It was the difference-making tactical shift in Round 1’s Big Blue – and the key moment in a pulsating premiere of A-Leagues All Access.
Melbourne Victory head coach Tony Popovic, aided by assistant Fabrizio Cammarata, saw star marquee Luis Nani drifting out of his Isuzu UTE A-League debut on October 8, and elected to make a substitution just beyond the hour mark to bring the game to the Portugal winger.
Five minutes later, Victory took the lead, with Nani playing the assist to Chris Ikonomidis – the player injected into the game.
Episode one of A-Leagues All Access, titled ‘You Need to Suffer’, followed the former Portugal international and Manchester United star from his arrival Down Under to the end of his A-League Men debut.
Less than a week later, that debut was the focal point of the All Access premiere.
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WATCH: A-LEAGUES ALL ACCESS EPISODE 1: ‘YOU NEED TO SUFFER’
With the Victory bench mic’d up for the opening-round Big Blue, and the All Access cameras fixated on the Victory marquee, the series of events which led to Popovic’s side clinching all three points played out for all to see in the docuseries premiere on Thursday, October 13.
With the game locked at 1-1, Victory assistant Cammarata instigated the crucial tactical discussion with half an hour left on the clock.
“Luis now is outside the match. He don’t touch the ball,” Cammarata told Popovic on the touchline.
“Coach, coach: be careful also (Ben) Folami huh?”
Popovic turned to his bench. “Hey, Benny looks tired.”
With a weary Folami on the right flank, and Nani drifting out of the game on the left, Popovic made the call.
“Go Chris (Ikonomidis) for Benny,” he said. “Yeah, we put Luis on the right.”
“Luis on the right?” Asked Cammarata.
“Luis on the right,” confirmed Popovic. “And then you can tell Luis it’s because (Sydney FC left-back Diego Caballo) is not running.
“Tell him because Caballo is not going up as much.”
After the substitution, Cammarata yelled to Nani from the technical area.
“Luis, Luis, now Caballo’s getting tired. Keep running more and you’ll get the ball.”
The change occurred in the 62nd minute. In the 67th Nani and Ikonomidis turned the game on its head.
With Stefan Nigro in possession, Nani moved toward the touchline to receive, dragging Caballo wide in the process, before driving down the line. Nigro played his pass into the space Caballo was lured out of, and Nani put the ball on a plate for Ikonomidis to score.
Victory were up 2-1, and Nani was withdrawn soon after. Sydney would strike once more – but Ikonomidis came to the rescue with an assist for Josh Brillante’s winner.
The premiere of A-Leagues All Access gave viewers both a glimpse into the life of a football star adored across the globe – who can’t even walk the streets of Melbourne without getting stopped for a photo.
It also gave an insight into Popovic’s coaching prowess – and how a 90-minute contest can swing on a single decision from the touchline.
