Melbourne Victory Men were beaten by Melbourne City in the Isuzu UTE A-League Men’s on Saturday night at AAMI Park.
A goal after 83 seconds from Max Caputo stunned Victory early, who went on to work their way into the game and create a variety of chances.
Forcing a number of stunning saves out of City’s keeper Patrick Beach, including a thunderous curling strike from Matthew Grimaldi, substitute Peter Antoniou would double City’s lead in the 55th minute and help the visitors seal the win.
Team News
Arthur Diles made a single change from the 0-2 success away to Perth Glory, with Captain, Roderick Miranda making his first start of the season as fellow defender Joshua Inserra dropped to the bench.
Match Action
City struck early in the derby. Having won possession high up the field, Andreas Kuen nudged it into the path of Caputo, who used a slippy surface to pick out the corner off his left foot.
In response, Victory knocked on the door persistently. Juan Mata forced a superb save from Patrick Beach and narrowly missed the target with another effort, either side of a snap-chance for Jason Davidson that the defender fired over the top.
Next up, Grimaldi looked set to follow up two assists versus Glory with a goal, but appeared betrayed by the turf as his attempt ballooned skywards.
The visitors then, for the first time since scoring, made a forward move. Working the ball economically back to front, the final product was flashed across goal by Benjamin Mazzeo.
Half-time: Melbourne Victory 0-1 Melbourne City
After a routine save for Jack Duncan, Beach produced a spectacular one at the other end. Grimaldi set his sights from distance and looked set to pick out the top corner, only for the opposition goalkeeper, at full stretch, to paw the ball behind.
Unfortunately, this proved pivotal, as just five minutes later, City doubled their advantage. Takeshi Kanamori delivered some detailed build-up, finding first-half substitute Antoniou, who swept the ball in at the near post.
It was almost three midway through the second 45, but Andrew Nabbout, peeling off at the far post, could not keep his volley down.
The same story followed in front of the North End, as the recently introduced Santos failed to keep a cutback down before Jordi Valadon, withdrawn moments later, curled one desperately close.
Another Victory replacement appeared to have halved the arrears to set up a grandstand finish. Mata expertly released Jing Reec, and the attacker shook off his marker, to finish smartly, but the celebrations were abruptly halted by an offside flag.
And the same fate befell Nabbout when he went too early to have his own effort chalked off late on.
Match Details
Melbourne Victory 0
Melbourne City 2 (CAPUTO 2′, ANTONIOU 55′)
Melbourne Victory starting XI: 25. Jack DUNCAN (GK), 22. Joshua RAWLINS, 21. Roderick MIRANDA (C), 4. Lachlan JACKSON, 23. Keegan JELACIC (11. SANTOS 64′), 8. Jordi VALADON (34. Xavier STELLA 80′), 10. Denis GENREAU, 2. Jason DAVIDSON, 64. Juan MATA, 14. Matthew GRIMALDI (29. Oliver DRAGICEVIC 80′), 9. Nikos VERGOS (19. Jing REEC 57′).
Substitutes not used: 40. Jack WARSHAWSKY (GK), 16. Joshua INSERRA, 15. Sebastian ESPOSITO.
Booking: GENREAU 30′.
Melbourne City XI: 1. Patrick BEACH (GK), 13. Nathaniel ATKINSON (C) (37. Peter ANTONIOU 15′, 27. Kai TREWIN, 22. 44. Besian KUTLESHI (15. Andrew NABBOUT 62′), 30. Andreas KUEN, 19. Zane SCHREIBER (39. Emin DURAKOVIC 76′), 10. Takeshi KANAMORI, 47. Kavian RAHMANI (4. Liam BONETIG 46′), 17. Max CAPUTO, 20. Benjamin MAZZEO (36. Harrison SHILLINGTON 62′).
Substitutes not used: 33. Dakota OCHSENHAM (GK), 38. Beckham BAKER.
Booking: CAPUTO 60′, KUEN 83′, ANTONIOU 90+3′.
Coming Soon
From the Melbourne Derby to the Original Rivalry, the next fixture at AAMI Park is a Men’s and Women’s Double Header on Saturday, December 13. Before that action-packed event, it is a trio of away trips for Diles’ side to Sydney FC on Saturday, November 22, kick-off 7.35pm AEDT, Brisbane Roar on Friday, November 28, kick-off 7.35pm AEDT, and Macarthur on Friday, December 5, kick-off 7.35pm AEDT.
