A drought-breaking goal for Italian forward Francesco Margiotta has secured Melbourne Victory a 1-0 win over A-League Men’s strugglers Perth Glory at HBF Park.
REACTION: Melbourne Derby the chance for Victory to begin late tilt for Premiers Plate
Margiotta’s first goal in 12 matches in the 57th minute was enough to claim the win on Wednesday for Tony Popovic’s team against his former club.
The result lifts Victory up to third on the ladder, above Macarthur FC, and extends their unbeaten run to five matches heading into Saturday’s derby against league-leading Melbourne City.
The loss means Glory’s winless run has now hit 11 matches and they remain six points adrift on the bottom of the ladder and in serious danger of picking up the first wooden spoon in the club’s history.
Glory’s injury woes have also deepened with Spaniard Adrian Sardinero coming off after just eight minutes.
Despite their lack of bodies and with interim coach Ruben Zadkovich relying heavily on inexperienced youngsters, a near-full strength Victory were frustrated by being unable to break down the hosts in the first half.
New Zealand international Marco Rojas smacked a post in the 26th minute with an effort from the edge of the penalty area that left Glory goalkeeper Liam Reddy stranded.
Just moments later Margiotta hit the same post with a stunning long-range free-kick.
The breakthrough eventually came for the visitors in the second half when Jake Brimmer ran in behind the Glory defence before cutting back to Margiotta, who emphatically slammed home his finish for his first strike since a 2-1 FFA Cup win over Adelaide United in January.
Despite their lack of troops, Perth battled hard for a equaliser with substitute Tyler Vecchio going closest with an effort which fizzed past the far post in the 74th minute.
Victory will now head back to Melbourne for Saturday’s derby while Glory face a trip to Zadkovich’s former club Newcastle on Sunday as they aim to end their winless run.
RE-LIVE: PERTH GLORY 0-1 MELBOURNE VICTORY, AS IT HAPPENED
By Matt Comito for KEEPUP
74′: CHANCE! Tyler Vecchio fires inches wide for Peth (0-1)
Glory head coach Ruben Zadkovich called on youth to deliver off his bench – and it was almost 19-year-old Tyler Vecchio providing the equaliser with a low strike across goal from the right-hand side of the box which just evaded the bottom-left corner.
57′: GOAL! Margiotta hurts Glory on the counter (0-1)
It was a dramatic minute at HBF Park, with Perth pleading for a penalty down one end before a swift Victory counter attack saw the visitors take the lead through Margiotta down the other.
Pacifique Niyongabire went down in the box under a challenge from Jason Geria, but the penalty shouts were waved away. Victory surged forward through Jake Brimmer, who cut off the left flank to find Margiotta to finish.
HALF-TIME: GLORY 0-0 VICTORY
43′: CHANCE! Clisby fires wide (0-0)
Perth’s most promising move of the night came in the 43rd minute, with the play moving off the right flank toward the left where Giordano Colli found Jack Clisby streaming into the box.
The pass was a deft one, set into the path of Clisby to strike first-time – but his left-footed effort went just wide of the mark.
29′: CHANCE! Margiotta rattles the post (0-0)
Francesco Margiotta was the next Victory forward to hit the post, with a scorching free-kick leaving Liam Reddy no chance of a save.
But for the second time in quick succession, a glorious Victory chance just misses the mark, with the left-hand goalpost struck once more.
25′: CHANCE! Rojas off the woodwork (0-0)
That was the closest either side have gone to scoring in the first half, with Marco Rojas striking toward the bottom-left corner on the turn, hitting the woodwork instead of the back of the net.
8′: CHANCE! Lachman’s “incredible” solo run almost ends in a goal (0-0)
A brilliant dribbling run down the left flank came from the unlikeliest of sources for Perth, with central defender Darryl Lachman showing a turn of pace to get in the box, playing a one-two with Trent Ostler and shaping to shoot, with a loose touch inviting Victory keeper Ivan Kelava in to gather at his feet.
1′: KICK-OFF: (0-0)
We’re underway at HBF Park!
