Melbourne Victory snapped a three-year drought against Brisbane Roar and preserved their unbeaten start to the Isuzu UTE A-League season thanks to a 2-0 win on Saturday.
Subway Socceroos duo Nishan Velupillay and Jason Geria – both in the squad to face Saudi Arabia and Bahrain in 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup qualifiers – scored to lead Victory to the club’s first win over Brisbane since November 2021, ending a run of seven matches without a triumph, and top of the table.
Velupillay broke the deadlock with his second goal of the A-Leagues season in the 37th minute before defender Geria got in on the action 15 minutes from the end with his first goal since the 2023-24 Grand Final loss to Central Coast Mariners.
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Both Velupillay and Geria will be back at AAMI Park on Thursday for the Socceroos’ blockbuster World Cup qualifier against Saudi Arabia.
Patrick Kisnorbo’s Victory remain undefeated through four rounds as they moved top of the table ahead of Auckland FC, who have a game in hand, while Brisbane are bottom of the standings and still searching for their first points of the campaign.
Victory were unchanged against the Roar, with veteran talisman and Socceroos forward Bruno Fornaroli again left out of the squad, having also missed out in the Round 3 win over Macarthur Bulls.
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Roar’s Florin Berenguer made his first start of the season in a Roar side coming off a last-gasp defeat to Sydney FC.
A-Leagues legend Besart Berisha watched from the stands alongside Carl Valeri as his former teams Victory and Brisbane went head-to-head at AAMI Park, where Ryan Teague’s deflected free-kick bounced just wide of the post inside the first six minutes.
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The Roar held firm in the opening half and they nearly took the lead in the 29th minute when Thomas Waddingham forced a dine save from Jack Duncan. It would not have counted regardless after the flag was raised for offside.
Brisbane were breached eight minutes before the break and it was thanks to some sublime skill from in-form winger Piscopo, who stood up his defender, skipped by him towards the by-line before serving the ball on a platter for Velupillay to finish.
Duncan had to make an unorthodox save moments before the interval to help preserve Victory’s advantage.
The Roar controlled possession throughout the contest but they were unable to find the back of the net, and Indonesia international Rafael Struick was introduced in the second half to help net an equaliser.
Instead, Victory managed to double their lead 14 minutes from the end when Socceroos full-back Geria rose highest to give the home side some breathing space during the closing stages.
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