Grab your tickets to the last Victory home game before Christmas
Saturday 18th December 7:00pm
We want more revenge! After their derby delight, Victory are out to get their own back on a Glory side that already has beaten them twice this season.
It-s been a very strange year for Melbourne Victory. Their North and South Terrace Boys have experienced so many high and lows that it must at times feel like being on the longest rollercoaster ride ever. At the end of last season they suffered double misery at the hands of bitter rivals Sydney FC, whereas this time round they spanked them at Etihad.
Then, a new rival, Melbourne Heart, appeared on the scene and promptly beat them in their first ever derby match-up. It was a hard defeat to take, so there was never any doubt that, with lessons learnt, they were going to get their own back last weekend. And they did so emphatically.
Bragging rights were well and truly reclaimed with a cracking 3-1 win over their cross-city rivals thanks in no small part to a brilliant brace from top scorer Robbie Kruse.
While this massive win sent Victory fans home delirious, it also highlighted just what an inconsistent and topsy-turvy Hyundai A-League season this is for Ernie Merrick-s men. Not only was the win in stark contrast to the last time the rivals clashed, but it was their first in six games.
Victory fans will hope that such revenge is a good omen for this weekend-s tussle, because there are undoubtedly some wrongs that need to be righted. Last time these two sides met, it was hopelessly out-of-form Perth Glory that somehow put on the performance of their season to rip Victory apart.
Then, Robbie Fowler carved his name in Perth folklore with a magnificent hat-trick. It-s time for payback, and with Robbie Kruse in irresistible form this season – he now has ten goals in 13 starts – and Archie Thompson back to his best after knee surgery, Victory will be confident they can pick up three points.
However, Perth Glory will not only take heart from that 3-1 win against Victory back in mid-November, but also from their last match-up at AAMI Park. In what was both sides- first appearance at the stadium in Week 2, goals either side of half-time from the visitors were enough to secure the points.
Since their cracking start to the season, things have gone decidedly pear-shaped for Perth though. Indeed, their 3-1 win over this weekend-s opponents in November is their only triumph in their last 15 matches. However, two draws from their last two games suggests their resolve is strengthening. And they face a team that is leaking goals at the moment. Eleven, in fact, in the last five games.
Still, Ernie Merrick-s side are on a huge high after last week-s derby win, and so will be eager for Saturday to roll round quickly so they can get back on the pitch and keep the momentum going. And they-ll be hoping that they are welcomed by the same amazing support that cheered them on last week.
The 23,000-strong crowd was heavy on the blue and white, despite it officially being an away game, and the atmosphere created was immense. Can Victory fans rock AAMI Park to it-s very foundations once more?
There is never a dull moment supporting Victory, so get down to AAMI Park and see what the boys have in store for you this week. Perth have already turned your team over twice this season, so be there as Victory go all out for Glory. Revenge is nigh!
