Melbourne Victory into Second After Western United Win
In a hotly contested Westgate derby, it was Melbourne Victory who got the win. It took until the second half for Victory to get separation on it’s opponents on a wet Melbourne afternoon at AAMI Park.
Melbourne Victory started much the better side, with Arazani’s runs down the left side the stuff of nightmares for Western United’s defenders, and their coach, John Aloisi. Arazani wasn’t alone though and had plenty of help from French superstar Zinedine Machach.
It was those two who linked up for Victory’s first goal. Another of Arazani’s runs in the eighth minute saw him pass the ball inside to Machach, whose right foot unloaded a tracer bullet into the top of the net to give Melbourne Victory a much-deserved lead.
From there, Victory went to another level, as Machach’s goal broke Western’s resolve. Victory’s pressure was unreal as they closed and cut down Western’s passing lines and forced turnovers in dangerous areas.
The only thing stopping Victory was wasted chance after wasted chance. Usually when this happens, any opposition will make you pay. What happened next was almost inevitable, and from a Victory perspective, completely avoidable.
After a ball from Bozinovski fell to the waiting Botic in the box, he flicked the ball up to himself, turned and buried the ball in the opposite corner from where Victory keeper, Jack Dutton, waited. The ball took one bounce after it crossed the line and nestled into the bottom corner of the net, as Western found a foothold in the game it didn’t really deserve.
However, instead of sinking into their shell, Victory looked to get back what had been taken from them. Azarni was quickly bounding with the football toward the goal, before young gun defender, Kane Vidmar, was able to make a last ditch defensive effort to stop any potential Azarni damage.
A cross from Clarismario on the wing should have seen Vergos score as half-time drew nearer. Vergos flew unopposed from the penalty spot, but lacked poise, as the ball hit his head and went over the bar.
Western United were nearly in front in when Grimoldi hit the ball toward goal: after the football cannoned into the post, it hit Duncan in the back. Mercifully, for a Victory team that was playing some of its best football for the year, it rolled out across the line for a corner.
After half-time, Victory’s clinical finishing returned. Under-fire striker, Vergos, was able to score in the 48th minute when he rolled the ball through the legs of Sutton. A classic keeper’s error, Sutton slumped to the floor, unable to believe he’d let that slip through.
Arazani’s incredible afternoon continued; he skipped around three Western defenders and into the box. The seven time Socceroo was looking for contact, and felt something from Western’s fullback, Tate Russell. However, the referee wasn’t buying what Arazani was selling.
Western United then threw caution into the wind and spent massive periods of the second half hunting for a way back into the contest. Despite having more possession and more attacking threat, they couldn’t worry the Victory net, and forced very little from the Victory defenders.
In just his third game of the season, Bruno Fornaroli did what Fornaroli does best. After Kane Vidmar made a mistake by heading the ball into the striker’s path, Fornaroli stopped the bouncing ball by heading it down to his feet.
With Vidmar out of position, only Sutton could stop the experienced striker from scoring.
Fornaroli looked at the net and waited for Sutton to twitch. When the moment came, he calmly placed the ball into the opposite corner, a pressure valve releasing for the out-of-favour striker, as Victory fans erupted.
With a third goal in the 69th minute ending any hope of a Western comeback, Victory professionally closed out the game, recording valuable points as they moved into second. Victory are now looking to chase down Auckland City, who’s perfect five from five sees them top of the A-League Men’s table.