Melbourne Victory have their first win of the new A-League season after coming from behind to defeat Adelaide United at Docklands on Friday.
Melbourne Victory have their first win of the new A-League season – and first under Ange Postecoglou – after coming from behind to defeat Adelaide United at Docklands on Friday.
Great expectations had fallen flat for Victory in the opening two weeks of the 2012-13 campaign, while the Reds had shot to the table as the only team to win both matches.
But form was reversed on a balmy night in Melbourne, with goals from Mark Milligan and Marco Rojas enough to overcome a Dario Vidosic penalty that briefly put the Reds in front.
Postecoglou had talked tough during the week and his words were reflected on the team-sheet, with six changes to Victory’s XI from the side that was humbled 5-0 by his former club Brisbane last Saturday.
Petar Franjic and Billy Celeski were handed starts, while Marco Rojas, Archie Thompson and were rushed straight back into the side after returning from international duty.
Tando Velaphi made his first appearance in goal under Postecoglou, with the Reds making just a solitary change in Dario Vidosic’s return for Bruce Djite.
Victory’s Marcos Flores – facing former side Adelaide United for the first time since his return to the A-League – ensured the boos sent his way from the travelling Reds fans only increased when he was carded for his tumble in the area after just seven minutes, but the Argentine could have had a case from Daniel Bowles’ challenge.
The hosts had started with purpose, with Milligan adding much-needed muscle in his role screening the defence. Adelaide, meanwhile, appeared happy to sit back and wait for opportunities to appear on the counter.
Victory sought space down the flanks and almost carved out the opener on 10 minutes when Rojas’ cross from the right just eluded Thompson in area – a touch would have meant a goal.
Vidosic was carded for late challenge on Velaphi on 25 minutes, and the Victory goalkeeper needed to be aware to smother the danger as Reds forward Jeronimo Neumann attempted to run onto a loose ball just moments later.
Victory put together several stylish moves as they attempted to find that elusive goal.
Adelaide, meanwhile, were Stoke-like in their penchant for balls over the defence, counter-attacks and several long throws into the area.
Iain Ramsay’s dangerous ball on another of those counter-attacks after 38 minutes drifted across the face of Velaphi’s goal, before Victory left-back Adama Traore got a crucial touch to take it out of the path of Fabio Ferreira.
Neumann had two chances as the half wound up, with his second one – an effort he sent skidding wide of Velaphi’s right-hand post – particularly regrettable.
Adelaide’s bright start to the second half led to the opening goal. Having gone close to immediately justifying his selection at the same end in the first half with attempts on goal, Celeski’s return was soured after he handled in the area as Victory attempted to clear a corner.
Vidosic made no mistake to put the Reds ahead.
But the lead was short-lived, with Milligan rising high to emphatically send home Finkler’s free kick just four minutes later.
Adelaide defender Nigel Boogaard and Thompson traded efforts – the latter should have scored – before the hosts took the lead on 66 minutes.
Thompson’s cross from deep on the right was touched onto his own crossbar by Boogaard, with Rojas stabbing home at the second time of asking after sending his initial header back against the woodwork.
The visitors pushed forward in search of an equaliser, forcing Milligan to fall deeper – making it a back five for Victory – to counter the Reds’ raids.
Victory still had their chances, with Thompson again firing errantly from a decent position.
But neither side again posed major threats to each other’s goal before referee Peter Green brought the game to an end, with the relief from Victory’s players – and Postecoglou – almost palpable.
