Melbourne Victory played out an entertaining 2-2 draw with Perth Glory in the Hyundai A-League on Saturday.
Summary
Coming off an AFC Champions League win away to Kashima Antlers on Tuesday, Victory looked on track for three points at HBF Park.
Ola Toivonen’s fine opener was cancelled out by a Bruno Fornaroli free-kick on the stroke of half-time, but Andrew Nabbout restored Victory’s lead in the 58th minute.
However, Nicholas D’Agostino found a last-minute equaliser for Perth as the spoils were shared.
The first real chance fell Perth’s way in the ninth minute, but Lawrence Thomas produced a great low save to keep out Joel Chianese after D’Agostino’s scuffed shot fell into his path.
Victory looked otherwise settled, with Elvis Kamsoba shooting into the legs of Glory goalkeeper Liam Reddy after a wonderful run down the left.
Midway through the first half and Victory went ahead through Toivonen’s eighth league goal of the season.
Migjen Basha brilliantly released Nabbout down the right and the attacker cutback to Toivonen, who curled a fine strike into the top corner from just outside the area.
Perth went close in the 35th minute, Fornaroli’s overhead kick hitting the post after a cross from Ivan Franjic.
Nabbout almost doubled Victory’s lead soon after, his header from Adama Traore’s cross deflected wide.
But Fornaroli brought Perth level on the stroke of half-time, curling a free-kick into the bottom corner from just outside the area.
Victory made a decent start to the second half as Toivonen almost got on the end of a Traore cross before D’Agostino had an effort deflected wide for Perth in the 55th minute.
However, the visitor deservedly took the lead approaching the hour-mark through Nabbout.
Nabbout was released by an Anthony Lesiotis pass before racing through on goal, stepping inside and placing a lovely finish into the bottom corner.
Toivonen threatened again in the 69th minute, but Reddy dived to his right to push away the forward’s effort after a Kamsoba cutback, the winger having been put into space by Traore.
Marco Rojas made his Victory return from the bench, but Perth found a late equaliser through D’Agostino, who headed in a Franjic cross at the back post in the 90th minute.
Player in focus
Key moment
What they said – Rojas
on his return…
“It’s always nice to be back out there. I was really excited about getting going on again, it’s been over a month since I played my last competitive game so it’s nice to be out there.”
on his fitness…
“I’ll be fine. I’ve come off a little off-season so I feel good, it’s just about getting the minutes and the conditioning back into my legs and I’ll be fine.”
on form…
“We’ve got a heavy schedule coming up and we need to start picking up points in this league, we know that and our focus is on doing that. We got close tonight, but we’ll go again and see what we can do next week.”
Result
Hyundai A-League 2019/20 Round 17
Perth Glory 2 (Bruno Fornaroli 45+2′, Nicholas D’Agostino 90′)
Melbourne Victory 2 (Ola Toivonen 23′, Andrew Nabbout 58′)
Perth Glory: Reddy (gk) (c); Franjic, Wuthrich, Mrcela, Grant, Meredith; Chianese (Ikonomidis 63′ (G. Popovic 79′)), Brimmer (K. Popovic 63′), Kilkenny, D’Agostino; Fornaroli.
Melbourne Victory: Thomas (gk); Lauton, Roux, Donachie, Carrigan, Traore; Nabbout (Rojas 75′), Basha (Poulsen 45′), Lesiotis, Kamsoba, Toivonen (c) (Athiu 83′).
Yellow cards: Mrcela 21′, Grant 36′, Fornaroli 90+2′
Red cards: Nil
Attendance: 9,435
Venue: HBF Park
Next up
Victory is back in Melbourne in Round 18, facing City in the Derby at AAMI Park on Friday, February 7.
