Adelaide United
1
Match Complete
Melbourne Victory
0
| 93' |  | J. Donachie | ||
| 83' | | J. Hope | ||
| B. Halloran |  | 32' | ||
| R. McGree | | 28' |
| 25 | Shots | 11 | ||
| 5 | On Target | 4 | ||
| 11 | Fouls | 13 | ||
| 8 | Corners | 4 | ||
| 0 | Offsides | 2 | ||
| 0 | Red Cards | 0 | ||
| 1 | Yellow Cards | 2 |
It’s the Farewell Marco Kurz Derby as Melbourne Victory travels to Coopers Stadium to take on Adelaide United on Friday evening at 7:30pm (AEDT). Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match.
It’s been a tumultuous week for Melbourne Victory, who parted ways with manager Marco Kurz. The former Adelaide United manager became a former Melbourne Victory manager after 15 points from 13 games in charge. Victory is not a ‘firing club’, but Kurz’s performances failed to inspire and have left Victory rooted to the bottom of the six.
To be fair, there have been a number of factors interrupting Kurz’s ability to put a winning side on the park. Injuries to key players, including top signings Robbie Kruse, Andrew Nabbout and captain Ola Toivonen, have created inconsistency at selection, but the international signings this season have been abject at best. Indeed the internationals have been Victory’s biggest let-down this year. None have elevated the team into a top-four side.
Matters came to a head in Round 14’s bonkers loss to the Mariners, where Matt Simon buried two injury-time penalties to pinch victory from the Victory. Dropping a near-certain three points in such dire – and ridiculous – circumstances was probably the final straw for Kurz, whose tenure just seemed to be cursed.
Adelaide is another side that expected more but has disappointed thus far. The FFA Cup winners are in freefall, losing the last four and dropping out of the six to be overtaken by sides on the rise, like Wellington and Perth.
Talisman James Troisi is crocked with a hamstring, FFA Cup hero Al Hassan Toure is off with the Olyroos and the responsibility for creativity now sits almost fully with Riley McGree, who scored in their last outing, a 2-1 loss to Sydney before the bye.
This week Adelaide welcomes back German midfielder Mirko Boland for shuttling support beside young gun Louis D’Arrigo, but McGree needs to fire to improve their chances of success.
Conveniently for Adelaide the Victory’s defensive line is decimated. Thomas Deng is with the Olyroos, Tim Hoogland is perennially injured and Victory has finally lost patience with fullback Corey Brown, releasing him during the week.
The good news for Melbourne is the return of star forward Ola Toivonen, who has carried the side this season and will be thrilled to finally line up with both Nabbout and Kruse.
Prediction
With not a lot of confidence I expect a no-manager bounce in this game. Victory is a proud club and must make a stand, and against a poor Adelaide in awful form they should have enough talent up front to get a result. But a clean sheet might be a step too far with a makeshift defence.
Adelaide United 1, Melbourne Victory 2
Game information
Kick-off: 7:30pm (AEDT)
Venue: Coopers Stadium
TV: Fox Sports
Online: Kayo Sports, Foxtel Go, MyFootballLive app
Odds: Adelaide United $2.00, Melbourne Victory $3.40, draw $4.00
Adelaide United squad
2. Michael Marrone, 4. Ryan Strain, 5. Michaal Maria, 6. Vince Lia, 7. Ryan Kitto, 8. Riley McGree, 11. Kristian Opseth, 14. George Blackwood, 16. Nathan Konstandopoulos, 17. Nikola Mileusnic, 18. Lachlan Brook, 20. Paul Izzo (goalkeeper), 22. Michael Jakobsen (captain), 23. Jordan Elsey, 26. Ben Halloran, 27. Louis D’Arrigo, 31. Mirko Boland, 33. Cooper Nunn, 37. Jai King, 40. Dakota Ochsenham (goalkeeper)
Melbourne Victory squad
2. Storm Roux, 4. James Donachie, 6. Leigh Broxham, 7. Kenny Athiu, 8. Jakob Poulsen, 9. Andrew Nabbout, 10. Robbie Kruse, 11. Ola Toivonen (captain), 16. Josh Hope, 17. Elvis Kamsoba, 18. Migjen Basha, 19. Ben Carrigan, 20. Lawrence Thomas (goalkeeper), 21. Adama Traore, 22. Kristijan Dobras, 24. Anthony Lesiotis, 25. Brandon Lauton, 26. Jay Barnett, 50. Brendan White (goalkeeper)
Stevo
Roar Rookie
Would have been one of the hottest tickets in Australian sport in 2020. Beating hands down the AFL game in Shanghai :silly:
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
Thanks all for your time tonight! Adelaide hopefully steadied the ship tonight, and Victory... well... maybe sending Dobras home isn't enough. Basha is "ok" but Poulsen... well... whatever magic he once had has completely dried up by now.
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
I dunno... I like Blackwood. I WANT to like him.. but he's just so prone to these moments of extreme awfulness.
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
Wonder how many Victory fans are gutted they won't get an away day in Bali
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
MATCH REPORT: A fired-up Adelaide powered by Riley McGree take all 3 points at home tonight against fierce rivals Melbourne Victory. A 1-0 result was – on the weight of play – the improbable scoreline where both sides had gilt-edged chances and could have easily had 3 a piece. It was a crazy game at times at Coopers, with shots flying in but neither team getting a foothold on the game. Adelaide’s first 30minutes were probably the strongest, but Victory did get into the game as it progressed. Adelaide started the game hungry tonight and with a point to prove after 4 consecutive losses, and Riley McGree played like a man possessed at times, bossing the Victory midfielders, dancing around them like witches hats and shooting (albeit inaccurately) for fun. By midway through the second half the game descended into an end-to-end shoot-out like two pugilists who had given up the pretence of a defence (think Rocky 4). Chances were flying at both ends largely due to the wizardry of McGree at one end and the runs made by the Victory front 3 at the other. While Adelaide’s forward movements were characterised by patience and passing, Victory counter attacked with alarming pace and Kamsoba, Kruse and Nabbout combined brilliantly at times to find each other with balls behind the Adelaide back 4. What prevented this game being a 3-3 was the poverty of the finishing from both sides. Andrew Nabbout had a nightmare out there missing one fantastic chance and two excellent ones. George Blackwood also failed to convert (or assist) for what looked like a certain goal at the death to make it 2-0. Indeed, the only chance that found the back of the net was touched in from the goalline by Ben Halloran after a skill error from Thomas letting an acute Riley McGree shot roll under him. New Victory coach Salvachua might feel aggrieved to take nothing from the game, but he can only really blame his front 3 – Nabbout in particular – who spurned good chance after good chance. MAN OF THE MATCH was Riley McGree. Elvis Kamsoba was his usual livewire for the Victory but Riley McGree took this game by the scruff of the neck and, especially in the second half, was trying to will the ball over the goalline every time he got near it. An outstanding display from a player who should be eying off another go in Europe next season. If he isn’t, then he needs a better agent.
Stevo
Roar Rookie
They have an ACL match coming up on the 21st of Jan. That will be interesting.
Roberto Bettega
Roar Rookie
with victory's season already half way down the gurgler, this result does not help
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
Victory had a bit more of the ball in the second half but still finished with less of it. Adelaide lead the game with 53% of the ball, and a mammoth 25 shots to 11. However the 5 on target to 4 does underline that Victory had chances tonight. They weren't good for long patches but the front 3 of Kamsoba, Nabbout and Kruse worked at times and troubled Adelaide throughout.
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
So, repeating, it's FULL TIME. Adelaide do indeed get the win tonight and it was probably well earned. Ben Halloran's scrappy try-line touch was the difference.
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
It was so nearly a goal at the death for the Victory, and arguably should have been! Another 3 on 3 for the Victory driving into the box and Nabbout's first touch was just too heavy and took him onto a tight angle that Izzo came out to cover. A better touch from Nabbout would have improved his chances exponentially there... but how often have we admonished Nabbout's touch tonight? He's had a shocker tonight.
Stevo
Roar Rookie
Absolute selfish play with no end product. The guy needs a rest from the game.
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
90+3" - SHOT SAVED from Izzo!! It was Nabbout again! AND THE WHISTLE HAS GONE! Adelaide win this game 1-0
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
90+3" - YELLOW CARD for Donachie. He dived in studs up there on McGree and he's lucky it was only a glancing blow. He'll miss the next game now (when Victory can ill afford to lose another defender) | Ade 1 - MVC 0
93'
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
90+1' - SHOT SAVED by Thomas! Fantastic strike from Halloran who drove it into the box and fired at Thomas from just out on the right. He had to be alert there Thomas but he got down well to send it wide | Ade 1 - MVC 0
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
There will be 3 MINUTES OF EXTRA TIME.
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
That is such a good allegory for Blackwood's career. A bit of magic and a lot of disappointment
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
89' - WHAT A MISS FROM BLACKWOOD!! That was a certain goal begging there. Blackwood won the ball off a press, carried into the box, had McGree in space near the 6 yard box and instead tried toe-bash and got no power on it. McGree was PLEADING for the ball and a goal he richly deserved. | Ade 1 - MVC 0
Stevo
Roar Rookie
Blackwood is so hopeless. How is this guy still in the A-league?
Lucas Gillard
Roar Guru
87' - Ryan Kitto is coming ON for a couple of key minutes.. and Opseth is - susprisingly - taken OFF | Ade 1 - MVC 0