Melbourne Victory moved back to within two points of Isuzu UTE A-League leaders Auckland FC with a comfortable 2-0 win over Perth Glory at AAMI Park on Sunday afternoon.
An early Zinedine Machach strike set Victory on course to a routine win in which Patrick Kisnorbo’s side barely gave the visiting Glory a sniff of possession or a chance on goal.
Adama Traore doubled the advantage just before the half-hour mark and that’s how the score remained until full-time, despite Victory attempting 24 shots to Glory’s two throughout the afternoon.
Glory are now without a win in 17 games – a run stretching back to Round 18 of the 2023-24 season. If David Zdrilic’s side fail to beat Newcastle Jets at home in Round 8, they will equal the club’s longest-ever winless run of 18 games recorded between December, 2006 and November, 2007.
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Victory came into the contest as hot favourites and it only took the hosts seven minutes to gain the advantage.
Machach was afforded far too much space to drive through midfield toward the edge of the box, and the Victory star took full advantage with a shot buried into the bottom-left corner.
The opening goal set the tone for a dominant first-half display from Victory but the home side failed to extend their advantage before the break.
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Victory had plenty of opportunities to double the advantage and Daniel Arzani was key to creating most of his side’s best chances. In the 22nd minute, Arzani picked out Brendan Hamill from a set piece but the centre-back’s shot was saved by Cameron Cook, then spilled, and gathered again by the Glory keeper.
Ryan Teague and Nikos Vergos both dispatched shots just wide of the mark as Victory ratcheted up the pressure before Arzani crashed a deflected strike off the post. Hamill had one last opportunity late in the first half but Glory survived the onslaught to head into the break trailing by just one goal.
Victory had 15 shots to Glory’s zero in the first half, enjoying 66% of possession through the opening 45 minutes.
Having failed to make the most of their first-half dominance, Victory finally found their second goal just before the hour mark and it was Adama Traore who doubled the lead with a composed finish.
