Melbourne Victory moved top of the Isuzu UTE A-League after a 3-1 win over Western United on Boxing Day.
Summary
Victory struck twice in the space of two first-half minutes through a Jason Geria header and Josh Brillante goal at AAMI Park.
Aleksandar Prijovic pulled a goal back late for Western, but Nick D’Agostino sealed Victory’s win in additional time, sending Tony Popovic’s side top of the table.
Victory’s win was built off a fast start and two quick-fire goals in the first half.
Francesco Margiotta – coming off goals in back-to-back games – threatened in the eighth minute, winning possession 20 yards from goal before unleashing a volley wide.
At the other end, Victory goalkeeper Ivan Kelava dived to his right to tip away a Connor Pain effort.
However, Victory struck twice in the space of two minutes in the first half.
In his 126th Isuzu UTE A-League game, Geria headed in a corner from Jake Brimmer, who delivered his third assist of the season.
Less than 80 seconds later and it was 2-0.
A strong run from Brimmer led to the midfielder exchanging passes with Margiotta, the Italian setting up Brillante to drill in a terrific finish into the bottom corner from 20 yards.
Victory almost added a third before half-time, Ben Folami’s powerful strike hitting the crossbar after a pass from Brimmer.
Margiotta went close again six minutes into the second half, firing wide on the turn after exchanging passes with Brimmer.
After Steven Lustica hit the outside of the post for Western, Victory almost made it 3-0 in the 58th minute.
Brillante released Folami down the left and the latter crossed for Nishan Velupillay, who put his attempt wide.
After a scramble in the area following a corner, Leo Lacroix headed an effort onto the crossbar in the 69th minute.
Velupillay tested Western goalkeeper Jamie Young with 14 minutes remaining, his powerful 30-yard strike saved.
Prijovic volleyed in a Lachlan Wales cross with three minutes remaining to give Western hope.
But D’Agostino sealed the win for Victory, which saw Robbie Kruse introduced late on for his 100th game in the Isuzu UTE A-League.
Marco Rojas led a lightning counter-attack before playing a pass into the path of D’Agostino, who drilled in his third goal of the season.
Key moment
What they said – Brillante
on the game…
“Fantastic game today. It was a tough game for us, especially in the second half. Everyone dug deep and great performance and a great win and now we’ve all got a big smile on our face after that.”
on his goal…
“It’s nice. I don’t always score goals, but it’s nice to get forward and finally score a goal so hopefully I can add a few more later this season.”
Player in focus
Brimmer continued his exceptional campaign. He set up Geria’s opener with another excellent corner and was involved in Brillante’s strike.
Implications
After a fourth win in six league games, Victory moved top of the table on goal difference ahead of Macarthur.
Result
Isuzu UTE A-League 2021/22 Round 6
Melbourne Victory 3 (Jason Geria 18′, Josh Brillante 19′, Nick D’Agostino 90+4′)
Western United 1 (Aleksandar Prijovic 87′)
Melbourne Victory: Kelava (gk); Geria, Hamill, Roderick, Davidson; Marchan, Brillante (c); Ikonomidis (Velupillay 46′), Brimmer (Kruse 85′), Folami (Rojas 72′); Margiotta (D’Agostino 68′).
Western United: Young (gk); Risdon (c), Imai, Lacroix, Topor-Stanley; Lustica, Kilkenny; Pierias, Wales, Pain; Wenzel-Halls (Prijovic 61′).
Yellow cards: Davidson 37′
Red cards: Nil
Attendance: 11,200
Venue: AAMI Park
Next up
Victory is at AAMI Park again on Sunday, January 2, hosting Brisbane Roar.
