Melbourne Victory have continued their torment of Adelaide United, notching a record 10-straight success over the Reds with a stirring 2-1 come-from-behind win at Etihad Stadium.
A previously undefeated Adelaide could not break the Victory curse despite taking a first-minute lead through Iain Fyfe. Melbourne hit back through Robbie Kruse on 21 minutes – the striker’s fourth goal in as many matches – before Carlos Hernandez conjured a winner of 68 minutes.
Victory may be the Jekyll and Hyde of the Hyundai A-League, but they always put on their best show against their bitter rivals and their extraordinary double-figure winning streak against the Reds surpasses any other era of dominance of one team over another in an Australian national league.
It is now more than three years since Adelaide last beat Melbourne in a league game, while it is over four years since the Reds last came to Etihad Stadium and took all three points.
The fans had barely had time to settle into their seats when the visiting side took the lead. Matthew Leckie was brought down by Kevin Muscat on the left and Paul Reid took the free kick. Fyfe leapt high over Surat Sukha and headed past Michael Petkovic.
It set the scene for a dominant first 15 minutes from the Reds, who moved the ball around freely and put Melbourne under major pressure. Adam Hughes could have made it 2-0, heading just wide.
Kruse was the go-to man for the Victory up front and before he scored, he had already come close twice, including a long-range shot on 13 minutes which had Eugene Galekovic at full stretch.
After Leckie received a knee injury, which ended up forcing him off, Melbourne drew level thanks to a brilliant effort from Kruse. Quick thinking from Grant Brebner and Sukha sent him free and his flat low shot from outside the box proved too slick for Galekovic to stop.
That marked the start of a period of dominance for Melbourne, and Ricardinho, Sukha and Tom Pondeljak all had chances to put the home side in front.
Petkovic was on hand to deflect Fabian Barbiero’s angled shot over while Lucas Pantelis came close twice in the shadows of half time.
The tempo of the game changed in the second half, with both teams prepared to be more patient in their build up. After Hernandez and Sergio van Dijk went over the top, Mate Dugandzic – on for Ricardinho at half-time – and Kruse both went close for Victory.
Melbourne’s patience was rewarded at the mid-way point of the half when Hernandez picked up the ball in midfield and gave to Kruse, who set Pondeljak through. The veteran’s cross was flicked on by Dugandzic and Hernandez, the man who started it all, was left alone to finish with ease.
Melbourne continued to press for a third goal and Galekovic had his hands full on several occasions, especially with Kruse marauding down the left and firing at will.
The best chance fell to Pondeljak who first hit the post and then hit the rebound straight at the Adelaide keeper.
A late effort from Inseob Shin rattled both the post and Melbourne’s nerves but the home side held tight to record their fourth win of the season and move into third ahead of Gold Coast United at Etihad next Saturday.
Adelaide’s first loss of the season could see them lose top spot in the table should Brisbane comfortably beat Sydney on Saturday with the top two to meet next week at Suncorp Stadium.
Melbourne Victory 2 (Kruse 20, Hernandez 68)
Adelaide United 1 (Fyfe 1)
Crowd: 16,269 at Etihad Stadium
