Melbourne Victory recorded another important win away from home, edging Perth Glory 1-0 in the Isuzu UTE A-League on Wednesday.
Summary
Francesco Margiotta’s excellent second-half strike at HBF Park earned Victory a second straight away win, while extending the Club’s unbeaten run in the league to eight games.
Victory rose to third on the table ahead of Saturday’s blockbuster Melbourne Derby against City.
There was an early chance for Victory, Marco Rojas’ header from a Chris Ikonomidis cross comfortably saved.
At the other end, Victory goalkeeper Ivan Kelava watched a shot from substitute Pacifique Niyongabire flash wide of his right post in the 17th minute.
Victory went closest to an opener in the opening half-hour, hitting the woodwork twice.
After receiving a pass from Jake Brimmer, Rojas turned wonderfully on the edge of the area before hitting the post with a powerful low strike.
Margiotta then almost opened the scoring with a superb free-kick, his long-range strike hitting the post.
Victory was growing into the contest and captain Josh Brillante forced a good stop from Perth Glory goalkeeper Liam Reddy with a powerful volley from an angle.
After building into the game, Victory opened the scoring through Margiotta in the 57th minute.
Released down the left side of the area, Brimmer played a pass into Margiotta, who finished superbly to make it 1-0.
Tyler Vecchio fired narrowly wide for Perth with 16 minutes remaining, but Victory held firm in the closing stages to take all three points.
Key moment
What they said – Jason Davidson
on the game…
“Tough game today, to come to Perth, with the travel, we were delayed last night so we rocked up I think it was 3.00am this morning on game day so credit to the boys, we got the job done and got the three points.”
on the performance…
“I think when you say sloppy, maybe with the ball we weren’t at our best, but defensively if you saw, especially towards the end, the determination, the grunt to make sure we got the job done, clean sheet. As you’ve seen the last couple of weeks as well we’re a team that wants to make sure that we’re defensively solid, don’t give too many chances away, I think tonight we gave a few too much chances away, but under the circumstances, credit to the boys because it was a tough situation to come here but we got the job done.”
Player in focus
After a strong performance in Adelaide, Margiotta followed it up with a deserved match-winner in Perth.
Implications
Still holding games in hand on the teams around it, Victory climbed into third on the table.
Result
Isuzu UTE A-League 2021/22 Round 22
Perth Glory 0
Melbourne Victory 1 (Francesco Margiotta 57′)
Perth Glory: Reddy (gk) (c); Burke-Gilroy, Lachman, Rawlins, Clisby; Colli, Timmins (Stynes 72′), Oxborrow (Malik 72′); Sardinero (Niyongabire 8′), Bramwell (Vecchio 63′), Ostler (Zimarino 63′).
Melbourne Victory: Kelava (gk); Geria, Hamill, Spiranovic (Nigro 68′), Davidson (Kirdar 86′); Broxham, Brillante (c) (Marchan 76′); Rojas, Brimmer, Ikonomidis (Folami 68′); Margiotta (D’Agostino 68′)
Yellow cards: Timmins 28′, Davidson 46′, Colli 70′, Marchan 90′
Red cards: Nil
Attendance: TBA
Venue: HBF Park
Next up
Victory hosts City in a blockbuster Melbourne Derby clash at AAMI Park on Saturday.
