Patrick Kisnorbo came back to haunt his former side as Melbourne Victory saw off rivals Melbourne City 3-1 in Saturday night’s Melbourne Derby.
Kisnorbo coached City to two Isuzu UTE A-League Premierships and the club’s maiden Championship title in 2021, but after leaving the club for French club Troyes in 2022, has returned to Victoria as Victory head coach following Tony Popovic’s departure from last season’s Grand Finalists.
After crossing the Melbourne divide, Kisnorbo reunited with City at AAMI Park for the first time and oversaw Victory’s dominant triumph in the 46th instalment of the derby.
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Kisnorbo and Victory earned bragging rights thanks to goals from Subway Socceroos forward Nishan Velupillay, Greek forward Nikos Vergos and midfielder Ryan Teague in Round 2.
Andrew Nabbout pulled a goal back in the second half as City stemmed the flow in an improved display but Victory were not to be denied their first win of 2024-25, while maintaining the club’s unbeaten start to the season.
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Vergos came into the starting XI for his starting but in the A-Leagues at the expense of Bruno Fornaroli following the Round 1 draw at defending champions Central Coast Mariners, while Daniel Arzani was on the bench after returning from suspension.
There was no Mathew Leckie despite hopes of his City return, though German Ferreyra made his first start in place of the suspended Jimmy Jeggo following last week’s 1-0 win at Newcastle Jets.
Victory’s intensity was unmatched from the outset as part of a history-making first half which yielded three goals in 25 minutes.
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Velupillay set the tone with his fifth-minute opener. The fan-turned-star was released by Vergos and finished expertly.
Vergos forced a fine save from Patrick Beach in the ninth minute as City felt the pressure early from Victory.
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The Greek justified his inclusion inside 12 minutes after finding the back of the net. Some terrific work from Rene Piscopo on the left-hand side caused the damage as the Victory attacker then picked out Vergos to side-foot past Beach.
Some “top-drawer goalkeeping” from Victory shot-stopper Jack Duncan kept out Marco Tilio’s goal-bound attempt and preserved his side’s two-goal buffer almost midway through the opening half.
Victory thought they had made it 3-0 in the 20th minute after a deflection off City defender Samuel Souprayen left Beach floundering and unable to keep the ball out of the net. Fortunately for City, there was a reprieve after VAR deemed Teague handled the ball before it crossed the line.
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Teague and Victory were not to be denied five minutes later – Beach received a backpass but the young goalkeeper was closed down rapidly by Teague and the ball deflected off the midfielder and into the net.
City captain Aziz Behich was involved in a coming together with Vergos after the Australia international’s foot appeared to make contract with the Victory recruit’s groin area, but escaped punishment after a VAR review.
While Victory looked comfortable, they were caught out in the second half as City reduced the deficit against the run of play in the 64th minute.
Yonatan Cohen’s shot could only be parried by Duncan into the path of Nabbout, who was on hand to tap home.
Duncan produced a wonderful diving save to deny Arion Sulemani in the 92nd minute and prevent a nail-biting finale.s
