is in the middle unmarked, Caceres then has to make the ground on Macach, Brattan then jogs back, its Grant who then steals the ball off Macach when he cuts inside Caceres. What about when Fornaroli took the shot with three free players inside him. two of those players were well behind Brattan when LaCerna decided to come charging out of the line. Sydney did have two so called line ball decision for goals go against them. The is where it gets incredibly weird, go the replay and look at the offside diagram. Its clear as day they drew the offside line on Gomes hand not his shoulder. He was clearly onside its not even close. What about the whether the ball goes over the line, they dont have ball line tracking but they managed to produce a line in a previous game somehow what was that a con job. In this case they said there was a lack of evidence, how did they get that line last game. My suspicion is it was over the line, there is one replay from behind you can see Izzo right foot planted six inches behind the goal line.
Harry Brill
Roar Rookie
Said this at the start of the season, but MVC’s front three are going to be a problem whoever they play against this season. Sure, they had a similar line up last year, but having new signings like Teague, Armani and Machach has taken them to a new level.
Marcel
Roar Rookie
SFC are old and stodgy....they need a complete rebuild.