Reds smash Victory hoodoo

Adelaide have broken the Hyundai A-League’s most famous drought, ending their 10-match losing streak against Melbourne Victory and re-igniting their season with an emphatic 4-1 success at AAMI Park.

Adelaide have broken the Hyundai A-League’s most famous drought, ending their 10-match losing streak against Melbourne Victory and re-igniting their season with an emphatic 4-1 success at AAMI Park.

The history books will record it as the Reds’ first success over Victory since October 2007 and their first win over their bitter rivals in Melbourne in four and a half years.

But the manner of the win, rather than the fact it was a drought-breaker will be of more importance to manager Rini Coolen, with Adelaide consolidating second spot and looking well on track for the double chance after their best performance in some months.

Sergio van Dijk’s 57th minute goal, scored from 30m out with a wickedly curling free kick, was the highlight of the match, but Marcos Flores set-up the result by getting on the end of some robust work from skipper Travis Dodd on 12 minutes.

Substitute Fabien Barbiero’s first touch on 74 minutes sealed the deal, as he got onto to a rebounded shot from Iain Fyfe while the Victory’s humiliation was completed when a horrible defensive mix-up allowed van Dijk to net goal number 13 for the season on 77 minutes. Mate Dugandzic scored a consolation for the home side with the last kick of the game.

Victory’s afternoon was soured further by the send off of skipper Kevin Muscat on 65 minutes, while Adrian Leijer picked up a groin injury. The defeat puts their place in the top six in some peril, with Wellington, Melbourne Heart and Newcastle breathing down their necks.

Much like they had with the previous clash between these two teams, Adelaide took the lead with the first real chance of the game. Iain Ramsey found space down the left and delivered a long cross for Dodd to rise above Evan Berger and head it back towards Flores. The Argentine smashed the ball home for a 12th minute lead.

Two minutes later, Robert Cornthwaite headed just over the bar, while Adam Hughes and Cameron Watson hot shots straight at Petkovic.

Hernandez lobbed a free kick on top of the net for Victory on 17 minutes, while Ricardinho’s attempt to win a penalty only yielded the Brazilian a caution for diving.

Van Dijk should have doubled Adelaide’s advantage on 39 minutes, but his close range header was too tame, while in the shadows of half time, Hernandez’s powerful boot threatened again, but Mark Birighetti was equal to the shot.

Van Dijk began the second half with a brilliant run which left Rody Vargas and Muscat in his wake, but his finish went straight at Petkovic. Five minutes later, he had another chance from a free kick and didn-t waste it.

After Muscat had been cautioned for upending Cassio, van Dijk curled a wicked shot which gave the Melbourne stopper no hope.

On 65 minutes, the match took a significant turn. Muscat collected Hughes with a wayward arm and Peter Green produced a second yellow card for the Melbourne skipper.

Then nine minutes later, Barbiero entered the fray from the bench and after iain Fyfe’s shot was cleared by Marvin Angulo, the sub was there to knock it home for a 3-0 lead.

Fyfe played a major role in the fourth goal as well, looping in a long free kick which Rody Vargas and Michael Petkovic managed to make a complete mess of. The slightest touch of Van Dijk’s toe was enough to get it home.

It could have been more for the Reds, who continue to press with their one man advantage, but it was Victory, through substitute Dugandzic, who hit the back of the net in the final minutes, a score which offered little consolation.

Melbourne Victory 1 (Dugandzic 90)
Adelaide United 4 (Flores 12, van Dijk 57, 77, Barbiero 74)
Crowd: 18,558 at AAMi Park