Melbourne Victory have notched up their first win of the National Youth League season with a come-from-behind 2-1 victory over Adelaide United at Epping Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Melbourne Victory have notched up their first win of the National Youth League season with a come-from-behind 2-1 victory over Adelaide United at Epping Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
After a scoreless first half, Joe Costa gave the Reds the lead two minutes into the second half with a wonderful team goal.
Adelaide looked on course for their second victory of the season until Melbourne found an equaliser through substitute James Kalifatidis with 10 minutes remaining and fellow substitute David Stirton completed the comeback with the match-winner four minutes from time.
Despite the win, Melbourne remain rooted to the bottom of the ladder following four consecutive defeats to start the season.
Geoff Kellaway had the first clear cut chance of the match nine minutes in when he latched onto a superb through ball from Diogo Ferreira, but with just the keeper to beat, Kellaway fired his shot straight at Reds stopper Luke Ostbye.
Costa had two chances in the space of two minutes for the visitors but on both occasions his shots lacked power as Victory keeper Sebastian Mattei made two comfortable saves.
Melbourne did get the ball in back of the net in the first half but Matthew Foschini’s point-blank strike was correctly ruled out for offside.
Inseob Shin had the Reds’ best chance midway through the half, but after connecting sweetly with Evan Kostopoulos’ cross, his goal-bound effort was well saved by Mattei.
Francesco Monterosso had a glorious chance to open the scoring in the closing stages of the half but his superb scissor kick volley was straight at Mattei as the two sides headed into break scoreless.
The deadlock was broken two minutes into the second half when some superb lead-up play resulted in Kostopoulos collecting the ball near the byline before picking out Costa who was unmarked six yards out and calmly slotted home.
Luke O’Dea had a glorious chance to equalise 10 minutes later, but after being played through by Stirton, he couldn’t beat Ostbye, who was quickly off his line to preserve the Reds’ lead.
Stirton thought he had the leveller soon after when his cracking shot beat the outstretched arm of Ostbye, but unfortunately for him and the Victory, the ball cannoned off the upright and bounced clear.
Melbourne did get the equaliser in the 79th minute when Marvin Angulo went on another mazy run before finding Kalifatidis on the edge of the area. The big striker showed plenty of composure before firing his shot past Ostbye courtesy of a slight deflection.
With their tails up, the Victory found the winner in the 86th minute when Kalifatidis crossed to unmarked Stirton in the penalty box, who had no problems finding the back of the net from about 10 yards out.
Melbourne Victory 2 (Kalifatidis 79, Stirton 86)
Adelaide United 1 (Costa 47)
@ Epping Stadium
