Melbourne Victory returned to winning ways by beating Brisbane Roar 2-1 in the Hyundai A-League on Saturday.
Summary
A brace from Kosta Barbarouses at Marvel Stadium helped Victory end a six-match winless run in all competitions.
Eric Bautheac struck for Brisbane shortly after the break, but Victory claimed a deserved win to close to within a point of second-placed Sydney FC.
Barbarouses’ double moved him onto 13 Hyundai A-League goals this season, with seven of those coming against his former club Brisbane.
Victory settled well and created a decent chance in the 11th minute, Barbarouses’ strike from a Storm Roux cross blocked by Matt McKay.
The host continued to push and threatened again six minutes later, Josh Hope’s effort blocked after a fine team move saw James Troisi play Barbarouses in behind.
Victory would find its opener through Barbarouses in the 24th minute.
Keisuke Honda delivered his fifth league assist of the season, beautifully playing in the New Zealander, who finished clinically in a one-on-one with Roar goalkeeper Brendan White before paying tribute to the victims of Friday’s Christchurch mass shootings.
Barbarouses completed his brace and doubled Victory’s lead six minutes before half-time.
Troisi clipped a wonderful pass over the top and Barbarouses volleyed in at White’s near post, the goal given after the video assistant referee (VAR) overturned an offside call.
Brisbane pulled a goal back early in the second half, Bautheac chipping Victory goalkeeper Matt Acton after a turnover deep in defence.
Victory was largely dictating and Troisi fired a tough chance wide from 20 yards after a nice turn in the 56th minute.
Barbarouses was just unable to complete his hat-trick shortly after the hour-mark following a wonderful team move, before Raul Baena forced White into a save.
While it was unable to find a sealer – Kenny Athiu’s flick from a Rahmat Akbari cross hitting the post in additional time – Victory secured the three points.
Key moment
What they said – Leigh Broxham
on winning again…
“We didn’t shy away from that, we knew that was the case. We’re at home here, we knew Brisbane had nothing to lose with where their season is at. We knew we had to win the game, we had plenty of chances, we made it hard for ourselves at the back a couple of times, all in all we’ll take the win at this stage.”
on Brisbane’s rally…
“It’s in the back of your mind for a second, but you know we’ve got quality layers that put the ball away. Kosta took his goals really well and a different night, we have some more goals, but it’s positive, those goals will go in, they’ll get in as these games go on.”
Result
Hyundai A-League 2018/19 Round 22
Melbourne Victory 2 (Kosta Barbarouses 24’/39′)
Brisbane Roar 1 (Eric Bautheac 50′)
Melbourne Victory: Acton (gk); Roux, Broxham (c), Niedermeier, Brown; Baena; Honda, Troisi (Akbari 86′), Hope (Valeri 68′); Barbarouses, Toivonen (Athiu 59′).
Brisbane Roar: White (gk); Nigro (Henrique 80′), Tongyik, Pepper, McKay (c); Leck (Duncan 71′), Kristensen, Lopez, Bautheac, Wenzel-Halls, Babalj (Mikkelsen 66′).
Yellow cards: Bautheac 17′
Red cards: Nil
Attendance: TBA
Venue: Marvel Stadium
Next up
Victory returns to action after the international break with a trip to Perth Glory on Saturday, March 30.
