Melbourne City FC
2
Match Complete
Melbourne Victory
2
| J. Maclaren |  | 96' | ||
| S. Jamieson |  | 93' | ||
| F. Berenguer | | 86' | ||
| A. O'Neill | | 84' | ||
| 81' |  | N. D'Agostino | ||
| A. Nabbout | | 63' | ||
| J. Maclaren | | 60' | ||
| C. Metcalfe | | 36' | ||
| 12' | | F. Margiotta |
| 16 | Shots | 12 | ||
| 5 | On Target | 4 | ||
| 19 | Fouls | 9 | ||
| 4 | Corners | 4 | ||
| 3 | Offsides | 0 | ||
| 0 | Red Cards | 0 | ||
| 5 | Yellow Cards | 0 |
Melbourne City and Melbourne Victory meet at AAMI Park in a much anticipated Match Week 5 A-League Men derby. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 7.45pm (AEDT).
Riding high on the ladder after three wins from its first four matches, Melbourne Victory reaches a fork in the road in the shape of cross town rivals City, in a potential test of just how sustainable their early season form will be.
Another solid performance against the Reds last week sees Victory enter this fixture with great confidence and a potential opportunity to shoot to the top of ladder should Western United have slipped up in any way on Friday night.
Melbourne City are playing well, yet not quite at the level they managed consistently throughout much of 2020/2021. Fourth on the ladder, a win here would see them assert themselves back at the pointy end, whereas a loss could well mire them in the middle of the pack. It will all come down to just how far Tony Popovic has brought his Victory team in such a short space of time.
A loss will earth them in the reality that there is still a long way to go. A win will prove they are well and truly back in the hunt for the A-League Men championship.
Prediction
This will be a gripping affair. Victory will attempt to blunt the attacking prowess of City up front, perhaps hoping to snatch a winner on the counter. It could go either way, yet I’ll predict City may well have a little too much cohesion for the still improving Victory and will find the goal that decides the contest.
Follow all the action on The Roar live coverage from 7.45pm (AEDT).
Game information
Venue: AAMI Park, Melbourne
Kick-off: Saturday December 18th 2021, 7.45pm (AEDT)
TV: Network 10, Paramount+
Betting: Melbourne City $1.59 Draw $4.10 Melbourne Victory $4.90 odds via PlayUp
Teams
Melbourne City Squad: Tom Glover, Scott Galloway, Scott Jamieson, Nuno Reis, Rostyn Griffiths, Mat Leckie, Aiden O’Neill, Jamie Maclaren, Florin Berenguer, Nathaniel Atkinson, Andrew Nabbout, Taras Gomulka, Stefan Colakovski, Connor Metcalfe, Curtis Good, Marco Tilio, Matt Sutton, Jordon Hall, Manuel Pucciarelli.
Melbourne Victory Squad: Matt Acton, Jason Geria, Jason Davidson, Rai Marchan, Matthew Spiranovic, Leigh Broxham, Chris Ikonomidis, Joshua Brillante, Francesco Margiotta, Robbie Kruse, Ben Folami, Birkan Kirdar, Jay Barnett, Aaron Anderson, Stefan Nigro, Brendan Hamill, Nick D’Agostino, Ivan Kelava, Roderick Miranda, Jake Brimmer, Marco Rojas, Gianluca Iannucci, Jerrad Tyson.
jbinnie
Guest
Stuart = All in all a fair report on a game blessed with that one ingredient not "enjoyed " by most A-League teams , a boisterous, fully involved crowd. What did we see on the field? Again a far too high statistic of misplaced passes causing a turnover rate that guaranteed the end to end football that most fans love or desire. However there was enough good passages of technical play from both teams to give hope to both sets of fans that they are going to have good seasons ,pandemic allowing. Questions will be raised as to why 2 current Socceroos showed us in 3 or 4 minutes what they are capable of, Kisnorbo will be pondering the same question. In the other team, a huge improvement on last season, not too hard to achieve but welcome just the same. Cheers jb.
Grem
Roar Rookie
I wrote the same earlier and that was hard for a Sydney FC fan to admit. I still remember when I used to fly down to Melbourne a few years ago and they had 2 or 3 supporter groups like last night at opposite ends of the ground and they had turns chanting to, at and with each other. You're right - they are the benchmark.
The Ball Bobbled
Roar Rookie
As much as i hate to admit it - Victory fans are are the benchmark in crowd support
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
Macca is usurping the leadership at City; surely getting cards for being mouthy is Jamo's role.
NoMates
Roar Rookie
Is it just me or is the A-League getting better, Another fantastic match for the fans/neutrals. Again Australia Football the winner tonight!
Stevo
Roar Rookie
Beath must think he’s a comedian :shocked: :shocked: :shocked:
Stevo
Roar Rookie
Verbals. Well that’s just so silly by Beath. What a a door knob !!!
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Verbals I think.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Melbourne City and Melbourne Victory have played out the most stunning of draws at AAMI Park in one of the best spectacles ever seen in the history of the A-League Men's competition. What a match we saw tonight, with Melbourne Victory taking an early lead and the champions of Australia working their way back into the game and applying immense pressure that eventually saw them score twice early in the second-half and look the winners with 20 minutes to go. Yet Victory were not to be denied and an 81st minute goal to Nick D'Agostino brought them back level, before the game went from end to end in an insane final 10 minutes of play where either team could potentially have snatched the win at the death. City proved their quality again tonight and Victory showed that they are well and truly back after taking a few derby floggings last season. It was the most entertaining of evenings and the best advertisement for the quality of the A-League Men's competition. Final Score Melbourne City……………….2 Melbourne Victory……………2
Kanggas2
Roar Rookie
The best game in eons
Stevo
Roar Rookie
That should give both teams confidence that they’re right in the race for silverware this season.
Stevo
Roar Rookie
Why did JMac get a RED????
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
Wow. What desperation at the end! I am looking forward to the next two........and this from a South Australian!
Grem
Roar Rookie
Great game, great spectacle - goals and a red card. Can't ask for more. The last 2 Victory television games have been absolute gems.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
FULL-TIME What a game. That was superb and the points are shared at AAMI Park. Melbourne City……………….2 Melbourne Victory……………2
Stevo
Roar Rookie
I’ll take a draw after that. Wow. What a game.
97'
AGO74
Guest
Congrats to both teams - the absolute best of the a-league on display tonight.
Roberto Bettega
Roar Rookie
Pretty hard to keep track of what was going on that last couple of minutes! Did anyone see what the red was for?
Stuart Thomas
Expert
90+5 City took about five shots and bodies flew everywhere. Now Victory throw it forward for one last chance. Melbourne City……………….2 Melbourne Victory……………2