The reinvigoration of the Melbourne Derby as one of A-League Men’s most hard-fought premier fixtures has taken another step after Melbourne City and Melbourne Victory played out a 1-1 draw at AAMI Park.
REACTION: ‘It reminded me of old times’ – Merrick struck by Melbourne Derby’s vintage aura
Following City’s 6-0 and 7-0 humiliations of Victory in the first two derbies of 2020-21 – arguably the lowest points in Victory’s history – Saturday night’s result represented a third straight stalemate between the two sides.
And seeing the progress, Victory coach Tony Popovic believes his side now has what it takes to challenge the defending champions.
“Overall, it’s a very good performance,” he said.
“Today we showed progress from the last match.
“We could’ve won the last derby. Today, we should’ve won. That’s the difference. We should have won today.”
With 18,080 supporters on hand, it was the second-straight derby played in front of one of the biggest crowds of this ALM season.
Clear chances for both sides arriving at a premium, fantastic work from Ben Folami set Marco Rojas up to open the scoring for Victory in the 18th minute.
But City was able to answer on the stroke of halftime through Curtis Good’s header from a corner.
Emotions bubbled throughout the second stanza: Scott Jamieson and Nick D’Agostino, Stefan Colakovski and Jason Davidson getting into altercations before the two sides engaged in a shoving match after the final whistle.
“It felt like a derby in the first game (of the season), there was a lot on the line, and it felt that way today,” added Popovic.
“The intensity was very high throughout the game – from start to finish.”
Despite only landing back in Australia on Thursday after being knocked out of the Asian Champions League in extra time by Japan’s Visell Kobe, Victory frustrated City’s high-powered attack and looked dangerous in transition.
City, conversely, finished both halves strongly and had a flurry of chances to win it late through Jamie Maclaren, Colakovski, and Good – the latter hitting the post.
“In the end, we could have won it,” said Kisnorbo.
“It was a hard game of football and probably good for the neutral to watch.”
Top of the ALM after Western United’s loss to Sydney, City will travel to face Brisbane on Wednesday, while Victory falling to sixth after that Sky Blue win, will face Western in another derby that night.
RE-LIVE: CITY 1-1 VICTORY, AS IT HAPPENED
By Matt Comito for KEEPUP.
FULL-TIME: CITY 1-1 VICTORY
Three chances presented late as the home side threatened to steal all three points; Jason Geria ignited a run of City corners with a desperate clearance in the goal mouth before Good hit the post with a thumping header. Another City attempt was put on goal in the aftermath but keeper Ivan Kelava managed to poke the ball over the crossbar to concede yet another corner.
Spiranovic won a free-kick in the ensuing scramble, and the pressure lifted. The full-time whistle followed shortly after.
89′: CHANCE! Maclaren blasts high and wide – ‘that was the moment’ (1-1)
In the dying embers of the Melbourne Derby, Melbourne City spearhead Jamie Claren received his best chance of the night, cutting past Matthew Spiranovic to open up space to strike off his left foot.
The City play was scintillating, and Maclaren’s first touch on Berenguer’s through pass had the quality to match. But wit the ball bobbling inside the box Maclaren unleashed with his left foot, sending his shot flying over the bar.
70′: All square as Victory hunt the lead (1-1)
The temperature has lifted at AAMI Park as Victory go full throttle in search of a second goal.
But the longer City hold on at 1-1, the more likely the league leaders will be to hit Victory with a blow out of nowhere to claim the lead themselves.
HALF-TIME: CITY 1-1 VICTORY
Rojas put Victory ahead, then City levelled through Good in the last minute of an enthralling first half.
As it did in December, the Melbourne Derby is living up to the hype with a vibrant AAMI Park crowd enjoying a tightly-contested clash between two great rivals.
45′: GOAL! Good equalises for City (1-1)
The big central defender with a goal of similar stature for the reigning champions.
Curtis Good gets to the front post to meet a swinging delivery from Florin Berenguer, flicking the ball on to nestle into the opposite corner of goal to level the score in the derby.
33′: Two penalty calls in quick succession for City (0-1)
The home side have seen two early cries for penalties waved away.
First it was Marco Tilio brushing past Jason Davidson in the box, and going to ground under upper body contact from the Victory wingback.
Then it was Aiden O’Neill causing problems for Victory in the box, with Roderick Miranda and Jason Geria sandwiching the City midfielder. The reaction from the City squad to the second incident was heated as the champions chase an equaliser at AAMI Park.
19′: GOAL! Rojas gets fifth derby goal – and Victory have the lead (0-1)
Marco Rojas opens the scoring, slotting Ben Folami’s defence-splitting assist under the outrushing Tom Glover and into the back of the net.
1′: KICK-OFF
Will we see another classic Melbourne Derby encounter tonight?
It’s the 36th instalment of this rivalry, and it’s kicked off at AAMI Park.
