Melbourne Victory ended their pre-season tour of Tasmania with a 4-2 win over Hyundai A-League rivals Adelaide United in Launceston on Friday.
Melbourne Victory ended their pre-season tour of Tasmania with a 4-2 win over Hyundai A-League rivals Adelaide United in Launceston on Friday.
Qantas Socceroo Archie Thompson netted a brace, while Danny Allsopp and new signing Guilherme Finkler were also on target for Melbourne in front of 3147 fans on a cold night at Aurora Stadium.
Without captain Eugene Galekovic, experienced duo Zenon Caravella and Iain Fyfe, or Argentinean Marcelo Carrusca, the understrength Adelaide side were made to pay for a couple of defensive errors and some clinical Melbourne finishing.
Victory, who defeated a Football Federation Tasmania XI in Hobart earlier in the week, burst out of the blocks with two goals in the opening minutes.
Allsopp scored after swooping on a poor Daniel Bowles back pass that rolled past Adelaide goalkeeper Paul Izzo and hit the right post.
Thompson doubled Melbourne’s advantage soon after, tapping in from close range after Izzo made a diving save to deny Finkler.
Young guns Theo Markelis and Jimmy Jeggo were looking dangerous for Victory, who added a third goal from a Thompson header.
United pulled one back when Dario Vidosic lashed a fierce shot beyond Melbourne goalkeeper Tando Velaphi on the stroke of half-time.
Victory coach Ange Postecoglou made several changes throughout the second half, with former Adelaide midfielder Marcos Flores the most notable inclusion.
Flores played a precise through ball for Marco Rojas, but the New Zealander was unable to find the target with a chip from a tight angle.
Rojas combined with Finkler for Melbourne’s fourth goal, with the Brazilian converting from close range in the 77th minute.
Sergio van Dijk grabbed a late goal for Adelaide.
