It’s another massive Melbourne match-up. Who will show the most Heart and come away with the vital Victory?
Melbourne Heart v Melbourne Victory
Saturday 4th February, 7.45pm
It’s another massive Melbourne match-up! Who will show the most Heart and come away with the vital Victory?
Get ready for another explosive Hyundai A-League tussle between these cross-city rivals. As always, a massive crowd is expected at AAMI Park, so make sure you are involved in it by securing your ticket today and readying your vocal chords for 90 minutes of non-stop noise.
It’s a territorial battle, where pride, bragging rights and, or course, points are at stake. So play your part in ensuring that your side is in the ascendancy on Saturday!
This is the final clash of the regular season between these two teams, and the home side go into the game knowing that avoiding defeat will allow them ultimate bragging rights.
Of the two previous meetings in the Hyundai A-League 2011/12 season, Heart have taken four from a possible six points. In Week Three at Etihad, they picked up their first point of the season with a 0-0 draw played out in front of a massive Melbourne turnout of over 39,000 fans.
The atmosphere was incredible as the two teams went full throttle for the win but found each other’s defences impossible to breach. The opposite was true when the two clubs came together just before Christmas.
Then, five goals were shared in an absolutely pulsating clash in front of a AAMI Park’s biggest ever Hyundai A-League attendance. After Clint Bolton made an early penalty save, Archie Thompson put Victory in front, but two goals from his namesake Matt gave the Red & White the lead at the break.
Substitute Alex Terra’s fine strike made it 3-1 and, despite an absolute cracker from Carlos Hernandez at the death, Heart held on for the win. It was a thrilling match and a wonderful advert for Melbourne sport and the Hyundai A-League.
While Heart have the upper hand this campaign, there was nothing to choose between the sides in the Hyundai A-League 2010/11 season. Heart won their inaugural battle, while Victory got their own back later in the season with a 3-1 triumph before the two teams played out a volatile, thrilling 2-2 draw which saw Heart claw back a two-goal deficit to steal a point.
Melbourne Victory will be hoping for a happier outcome than they achieved last time they turned out at AAMI Park. It looked like being the best Australia Day imaginable as they went in at half-time two goals to the good in the Big Blue against Sydney FC, yet, as they have done so often this season, they let the lead slip.
A big crowd was jubilant after Isaka Cernak and an effort which deflected in off Sydney keeper Liam Reddy gave the home side breathing space, but a Sydney fightback culminated in former Victory defender Sebastian Ryall snatching a late equaliser to leave fans hugely frustrated once more.
Heart will also be looking for a better performance than their last outing, when they were overcome buy three goals to one in New Zealand on Sunday. Coach John van ‘t Schip has promised sweeping changes to his starting eleven this weekend.
With both clubs desperate to turn over their neighbours, the only way to truly understand the sheer passion, commitment, excitement and atmosphere of the Melbourne derby is to experience it live. So get along to AAMI Park on Saturday night and be a part of the incredible drama. As always, it is sure to be epic.
