AS IT HAPPENED: Irankunda, Miranda sent off in wild Original Rivalry clash

It is top of the table A-League football when the Melbourne Victory host Adelaide United at AAMI Park. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 7:45pm (AEDT).

It has been an impressive start to the 2023/24 season for both the Victory and the Reds, two traditional and proud A-League teams that both hoped for improvement on last year’s results.

The Reds were might competitive yet fell late in the season with the finish line within grasp. It was a different story for Melbourne, compiling another disappointing season of drama and injury that saw them nothing more than also-rans.

This campaign looks, despite being in its infancy, like the two teams have serious hopes of playing finals football come April and both are undefeated heading into the third week of play. Victory opened their season with a win against Sydney FC and then scored five against the Jets last weekend.

Adelaide have scored nine goals in 2023/24 are are yet to concede, with the Mariners and Melbourne City their victims. The 6-0 win over City was stunning and the home fans will be back in droves for the Reds’ next home fixture.

Leigh Broxham is back for the home side, yet all eyes will again be on Bruno Fornaroli after his stunning four goal performance last week and Zinedine Machach, who looks a likely contender for the Johnny Warren medal based on what we have seen thus far.

The Reds are likely to be essentially unchanged, with Musa Toure the potential super-sub and Nestory Irankunda certain to delight with his back of tricks and subsequent acrobatics. Less flashy, Zac Clough is key for Adelaide and speed and power through midfield could be the thing that troubles the Victory mids the most this season.

Victory have plenty of talent up front, but can they control games in the midfield when up against the strongest of opposition? Time will tell.

Prediction

In what looms as a cracking affair, the Reds have the slightest advantage, despite being on the road. The weapons they possess up front are matched by a miserly defence and the Victory could well find it difficult to crack them in what will be the fieriest match of the season thus far.

Melbourne Victory 0 Adelaide United 3

Game information

Venue: AAMI Park, Melbourne
Kick-off: 7:45pm (AEDT)
TV: 10 Bold
Streaming: Paramount+
Betting: Melbourne Victory $2.05, draw $3.70, Adelaide United $3.15– odds via PlayUp

Squads

Melbourne Victory

2. Jason GERIA, 3. Adama TRAORE, 4. Rai MARCHAN, 5. Damien DA SILVA, 6. Leigh BROXHAM, 7. Chris IKONOMIDIS, 8. Zinedine MACHACH, 10. Bruno FORNAROLI, 11. Ben FOLAMI, 14. Connor CHAPMAN, 16. Stefan NIGRO, 17. Nishan VELUPILLAY, 19. Daniel ARZANI, 20. Paul IZZO, 21. Roderick MIRANDA, 22. Jake BRIMMER, 23. Fabian MONGE, 24. Eli ADAMS, 25. Ryan TEAGUE, 40. Christian SICILIANO

Adelaide United

1. James DELIANOV, 4. Nick ANSELL, 7. Ryan KITTO (c), 8. ISAÍAS, 9. Hiroshi IBUSUKI, 10. Zach CLOUGH, 17. Luka JOVANOVIĆ, 23. Luke DUZEL, 26. Ben HALLORAN, 31. BERNARDO, 36. Panashe MADANHA, 37. Jonny YULL, 41. Alexandar POPOVIĆ, 43. Giuseppe BOVALINA, 46. Joe GAUCI, 49. Musa TOURE, 55. Ethan ALAGICH, 66. Nestory IRANKUNDA, 22. Ryan TUNNICLIFFE