Known as the Hyundai A-League’s ‘Original Rivalry’, one thing is certain when Melbourne Victory and Adelaide United meet – sparks will fly.
These two sides have created their fair share of headlines over the course of the Hyundai A-League and the rivalry has not tempered more than a decade on.
WATCH FOR FREE: How to watch the Hyundai A-League LIVE and FREE
GETAWAY: The holiday Halloran needed to resurrect his career
READ MORE: Thomas’ brilliant training tale highlights Honda’s outstanding attitude
Ahead of this weekend’s encounter at Marvel Stadium, we take a look at five of the most extraordinary Original Rivalry matches.
Archie’s demolition job
Season two of the Hyundai A-League served up one of the most incredible Grand Finals we are ever likely to see.
Two top teams entered Docklands (now Marvel Stadium) on 18 February 2007 but only one was to emerge intact.
Six Victory goals (five courtesy of Archie Thompson) not only claimed the club’s Championship, but ensured they would remain bitter rivals with the Reds forever more.
Kosmina vs Muscat
Earlier that season a ‘little’ incident occurred that first stoked the flames of the Victory-Adelaide rivalry.
The match at Docklands, won by United 1-0, was enthralling but it is best remembered for the sideline dust-up between then Adelaide boss John Kosmina and Victory star Kevin Muscat.
The ball rolled out near the Adelaide technical zone and when he went to pick up the ball, Kosmina was pushed by Muscat.
Safe to say the Reds coach was not all that happy with the Victory skipper and proceed to grab his throat in front of 32,000 fans.
The incident, now remembered in a slightly humorous fashion, certainly set the tone for the years ahead.
Not again!
Season 2009/09 saw a re-match with Adelaide travelling once again to Melbourne to face Victory in the decider.
It was a lot closer this time around but the outcome remained, Victory claiming their second Championship with a 1-0 win.
Tom Pondeljak scored the all-important goal as Victory strengthened their dominance over their fierce rivals.
Hoodoo over
After years of struggle, Adelaide finally got one over their navy-blue nemesis.
Perhaps it was a new-found confidence, perhaps it was the fact it was played at the newly-opened AAMI Park but whatever the reason, Adelaide’s 4-1 thrashing of Melbourne marked an important milestone.
It broke a run of 10 straight losses for the Reds and set the tone for a much more even Original Rivalry in the years to come.
Reds march on
Adelaide went down to Sydney FC in the 2017 FFA Cup final but that cannot overshadow their achievements in the rounds previous.
And one match in particular stands out.
In the Round of 16 the Reds and Victory met at the Marden Sport Complex in Adelaide with both sides having taken out the cup before.
Three second-half goals for Adelaide decided the outcome as Victory were left to rue an embarrassing defeat deep in enemy territory.
