“If we can keep this momentum going now, we’re going to be hard to beat all season.” That is the message from Ryan Teague after Melbourne Victory’s dominant triumph against Melbourne City.
Teague scored just his second Isuzu UTE A-League goal as Victory claimed bragging rights with a 3-1 success against their Melbourne rivals in Saturday night’s derby at AAMI Park.
A history-making first-half blitz that yielded three goals in just 25 minutes set the tone for last season’s Grand Finalists, who made it four points from two matches to begin 2024-25.
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After Nishan Velupillay and Nikos Vergos made it 2-0 inside 12 minutes, Teague got on the scoresheet as new Victory head coach Patrick Kisnorbo came back to haunt his former club, where he delivered a pair of Premierships and a Championship prior to his 2022 switch to France.
“It was an important game for us and as a club and for the fans, the derby is always our biggest game,” star Victory midfielder Teague told Network 10 post-match.
“The way we went out there and to get the three goals in the first half showed a lot of passion and desire as a team.
“If we can keep this momentum going now, we’re going to be hard to beat all season.”
Teague celebrated his first goal of the season, though the 22-year-old thought he scored five minutes earlier in Melbourne.
A deflection off City defender Samuel Souprayen left goalkeeper Patrick Beach floundering and unable to keep the ball out of the net in the 20th minute. Fortunately for City, there was a reprieve after VAR deemed Teague handled the ball before it crossed the line.
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“Happy to get a goal. The first one I thought was a bit harsh,” said Teague.
“But yeah it was an important three points, especially after last week when we went through a difficult period and got a red card (in 0-0 draw with Central Coast Mariners). We showed a lot here to bounce back and get the three points.”
Teague struck in the 25th minute after rapidly chasing down young City goalkeeper Beach, who had received the ball from a backpass.
Asked if Victory had targeted Beach, who was appearing in just his second A-Leagues match having kept Jamie Young on the bench for a second straight game, Teague replied: “We did our analysis on Beachy.
“Great goalkeeper but we saw when the ball went back to him, there were times where we could press him.
“I felt when the ball went back to him that time, I could press him. Fortunately that’s when the analysis pays off.”
Kisnorbo reunited with City on Saturday night and orchestrated a win over his former club.
The ex-Australia international 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.
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Speaking to Network 10 post-match, Kisnorbo said: “It was a great spectacle for everybody. Two good teams that played great football. Great fans.
“The win was good but obviously I think we should’ve done better in the second half.”
Vergos made his first start in the Isuzu UTE A-League after coming into the XI at the expense of veteran talisman Bruno Fornaroli, who missed a penalty in last week’s goalless draw against the Mariners.
The former Olympiacos and Panathinakos forward repaid the faith with his 12th-minute goal, while Socceroo Daniel Arzani also returned from suspension and played in the second half.
“I do what’s best for the team. I though Niko deserved his opportunity,” Kisnorbo said. “Even though Bruno played well last week.
“Arzani came back from being suspended so I didn’t want to change too much. Obviously it pays off.”
