Melbourne Victory and Brisbane Roar meet again in the A-League on Sunday.
Summary
Victory started its domestic campaign with a 3-1 loss to Brisbane at AAMI Park.
Despite Callum McManaman’s superb equaliser from distance, Victory fell to defeat after it was unable to back up a promising first half.
McManaman was particularly bright for Victory in the first half, the winger one of six players to make their A-League debuts for the club.
The teams meet again at Dolphin Stadium, although Victory will make the trip without Marco Rojas.
The New Zealand international was cleared of serious damage to his hamstring, but will miss the trip to Queensland.
In front of an energetic AAMI Park crowd, Victory had its chances in the first half against Brisbane, with Nick Ansell – who made his 100th appearance for the club – hitting the post at 1-1.
But it was unable to build on its opening 45 minutes in the second half of the defeat, one it will seek to bounce back from on Sunday.
Storm Roux could make a milestone appearance, the full-back having played 49 A-League games for Victory ahead of the encounter.
Player in focus
What they said
“We know where we’re at. We want to go out and we want to win football games and we want to go out and make sure that we’re at the top of that championship come the end of the season. We know it’s not going to happen overnight. We put a new group together, but I think most people can see from the weekend alone and parts of Doha, we have recruited well. Callum McManaman on the weekend was fantastic, Jake Brimmer in Doha has been great. Once we manage to get consistently 90 minutes under our belt, we’re just going to get better. It’s not panic, it’s something we just need to go through, we’re getting our fitness in the league rather than friendlies and we’ll get there.” – Victory head coach Grant Brebner told 3AW.
Last time
Hyundai A-League 2020/21 Round 2
Melbourne Victory 1-3 Brisbane Roar
Saturday, January 2, 2021
AAMI Park, Melbourne
Last week, McManaman cancelled out Scott McDonald’s opener with a brilliant strike from range.
But second-half goals from Macaulay Gillesphey and Dylan Wenzel-Halls saw Brisbane to its win.
As it stands
Head to head
Round 2, 2020/21: Victory 1-3 Roar at AAMI Park
Round 24, 2019/20: Victory 1-2 Roar at Bankwest Stadium
Round 3, 2019/20: Roar 0-1 Victory at Suncorp Stadium
Round 22, 2018/19: Victory 2-1 Roar at Marvel Stadium
Round 15, 2018/19: Roar 0-5 Victory at Suncorp Stadium
Match details
Brisbane Roar v Melbourne Victory
Dolphin Stadium, Redcliffe
Sunday, January 10, 2021
Kick-off: 6.05pm AEDT
