Rudan: United’s erupting rivalry with Victory helping A-League become ‘one of the best products in the world’

Mark Rudan says the burgeoning rivalry between Western United and Melbourne Victory is assisting the A-League’s development into one of the world’s best, after a seven-goal thriller unfolded between the two teams at Marvel Stadium on Saturday night.

Rudan’s side fell behind in the first half of the sensational fixture. United drew level at the break, went up 3-1 in the second half, went a man down, conceded a further two goals and somehow, against all the odds, found a winner in the 95th-minute of the game. 

The United boss leapt on top of the pile of Green and Black players in celebration of the winning goal as his side made it four wins and one draw in five A-League meetings with Victory.

It’s a rivalry which began little more than a year ago with United’s come-from-behind 3-2 win over Victory at the same venue in November, 2019, which has since been awash with talking points, controversy, tension, goals – 19 to be exact – and drama of the highest order.

When asked for his thoughts on the development of United’s hostile feud with Victory, Rudan’s response could not have been more emphatic.

“Love it, love it, love it. It’s what the league needs,” Rudan told the press post-match.

“We need rivalries all over the place. 

“We were the new kids on the block and it just so happened that we chose Melbourne Victory to be our biggest rival.

“Why not? Why not take on the best, and the biggest?

“We didn’t want to be bullied by the best and the biggest, it happens all the time.”

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Rudan continued: “I say more of it. We need to build this game, this game that we all love so much.

People are talking about a new TV deal. If they haven’t seen this season, the goals that have been scored, the crazy games, I mean what a product. 

It’s one of the best products in the world, and we’re lucky enough to have people in the stands watching as well.”

“It’s just a fantastic product right now. Every game you can’t wait to sit down and watch.

“There’s goals, there’s entertainment, there’s coaches running onto the pitch stupidly, and all that sort of stuff, it’s just great.

“We want to build this rivalry and we certainly have done that.”

https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6235917468001

As one side rejoiced at Marvel Stadium, another despaired. At 3-3 with a one-man advantage after Tomislav Uskok’s second-half dismissal for a pair of yellow cards, Grant Brebner’s Victory found themselves with eight minutes plus stoppage time to find a winner after Rudy Gestede headed the hosts level at 3-3 in the 82nd minute.

But United somehow found a way when an opportunity arose to Victor Sánchez to win it all with his second goal of the game.  United’s 19-year-old substitute Nicolas Milanovic paved the way for Sánchez to score the decisive goal, putting his head where Rudan says other players would not have stuck their feet to contest a low cross with Victory goalkeeper Max Crocombe, allowing the ball to spill to Sánchez at the back post.

The scenes of celebration that ensued showed the togetherness of a side led by a man who felt something special in the Marvel Stadium air in the aftermath of the unforgettable contest.

“This will be cherished for a long time,” he said.

“I spoke last year… when we were 2-0 against the same team at the same stadium (and won 3-2). I don’t know what it is about us and Melbourne Victory and Marvel (Stadium) – we really made a statement as far as I was concerned to beat Melbourne Victory (from) 2-0 down.

“Here we are a year later, and we’ve done it again.

“That’s just reward to everybody involved in the club. From my coaching staff, to the people in the office that work tirelessly, to the players, the board, everybody.

“We’re such a family at the club, we’re so together, we’re the new kids on the block but like I said, we do things a little bit differently than the rest, but we wouldn’t have it any other way.”

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Next Matches

Melbourne Victory v Melbourne City
Saturday, March 6 2021
Marvel Stadium
Kick-off: 7.10pm AEDT
Match Centre

Western United v Western Sydney Wanderers
Sunday, March 7 2021
Mars Stadium
Kick-off: 6.10pm AEDT
Match Centre