Andrew Nabbout’s stunning late goal lifted Melbourne Victory to a 2-1 win over Adelaide United in the Hyundai A-League on Saturday.
Summary
Nabbout produced a spectacular goal in the 91st minute at Marvel Stadium to secure all three points for Victory.
It came after Victory had wasted numerous chances, with Marco Rojas having cancelled out Kristian Opseth’s opener.
Adelaide opened the scoring in the seventh minute through Opseth, who curled into the bottom corner after a pass from Riley McGree.
However, Victory enjoyed the better of proceedings after falling behind.
Migjen Basha and Nabbout forced low saves from Reds goalkeeper Paul Izzo before Ola Toivonen hit the side-netting in the 12th minute.
Izzo kept Adelaide level midway through the first half when he pushed away a Nabbout volley from Tim Hoogland’s superb cross.
James Donachie and Leigh Broxham fired efforts wide before Basha stung the palms of Izzo from an angle in the 36th minute, while the Adelaide shot-stopper denied Rojas moments later.
Victory squandered another glorious chance just two minutes before half-time.
After Izzo saved from Elvis Kamsoba, Adama Traore’s header back into the area was nodded wide by Toivonen from close range.
George Blackwood rattled the crossbar for Adelaide in the 56th minute before Kamsoba blazed over at the other end.
Victory deservedly equalised approaching the hour-mark through Rojas’ first goal since returning to the club.
Rojas burst into the area to collect Hoogland’s delivery before producing a calm finish past Izzo to make it 1-1.
Adelaide went close to restoring its lead in the 70th minute, but Blackwood’s strike from inside the area hit the crossbar and bounced clear.
James Troisi was the next to threaten for Adelaide, but his free-kick was pushed away by Victory goalkeeper Lawrence Thomas four minutes later.
Nabbout tested Izzo following a counter-attack before Adelaide almost struck a 90th-minute winner, but Thomas saved well to deny Mohamed Toure.
Instead, it was Nabbout who delivered a sensational strike in additional time.
The attacker received a pass from Basha on the left before cutting inside and unleashing a stunning effort into the top corner.
Player in focus
Key moment
What they said – Toivonen
on the game…
“Look, 1-0 at half-time for Adelaide and we created a lot of chances in the first half and it’s tough, it’s tough to go into half-time at 1-0 down but we just kept going and I think we win finally and we had some luck on our side, they hit the bar two times, but you get what you deserve.”
on the win…
“We knew before this game it was a win or die game. We’re still in it, we don’t have the AFC Champions League for a while so we can focus on the A-League and I mean that’s just what we need, we need the fans as well, it’s been a tough year and they deserve this win as well. Andy’s been fighting as well, hasn’t got the goal lately and it was beautiful, he got the goal today, we’re happy.”
Result
Hyundai A-League 2019/20 Round 21
Melbourne Victory 2 (Marco Rojas 57′, Andrew Nabbout 90+1′)
Adelaide United 1 (Kristian Opseth 7′)
Melbourne Victory: Thomas (gk); Hoogland, Donachie, Gallifuoco, Traore (Lauton 45′); Basha, Broxham (Lesiotis 58′); Nabbout, Rojas, Kamsoba (Athiu 88′); Toivonen (c).
Adelaide United: Izzo (gk); Marrone (Boland 45′), Elsey, Jakobsen (c), Maria; Troisi, D’Arrigo, McGree; Blackwood, Opseth (Yengi 69′), Mileusnic (Toure 78′).
Yellow cards: Toivonen 14′, Thomas 33′, Broxham 51′
Red cards: Nil
Attendance: TBA
Venue: Marvel Stadium
Next up
Victory is at home again in Round 22, hosting Sydney FC at Marvel Stadium on Saturday, March 7.
