Melbourne Victory claimed Derby bragging rights with an entertaining 2-1 win over City at AAMI Park on Friday.
Summary
Kosta Barbarouses opened the scoring in the high-tempo clash, but his goal was cancelled out by a Bruno Fornaroli penalty.
But Leroy George headed in a 62nd-minute winner to secure a second straight win for Victory, moving it within a point of third place in the Hyundai A-League.
Victory thought it had taken the lead after just 52 seconds when Barbarouses struck, but the effort was ruled out for offside.
However, Victory would go 1-0 up in the 12th minute.
Besart Berisha played in Barbarouses with a neat pass and the New Zealand international made no mistake with his finish in a one-on-one with Dean Bouzanis.
Victory goalkeeper Lawrence Thomas made a strong save at his near post in the 21st minute, palming away a Daniel Arzani strike as the open encounter continued to produce chances.
George came close to doubling Victory’s lead on the half-hour mark.
The star winger received a wonderful pass from James Troisi before twisting and turning to create space inside the area, but Bouzanis saved his strike from an angle.
Thomas was called into action again eight minutes before half-time, diving low to his right to keep out a shot from Arzani.
City went close five minutes prior to the interval as Scott Jamieson curled a 20-yard free-kick against the crossbar, but Victory managed to hold onto its advantage heading into the break.
Victory threatened again early in the second half, Bouzanis smothering at Berisha’s feet as the striker got on the end of a George pass.
City was given the chance to level in the 54th minute after a Leigh Broxham handball in the area and Fornaroli converted from the penalty spot.
But Victory restored its lead in the 62nd minute as Broxham and George combined.
Broxham clipped in a beautiful cross to the back post, George making no mistake with his header for his fifth league goal of the season.
City looked for another response, with Thomas denying Marcin Budzinski and Bruce Kamau before the Victory goalkeeper tipped over a Nathaniel Atkinson cross that turned into a shot in the closing stages, while Troisi missed a great late chance.
Player in focus
Key moment
What they said – Broxham
on the game…
“It was a great spectacle and we won the game so it makes it nicer for us. It was a controlled performance from us and I think we can take a lot of positives and be very happy from that.”
on the finish…
“If Jimmy had scored at the end – he’s done well to miss but the game was over – it was a bit nervous at the end but that’s what it’s about.”
on his performance…
“It was probably silly on my behalf. I think handball was handball as much as I argued with Kris (Griffiths-Jones), but it was nice to make amends at the end.”
Result
Hyundai A-League 2017/18 Round 22
City 1 (Bruno Fornaroli 54′ pen)
Melbourne Victory 2 (Kosta Barbarouses 12′, Leroy George 62′)
City: Bouzanis (gk), Atkinson, Muscat (Delbridge 90+4′), Jakobsen (c), Jamieson, Bozanic, Brattan, Vidosic, Arzani (Budzinski 69′), Fornaroli, Kamau
Melbourne Victory: Thomas (gk), Deng, Williams, Donachie, Broxham (Geria 72′), Sanchez (Valeri 79′), Antonis, Troisi (c), Barbarouses, Berisha, George (Ingham 75′)
Yellow cards: Deng 45+4′, Muscat 45+5′, Atkinson 61′, Arzani 68′, Sanchez 76′, Fornaroli 76′, Barbarouses 90+7′, Troisi 90+8′
Red cards: Nil
Attendance: 20,083
Venue: AAMI Park
Next up
Victory returns to AFC Champions League action with a trip to Japan to face Kawasaki Frontale on Wednesday.
