Melbourne Victory’s nine-match unbeaten run was ended with a 2-0 loss to Adelaide United in the Hyundai A-League on Wednesday.
Summary
Victory suffered its first loss since October after first-half goals from Craig Goodwin and Ken Ilso at Coopers Stadium.
In its second of four matches in 11 days, Victory made a slow start and was unable to recover.
A turnover of possession gifted Adelaide the first chance, but Victory goalkeeper Lawrence Thomas stood up to make a good save from Ben Halloran in the third minute.
Victory’s first effort on goal came 10 minutes later through Ola Toivonen, whose long-range free-kick forced Paul Izzo into a low save.
However, Adelaide opened the scoring in the 18th minute, Goodwin tapping in a Nikola Mileusnic cross from the right at the back post.
The Reds doubled their lead three minutes later, Ilso dispossessing Thomas Deng before finishing in a one-on-one with Thomas.
It was another free-kick, won by James Troisi, that led to Victory’s next chance just after the half-hour mark, but Izzo palmed away Toivonen’s 25-yard strike.
Victory created another decent chance five minutes before half-time, but debutant Elvis Kamsoba poked wide from an angle after being played in by Troisi.
Thomas was called into action again early in the second half, using his feet to deny Mileusnic from an angle.
Victory had a great chance to pull a goal back in the 49th minute, but Kosta Barbarouses was denied in a one-on-one by Izzo after dispossessing Scott Galloway as the visitor started to push.
Toivonen almost picked out the top corner from 20 yards in the 68th minute before Thomas superbly kept out Halloran once more.
Victory was inches away from striking three minutes later, but Terry Antonis’ tremendous effort from 25 yards hit the crossbar.
Adelaide went close again soon after, Thomas denying Halloran before Leigh Broxham produced another excellent goal-line clearance to keep out Ryan Kitto.
The lively Kamsoba continued to cause problems, releasing Barbarouses, whose strike from an angle was saved by Izzo, before the Reds shot-stopper was tested by Rahmat Akbari.
But despite its continued push in the second half, Victory was unable to find a goal to get back into the game.
Player in focus
What they said – Kamsoba
on his debut…
“I’m very happy for my debut, but disappointed for the team. We didn’t play well as a team and that’s what happens. You make mistakes and you get punished.”
Result
Hyundai A-League 2018/19 Round 12
Adelaide United 2 (Craig Goodwin 18′, Ken Ilso 21′)
Melbourne Victory 0
Adelaide United: Izzo (gk); Strain, Elsey, Jakobsen, Galloway; Konstandopoulos, Isaias (c); Mileusnic (Kitto 75′), Halloran (Marrone 90+4′), Goodwin; Ilso (Blackwood 62′).
Melbourne Victory: Thomas (gk); Roux, Deng, Broxham, Brown; Valeri (c) (Baena 72′), Antonis; Barbarouses, Troisi (Akbari 63′), Kamsoba; Toivonen (Athiu 78′).
Yellow cards: Konstandopoulos 31′, Brown 45′, Athiu 90′, Jakobsen 90′, Akbari 90+2′
Red cards: Nil
Attendance: 12,115
Venue: Coopers Stadium
Next up
Victory is back at home in Round 13, hosting the Newcastle Jets at AAMI Park on Saturday, January 12.
