Melbourne Victory picked up their first point of the 2026/27 A-League Men season in Saturday night’s Melbourne Derby.
The hosts led as early as the seventh minute at AAMI Park, when Keegan Jelacic finished beautifully, but Melbourne City would force the draw with Andrew Nabbout equalising during the second half.
Victory are back in front of their own supporters in just over a week’s time, hosting an A-League Men’s and Women’s double-header against Newcastle Jets and Central Coast Mariners on Sunday, November 1. Tickets for Kids Round, when kids go free, can be purchased by clicking here.
Team news
The Head Coach decided on two changes for the home opener, bringing Jelacic and Harry Shillington into the starting XI, meaning Franco Lino and Santos were waiting in the wings.
Match action
Victory made a flying start, igniting a simmering AAMI Park crowd. Charles Nduka showcased some barely believable build-up play, winning his own flick on, before two neat exchanges with Jelacic engineered the action into the penalty area, where the No.23 bludgeoned the ball in.
Matthew Grimaldi would test the handling of Macklin Freke soon after, although momentum was not wholly forthcoming for the hosts as a deluge from the Melburnian skies made the going a little difficult.
The fleet-footed Socceroo Awer Mabil was able to navigate choppy waters at the other end, but twice misfired when working his way into dangerous positions.
Half-time: Melbourne Victory 1-0 Melbourne City
The Boys in Blue set about a fast opening to the second period, and twice Freke kept out close-range headers. First, he pawed away Guillermo May’s diving effort before, from the resulting corner, using his legs to keep out Jason Davidson at the far post.
These interventions would prove valuable for the away side, who responded to these scares by levelling. Half-time substitute Emiliano Marcondes hooked the ball square where Nabbout was on hand to tap in.
Santos was introduced midway through the half and threatened an immediate impact when he broke into the penalty area, only for his low centre, crying out for a touch, to fizz across the face of goal. The next change was, unfortunately, an enforced one, with Lino replacing the stricken Inserra.
Fellow defender Philipp Ziereis then showed his value, wisely retreating to nod away Harrison Delbridge’s header from underneath his own crossbar, and Jack Duncan proved a sturdy barrier to a whipped Aziz Behich free kick, beating this away firmly.
Match details
Melbourne Victory 1 (JELACIC 7′).
Melbourne City 1 (NABBOUT 53′)
Melbourne Victory starting XI: 25. Jack DUNCAN (GK), 16. Joshua INSERRA (18. Franco LINO 71′), 4. Philipp ZIEREIS, 3. Jason DAVIDSON (C), 36. Harry Shillington, 8. Jordi VALADON, 10. Denis GENREAU, 21. Guillermo MAY, 14. Matthew GRIMALDI (29. Michael GHOSSAINI 84′), 23. Keegan JELACIC (11. SANTOS 67′), 44. Charles NDUKA (9. Harry Sawyer 84′).
Substitutes not used: 1. Jack WARSHAWSKY (GK), 15. Tom LOCKYER, 22. Xavier STELLA.
Booking: DAVIDSON 81′, SANTOS 90+6.
Melbourne City starting XI:Â 1. Macklin FREKE (GK), 2. Harrison DELBRIDGE, 4. Liam BONETIG (18. Julio CASCANTE 70′), 11. Awer MABIL, 13. Nathaniel ATKINSON, 14. Besian KUTLESHI (10. Emiliano MARCONDES), 15. Andrew NABBOUT (77. Takeshi KANAMORI 62′), 16. Aziz BEHICH (C), 19. Quinn MACNICOL (7. Mathew LECKIE 62′), 23. Medin MEMETI (39. Roland BALLAH 83′), 24. Kavian RAHMANI.
Substitutes not used:Â .40. James NIEUWENHUIZEN (GK), 38. Beckham BAKER.
Booking: NABBOUT 45+1, DELBRIDGE 53′.
