Melbourne Victory kept the pressure on the top two in the Isuzu UTE A-League with a 4-1 win over Macarthur on Friday night.
Summary
Victory closed the gap on the top two with a fine performance at Campbelltown Stadium, where it extended its Club-record unbeaten league run to 12 games.
After Ben Folami’s first-half opener, Jake Brimmer doubled Victory’s lead from the penalty spot, only for Craig Noone to score a spot-kick for Macarthur.
But Roderick Miranda’s fabulous flick and Josh Brillante’s late sealer secured all three points for Victory.
Victory looked particularly lively early on.
Marco Rojas did brilliantly down the right before being denied by Filip Kurto in the seventh minute, while Rai Marchan also tested the Macarthur goalkeeper from range.
Victory was continuing to build into the encounter and Brimmer saw a deflected effort saved by Kurto after a fine passing move in the 21st minute.
The opener came via Folami’s third of the league campaign prior to the half-hour mark.
Matt Spiranovic’s header from a Brimmer corner was blocked, but Folami picked out the bottom corner with his finish from inside the area to make it 1-0.
Apostolos Giannou almost scored an own goal as Victory pushed for a second in an impressive first half.
After Brimmer had a goal ruled out for offside to begin the second half, the midfielder was given the chance to double Victory’s lead from the penalty spot.
Jason Geria was fouled by Jordon Mutch in the area and Brimmer stepped up to convert the 53rd-minute penalty.
But just three minutes later and Macarthur had a spot-kick of its own, Noone converting after a handball by Marchan in the area.
Macarthur had a goal ruled out shortly after the hour-mark, Aleksandar Jovanovic scoring from an offside position.
But Victory added a third through Roderick, who brilliantly flicked in a Brimmer corner in the 81st minute.
After a superb save from Ivan Kelava, Brillante sealed Victory’s win, putting away a cutback from Nishan Velupillay.
Key moment
Player in focus
Already impressing in defence, Roderick was on the scoresheet in style. His flick will go down as a contender for goal of the season.
Implications
Victory (41 points, 23 games) kept the pressure on the top two, moving closer to City (46 points, 24 games) and Western United (44 points, 23 games)
Result
Isuzu UTE A-League 2021/22 Round 25
Macarthur 1 (Craig Noone 56′ pen)
Melbourne Victory 4 (Ben Folami 28′, Jake Brimmer 53′ pen, Roderick Miranda 81′, Josh Brillante 90+4′)
Macarthur: Kurto (gk); Uskok, Jovanovic, Meredith; Noone, Mutch (De Silva 61′), M’Mombwa (Liam Rose 46′), McGing; Davila (c), Giannou (Juric 61′), Toure (Lachlan Rose 61′).
Melbourne Victory: Kelava (gk); Geria, Spiranovic (Hamill 46′), Roderick, Nigro (Kirdar 82′); Brillante (c), Marchan (Broxham 69′); Rojas (Ikonomidis 69′), Brimmer, Folami (Velupillay 87′); D’Agostino.
Yellow cards: Marchan 56′, D’Agostino 67′, Jovanovic 84′, Liam Rose 90+2′
Red cards: Nil
Attendance: TBA
Venue: Campbelltown Stadium
Next up
Victory will look to continue its form run when it visits Brisbane Roar on Anzac Day.