Big Blue triumph ends Melbourne Victory’s skid as Aussie star shines on A-Leagues return

Check out all the highlights from the Big Blue between Melbourne Victory and Sydney FC

Goals from Nikos Vergos and Bruno Fornaroli secured a first win for Melbourne Victory boss Arthur Diles as his side defeated Sydney FC 2-0 in the Big Blue where goalkeeper Mitch Langerak also made his long-awaited return.

Looking the more dangerous of the two sides, Victory took the lead in the 26th minute as Nikos Vergos powered home a Ryan Teague corner to send the home fans wild.

Sydney FC were awarded a penalty for a foul on Anas Ouahim shortly after however a VAR check deemed the contact began outside the box an a free-kick was subsequently awarded.

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Both sides had good chances to score in the second-half but it was the home side who struck again as substitute Bruno Fornaroli bagged a brilliant goal in the 90th minute to seal all three points for Victory.

The result moves Arthur Diles’ side up into fifth on the ladder whilst Sydney FC now sit outside the top six after registering back-to-back losses for the second time this season.

Victory boss Diles made a big decision before kick-off, handing Mitch Langerak a first start since returning to the club as he replaced the in-form Jack Duncan between the sticks while Nishan Velupillay also started and nearly bagged an early opener.

Racing onto a through-ball from Zinedine Machach, the Socceroos winger chopped back onto his right foot before seeing his shot well-blocked inside the box.

Velupillay then saw another fierce effort blocked inside the box before Machach continued the early onslaught, firing a shot wide of the far post from the edge of the area.

Responding well, the Sky Blues had the ball in the back of the net in the eighth minute but Klimala’s effort was ruled out for an offside in the build-up.

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Victory then had another sight of goal, this time in the 15th minute, as Brazilian Clerismario Santos was denied when one-on-one with Sydney FC keeper Harrison Devenish-Meares.

However, it was the home side in who were in the ascendancy and they made their dominance count in the 26th minute.

Leaping highest at the near post, Greek striker Vergos thundered a header past Devenish-Meares from a tight angle before wheeling away in celebration with the Victory faithful.

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Worryingly for Sydney FC, that goal marked the eighth time they’ve conceded first in the league this season and in all eight of those games they’ve failed to win.

The Sky Blues then thought they had the chance to restore parity almost immediately though as Anas Ouahim was brought down inside the box.

Sprinting clear of Victory skipper Miranda, Ouahim was clipped from behind inside the box with referee Lachlan Keevers immediately pointing to the spot.

However, whilst a VAR check confirmed the foul the officials deemed the incident had initially taken place outside the box and thus a free-kick was awarded instead of a penalty.

Victory keeper Langerak then pulled off an excellent save to deny Klimala whilst one-on-one before Brendan Hamill then prevented the Polish striker from tapping in the rebound in what was an action-packed first half.

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The away side started quickly in the second half as they searched for the equaliser but Victory came close to adding a second; Machach’s tantalising ball across the face of goal just needing a touch in order to steer it home but nobody was on hand.

Looking to up the tempo, Sydney FC star Joe Lolley found space inside the box but blazed his shot over the bar in the 70th minute in a massive let-off for the Victory defence.

Shifted into a central striking role, Lolley went close again, this time in the 76th minute, as his guided header from a Jordan Courtney-Perkins cross flew inches past Langerak’s far post.

As the game ticked over into the 90th minute the home side sealed the win and it was all about the experience and class of Fornaroli.

Racing onto a long ball over the top, the Socceroo used all his experience to out-muscle Alexandar Popovic before rounding the keeper and tucking the ball away from a tight angle to seal all three points at AAMI Park.

A first win for head coach Arthur Diles, the result moves Melbourne Victory up into fifth spot on the ladder whilst knocking Sydney FC out of the top six in the process.