Victory defeated City 2-1 thanks to a Leroy George winner after a typically full-throttle Melbourne Derby on Friday night at AAMI Park.
Billed as “The Decider” after each side had won one derby each this season, this clash didn’t disappoint with both sets of players throwing themselves into the contest.
The win has put Victory within a point of third-placed City on the ladder.
STORY OF THE GAME
- SENSATIONAL START Victory ahead in two mins but Barbarouses’ goal rubbed off by the VAR.
- KAMAU CLOSE Powerful shot from the City winger tipped wide by Thomas getting down to his right.
- GOAL VICTORY! Barbarouses gets his goal and Victory with the opener in the derby after 12 mins.
- CITY EXPOSED Victory getting a lot of joy down City’s right.
- ARZANI BLASTS AWAY The tricky winger works his magic but his blast is blocked by Lawrence Thomas.
- BOUZANIS BLOCKS GEORGE Victory on City’s right again but Bouzanis stops the shot from George
- JAMBO HITS THE BAR! Jamieson, after Arzani was felled, smashes a curling set-piece onto the Victory bar.
- PASSIONS FLARE Melee spills onto the side of the pitch after Deng and Jamieson clash.
- HALF TIME 0-1 Great entertainment and typical feisty., action-packed derby fare. Victory ahead but City very much on top in the final stages.
- RAZZLE DAZZLE FROM GEORGE Sets up Berisha but he skews his shot wide.
- PENALTY!! Broxham deemed to have handled Vidosic’s cross after 53 mins
- BRUNO SCORES!! It’s 1-1, Fornaroli smashes it down th0e middle. Game on!
- GOAL VICTORY George heads home and Victory back in the lead! 1-2.
- ARZANI SUBBED OFF Bad cramps for the winger and he’s taken off with the last 20 mins approaching.
- GEORGE SUBBED OFF Victory’s scorer clutches his hamstring and is withdrawn.
- THOMAS ALMOST CHIPPED Atkinson’s cross hits the top of the bar with Thomas back-pedalling.
- EIGHT MINS OF STOPPAGE TIME!
- VICTORY DROPPING DEEP
- TROISI MISSES AN OPEN GOAL WITH BOUZANIS UP THE OTHER END! What a finish!
GOALS
Barbarouses Victory 0-1, 12′
Troisi finds Berisha who goes for the reverse pass for Barbarouses and the All Wite places the ball into the bottom corner of the net.
Fornaroli (pen) City 1-1, 53′
Broxham handles, Fornaroli takes the pen and smashes it home down the middle of the goal.
George Victory 1-2, 61′
Broxham with the excellent cross for George who got in behind the City defence and he heads down and in to put Victory back in front.
