Melbourne City have taken bragging rights in the first derby of the season, taking out a 2-0 win over local rivals Melbourne Victory in front of a sold out AAMI Park.
In what was one of the most hyped fixtures in recent seasons, it was a contest which was filled with drama. With both teams sensing the occasion, City and the Victory started strong out of the blocks, and created chances early. Both came close to breaking the deadlock inside the opening 10 minutes of the contest.
Jamie Maclaren had the first chance, with his header from the centre of the box being denied by Paul Izzo in the seventh minute. Moments later Victory skipper Josh Brilliante had a massive chance go begging, spotted up by Cadete with a great cross, he miscued a header from within six yards with Tom Glover making a regulatory save.
It would come back to haunt the home side not even 10 minutes later. With Nani taking taking down Matthew Leckie in the penalty box. Referee Alireza Faghani would let the challenge initially go before referring to VAR and awarding the penalty with Nani earning a yellow card for his troubles. Maclaren stepped up from the spot to put City ahead in the 17th minute.
It swung the momentum in their favour, with City’s second goal coming two minutes later. From distance and on a difficult angle, Valon Berisha hit the right post, taking a deflection off Cadete in a bizarre piece of play which ended with the Victory full-back registering an own goal to his name.
The Victory would stay resilient, they’d continue to press and try to peg a goal back with Brilliante and Chris Ikonomidis coming close to finding the net, though they’d hit another road bump in the 35th minute.
Brilliante’s foul on Aiden O’Neill in the Victory’s attacking half would put him in the referees book for the second time, receiving a second yellow card before heading to the tunnel for an early shower.
Down 2-0 at the break and a player less, it’d prove too much of a mountain for the Victory to climb in the second half.
While the Victory continued to press and create chances, they’d find everything but the back of net. Nani and Nicholas D’Agostino would have their chances, though failed to hit the target.
City with the extra man and advantage on the scoreboard would slow the tempo down in the latter stages of the second half to secure a crucial victory to ensure they’d finish the round as the ladder leaders.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
City make it three from three
Melbourne City remain the only side to take maximum points from all of their fixtures this season, with their win over rivals Melbourne Victory marking their third consecutive win to start the season as early championship contenders.
Having failed to notch a win over the Victory in their last four attempts, losing 3-0 in their last meeting back in Round 23 of the 2021/22 A-League Men’s season, City bucked the trend in emphatic fashion.
A two minute period in the early stages of the game proved ultimately to be the difference with a Maclaren penalty and Cadete own goal helping see off their rivals.
Victory’s end product a concern
Having recorded nine shots on goal with just one on target in their 1-0 loss to the Wanderers last week, the Victory failed to be clinical in their clash against City, failing to find the back of net in consecutive fixtures.
Against City they’d once again create a healthy amount of chances, finishing the game registering 11 shots on goal, four found the target with several of them which should have found the back of the net.
Having lacked polish in the final third for two weeks running, it’d be something Popovic would want to rectify with his squad going forward.
An atmosphere fitting of the occasion
There was plenty of hype heading into the first Melbourne derby of the season. With the game looking likely sell out from the middle of the week, it was expected that it’d provide one of the best atmospheres in recent seasons. And it certainly delivered with more than 23,000 fans packing into AAMI Park to provide one of the largest crowds post COVID.
There’d be early signs of a great atmosphere an hour prior to kick-off with the bays in the north end of AAMI Park filling and providing plenty of noise during the warm ups. The noise continuing throughout the 90 minutes of the match from both sets of fans.
A fiery contest on the pitch, it was just as fiery in the stands with both fanbases coming in their droves. And with the league averaging just a bit over 5000 fans to games last year, tonight was an encouraging sign the fans are coming back.
Final Score
Melbourne Victory 0
Melbourne City 2 (Maclaren 17′ Cadete (OG) 19′)
Image Credit: Melbourne Victory
