Melbourne Victory put in a dominant attacking performance to sweep aside Adelaide United 5-2 in the Foxtel National Youth League at Lakeside Stadium on Sunday.
Melbourne Victory put in a dominant attacking performance to sweep aside Adelaide United 5-2 in the Foxtel National Youth League at Lakeside Stadium on Sunday.
After James Jeggo’s early opener was quickly cancelled out by Adelaide’s Anthony Bouzalas, Victory missed a penalty before coasting to a 4-1 lead through Francesco Stella, Connor Pain and Damien Miskulin.
Bruce Kamau pulled a goal back for the Reds from the penalty spot but there was still time for Miskulin to secure his brace deep in second-half stoppage time.
Both sides attempted to reproduce the slick passing style of their senior teams with Victory looking dangerous on the counter and Adelaide attempting to probe their way through the defence.
The opening goal came on 12 minutes as the Victory drove down the left flank through Pain and after a low cross into the area, James Jeggo was at hand to poke the ball past Adelaide keeper John Hall.
Victory should have doubled their advantage in the next minute but Chris Cristaldo struck his penalty off the post after Pain was brought down.
Adelaide made the home side pay for the miss as Bouzalas slalomed his way through the Melbourne defence before finishing in the top corner from a tight angle to tie the game on 17 minutes.
Making the most of their possession advantage, Victory again took the lead in the 39th minute when Stella was fouled in the penalty area and sent Hall the wrong way from the spot.
The game opened up in the second half as Victory put the pressure on Adelaide by attacking down the flanks at will.
This method of the attack created Victory’s third goal on 48 minutes as Pain’s shot deflected past Hall after an enterprising run and pass by full-back Dylan Murnane.
The Reds hit the post either side of Victory’s fourth goal with Anthony Costa and Daniel Bowles both striking the woodwork from inside the penalty area.
Substitute Miskulin profited from an error by Hall, as the goalkeeper dropped a high ball and allowed the Victory defender to bundle it in to the net in the 66th minute.
Adelaide earned a consolation goal on 80 minutes after Anthony Costa’s penalty was saved and Kamau was well-positioned to convert the rebound.
However there was still time for Victory to score their fifth goal as Miskulin secured his double with a low shot from outside the area.
Victory’s win sees them consolidate their third place and move three points clear of Adelaide, who remain in fourth.
Melbourne Victory 5 (Jeggo 12′ Stella 37’pen, Pain 48′ Miskulin 66′ 90+4′)
Adelaide United 2 (Bouzalas 17′, Kamau 89′)
Melbourne Victory: 3. Milos Ridesic, 4. James Karvelis, 5. Dylan Murnane, 6. Jordan Brown, 7. Chris Cristaldo (14. Anthony Proia 60′), 8. Luc Jeggo (C), 10. James Jeggo, 11. Connor Pain, 15. Rashid Mahazi (13. Damien Miskulin 60′), 18. Francesco Stella (9. Jesse Makarounas 45′), 20. Lawrence Thomas (GK)
Adelaide United: 1. John Hall (GK), 2. Dion Kirk, 3. Shaun Harvey (C) (6. Jack Bladen 54′), 8. Nathan Kostandopoulos (22. Donovan Pollock 62′), 9. Anthony Costa, 10. Ryan Kitto (7. Bruce Kamau 62′) , 12. Daniel Bowles, 13. Jordan Elsey, 14. Awer Mabil, 15. Matthew Bouzalas,19. Jake Barker-Daish
