Melbourne Victory recorded its first win of the Hyundai A-League season, beating Brisbane Roar 1-0 at Suncorp Stadium on Friday.
Summary
Andrew Nabbout’s fine first-half goal was enough for Victory to secure Marco Kurz’s first win at the helm.
Ola Toivonen hit the post in the second half and Kenny Athiu had an effort cleared off the line, while a suspected hamstring injury for Nabbout was the only downside to Victory’s win.
Victory created a decent early chance, Nabbout – playing his 50th game for the club – firing over after Kristijan Dobras received a clever flick from Toivonen in the third minute.
The visitor threatened again moments later, Storm Roux heading a Migjen Basha free-kick just wide.
Victory continued to enjoy good opportunities in the opening 15 minutes as Toivonen swept an effort over after a nice move down the left involving Adama Traore – making his 50th Hyundai A-League appearance for the club – and Elvis Kamsoba.
At the other end, Victory goalkeeper Lawrence Thomas pushed away a 25-yard free-kick from Jay O’Shea in the 17th minute.
Victory would get a deserved opener through Nabbout, who finished brilliantly after a great pass over the top from Toivonen.
Approaching the half-hour mark, Victory should have doubled its lead, but Kamsoba was unable to pick out Dobras from the left for a tap in.
Thomas was called into action just before half-time, saving down low to deny Roy O’Donovan in a one-on-one to keep Victory ahead.
After a scrappy start to the second half, Kamsoba blazed wide from the edge of the area having received a smart pass from Dobras.
Brisbane squandered a great chance in the 65th minute, O’Donovan shooting over the crossbar after a cutback from O’Shea.
Victory threatened with 20 minutes remaining, Kamsoba forcing a low save from Roar goalkeeper Max Crocombe after being played in by Athiu.
Kurz’s side went close to a sealer again in the 78th minute, Toivonen hitting the post with a 30-yard free-kick before Athiu had an effort cleared off the line.
Victory sat deep in the closing stages as it held on for a deserved three points away from home.
Player in focus
Key moment
What they said – Toivonen
on the win…
“It’s a relief. Been under some pressure this week, nothing to lie about, when you play for this club it’s always about winning the games, but we stayed calm, went a little bit back to basics, the coach was talking about standing together, working for each other and I think in the second half we were really working for each other and we came up with the three points.”
on approach…
“I think we saw quite early that if we sit back and counter on them we were going to create a lot of opportunities. We should finish off the game in the first half, we had a lot of chances, a lot of opportunities.”
Result
Hyundai A-League 2019/20 Round 3
Brisbane Roar 0
Melbourne Victory 1 (Andrew Nabbout 19′)
Brisbane Roar: Crocombe (gk); Neville, Aldred (c), Gillesphey; McGing (Ingham 85′), Mauk, O’Neill, O’Shea, O’Toole (Wenzel-Halls 90+1′); O’Donovan, Inman (Amadi-Holloway 76′).
Melbourne Victory: Thomas (gk); Roux, Donachie, Deng, Traore; Broxham, Basha (Carrigan 90+6′); Nabbout (Athiu 35′), Dobras (Poulsen 60′), Kamsoba; Toivonen (c).
Yellow cards: Roux 8′, Deng 16′, Neville 39′, O’Donovan 62′, Donachie 79′, Aldred 80′, Poulsen 89′
Red cards: Nil
Attendance: TBA
Venue: Suncorp Stadium
Next up
Victory hosts Western United on Saturday, November 2 in a derby clash at Marvel Stadium.
