Melbourne Victory leapfrogged crosstown rivals Melbourne City to take top spot on the Isuzu UTE A-League ladder, after a 3-0 win in a complete performance against Brisbane Roar at AAMI Park on Sunday afternoon.
Tony Popovic’s side purred offensively whilst remaining steadfast in defence in his debut home fixture as Victory boss, notching a second clean sheet on the bounce to keep a perfect record through the first two rounds of the season.
It was a Kai Trewin own goal which got Victory ahead in the first half, with Brendan Hamill pressuring the Roar centre-back from a corner kick which diverted off the head of Trewin, past goalkeeper Macklin Freke and into the back of the net.
Victory consolidated the advantage just four minutes later when Nick D’Agostino brushed home a close-range attempt, finishing off a scything team move down the right flank to put the visitors two goals down after half an hour of play at AAMI Park.
It was a moment of déjà vu for the Roar after conceding two first-half goals to Melbourne City in similarly quick succession in Round 1.
But unlike in the season’s opening weekend, the Roar were unable to improve in the second half. Instead, the home side quickly set about consolidating the advantage, and in the 50th minute Ben Folami’s headed goal off a perfectly-weighted Marco Rojas lofted through pass saw the Victory carve out a three-goal lead.
It was Rojas’ third score involvement for the day, after assisting D’Agostino’s first-half finish and playing a role in the Victory move which earned the corner from which Trewin’s own goal eventuated.
After extending the advantage to three goals, Victory’s attention turned to defensive duties as a second-consecutive clean sheet beckoned.
Luke Ivanovic – who hit the post for the Roar with the score at 2-0 – faded after his bright start to the second half off the bench. Brisbane striker Juan Lescano made his Isuzu UTE A-League debut in the second half, but the former Liverpool and Real Madrid youth product also failed to impact the scoresheet as Victory cruised to the final whistle with a 3-0 lead intact.
The impressive home win ensures Victory end Round 2 as the only team to notch two wins from two to start the season.
