Melbourne City have claimed more bragging rights over Melbourne Victory after winning Saturday night’s Derby 2-0.
Academy graduates Max Caputo and Peter Antoniou scored to lead the Isuzu UTE A-League champions past their rivals in the Grand Final rematch at AAMI Park.
It took Caputo and unbeaten City just 83 seconds to hit the front in Round 4, four days on from their memorable AFC Champions League Elite triumph against Machida Zelvia in Japan.
MATCH REPORT: A Derby for the ages! 2 red cards, 2 incredible goals, a melee and bragging rights for Auckland
INJURY NEWS: Another week, another injured Auckland FC captain in worrying sight for Black Knights
STUNNING: ‘Fans hadn’t even taken their seats!’ Most talked about tactic sensationally exposed in NZ Derby
City cut through Victory’s defence with ease as young gun Caputo finished expertly beyond Jack Duncan for his fourth goal of the season.
FIFA World Cup and UEFA Champions League winner Juan Mata was in Victory’s starting XI after opening his account last week and the Spanish superstar went agonisingly close to equalising in the opening half.
‘THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE PART OF THE REVIEW’: The ‘horrendous’ image plaguing the champions
Called up by the CommBank Socceroos for the first time, City goalkeeper Patrick Beach produced a stunning save to deny Matthew Grimaldi from distance early in the second half.
Then, City created breathing space in the 55th minute – 18-year-old defender Antoniou came off the bench and scored his first Isuzu UTE A-League goal as Victory were left with four points from four games heading into the international break.