It’s fair to say that Marvel Stadium is a place of precious few great memories for Adelaide United over the years.
After all, it was the scene of their 2006/2007 Grand Final capitulation to Melbourne Victory and that 6-0 result remains the biggest winning margin in a Hyundai A-League Grand Final.
On Saturday night, the venue in the heart of Melbourne again proved an unhappy hunting ground as the Reds were brought undone by Andrew Nabbout’s injury time winner to put paid to their four-game winning run in the Original Rivalry.
The result means the Reds have won just once in their past 17 visits to Marvel Stadium (W1, D2, L14) – that is less wins than the venue has had name changes since the unwanted run began.
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Of course, the Victory have always been up for their clashes against their Adelaide rivals. While the Navy Blue rode their luck by seeing two second-half strikes hit the post, the Victory turned around plenty of unwanted records to post their win.
Prior to the match, Victory were on a six-match winless run and yet to post a Hyundai A-League win under the charge of Carlos Salvachua prior to kick-off.
Whatever was spurring on the Victory, it certainly worked. They rattled off 16 shots in the first-half – the most they’ve ever recorded in the opening stanza of a Hyundai A-League game since the statistic began being tracked in the 2012/13 season.
Perhaps it was the ever-growing impact of Marco Rojas that had something to do with it?
Making just his second start since returning to his former club, the Kiwi international’s opener for the Victory was his 30th goal in the Hyundai A-League and came in his 100th appearance in the competition.
REPORT: Nabbout’s stoppage-time stunner keeps Victory’s season alive
REACTION: Toivonen hopes ‘win or die’ result will launch Victory’s top-six assault
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6137190665001
Berisha keeps on setting new benchmarks
Besart Berisha has already scored more goals than any other player in Hyundai A-League history, with 119 competition goals in his stellar career, but that does not mean the sharpshooter cannot notch a few more records on his belt.
His double on Sunday bookended his side’s 6-2 drubbing of the Central Coast Mariners and saw the Kosovo international take his tally against the Gosford-based club to 20 goals – becoming the first player to reach the milestone against any opponent in the competition.
20 – Besart Berisha (@wufcofficial) has become the first player in #ALeague history to score 20 goals against a single side (20 v Central Coast Mariners); in today's #WUNvCCM fixture he scored his fifth brace against them, one more than his next best (4 v Perth Glory) Haunt. https://t.co/EaGKa3xCuz
— OptaJason (@OptaJason) March 1, 2020
He did with his usual irrepressible style too, as he headed home from Alessandro Diamanti’s free-kick to open his account in the ninth minute before tapping in Josh Risdon’s cross at close range in the 89th minute.
Interestingly, Berisha could well repeat – or even better – his achievement in his side’s next assignment against Adelaide United this weekend.
His tally against the Reds currently stands at 19 goals after he netted a double against Gertjan Verbeek’s side at VU Whitten Oval on Australia Day.
REPORT: Burgess nets 19 minute hat-trick as Western United inflict more misery on Mariners
REACTION: ‘When it rains it pours’: Burgess beaming after hat-trick heroics
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6137347963001
Wanderers’ derby delight sinks Sydney’s home run
As runaway league-leaders, few were expecting Sydney FC to again come away empty-handed against crosstown rivals Western Sydney Wanderers on Friday night but that is exactly what happened.
However, Mitch Duke’s dramatic 81st minute at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium did more than secure his side Sydney Derby bragging rights for the second time this season, it also put paid to the Sky Blues’ recent dominance at home.
The last time Steve Corica’s side tasted defeat on their home patch was almost a year ago at the hands of Melbourne City – a result that spurred the blue half of Sydney to post 11 straight home wins prior to Friday’s night’s defeat.
20 – @WSWanderersFC have made 20 total shots per game in the @ALeague since the beginning of 2020, more than any other team in the competition and nearly twice as many as Sydney FC (11). Focal. pic.twitter.com/l5Hb6SYI2l
— OptaJason (@OptaJason) February 28, 2020
Rubbing salt in the wound, the Wanderers’ win also saw them become the first team to keep a clean sheet at Sydney’s home ground this season, and the first team to inflict defeat on Sydney at Netstrata Jubilee Oval.
The match also marked just the second time the Wanderers have posted consecutive wins against the Sky Blues in their history. The last time they achieved the feat was in the 2013/14 campaign.
And, of course, it was fitting that Duke was the man to do the damage on the scoreboard.
Not only did he score the winner in the previous Sydney Derby in Round 3, but he has now scored in his last four Hyundai A-League games – his best ever scoring run in the competition.
REPORT: History repeats as Duke header decides Sydney Derby
REACTION: ‘We can really scare teams’: Duke says Wanderers ready to gatecrash Finals
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6136809366001
Great Scott! Roar veteran surpasses Muscat record
Granted, this is Scott McDonald’s maiden Hyundai A-League season, but the evergreen striker has set a milestone for longevity that will take some beating.
The 36-year-old’s appearance for Brisbane Roar in their 1-0 defeat to Melbourne City means the former Socceroo and Celtic star now boasts the longest career Australian national league career of any player – an amazing 20 years and 346 days.
He made his national league debut last century as a teenager when he took for the field for Gippsland Falcons in the National Soccer League in 1999 before embarking on a heralded career in Europe prior to his recent return to home shores.
Scott McDonald now has the longest Aus national league career of any player.
Longest Aus national league careers:
20y 346d SCOTT MCDONALD 21/3/99-#MCYvBRI
20y 340d Kevin Muscat 1990-2011
19y 292d Alex Tobin 1984-2004
19y 158d @bootsa22 1993-2013
19y 130d Steve Corica 1990-2010— andrew howe (@AndyHowe_statto) March 1, 2020
He wrests the mantle as Australian football’s domestic Methuselah from former Melbourne Victory title-winning captain and coach Kevin Muscat.
Interestingly, McDonald has scored just once in the Australian national league competition – a 51st minute match-winner for former club Western United against Melbourne Victory in November.
REPORT: City back into second place as unfortunate own goal sinks Roar
REACTION: ‘It’s better than a 5-0 win’: Jamieson praises resilient City after edging Roar
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6137367532001
