Melbourne Victory were forced to share the points with Brisbane Roar in the Isuzu UTE A-League on Saturday evening.
Charles Nduka’s nonchalant lifted finish, his first goal for the Club, put Arthur Diles’ team ahead in the 13th minute following a perfectly-weighted pass from Juan Mata.
Unfortunately, Nicholas D’Agostino would level things up to split the Round 17 points at AAMI Park.
Team News
Diles made one change from his Round 16 starting XI, with the sidelined Reno Piscopo replaced by Keegan Jelacic, who assisted substitute Louis D’Arrigo’s winner against Wellington Phoenix.
The goalscorer, however, was out with a foot injury, along with the illness-stricken Jing Reec. This meant there were spots on the bench for Oliver Dragicevic, Xavier Stella and the returning Santos, after he shook off the leg issue that kept him out of the trip to New Zealand.
Match Action
Victory enjoyed the best of the opening duels and, after looking threatening from some early corners, went close in open play. Seizing on Brisbane’s reluctance to clear their lines, Nduka forced a turnover and flashed a volley over the top.
Although a little wayward, it was a sign of things to come for the hosts, and a warning the visitors failed to heed. Mata picked up a wider position, avoiding the midfield traffic, and his flighted forward ball expertly released Nduka to chip Dean Bouzanis.
It was a special moment for the Japanese forward, opening his account in front of the AAMI Park crowd, while Mata extended his lead at the top of the assists charts with his eighth of the season.
Positive moments kept coming for the home side, but the final balls from Nishan Velupillay and Jelacic lacked the pinpoint accuracy required. Nduka then mixed it up with a long-range skimmer, forcing Bouzanis to push the powerful shot around the post.
The Roar were fortunate not to concede a penalty a shade past the 30-minute mark when Dimitri Valkanis produced a late challenge on Velupillay, only for the referee Shaun Evans to wave play on despite the clear contact.
Half-time: Melbourne Victory 1-0 Brisbane Roar
It was a subdued beginning to the second 45, with a booking apiece the only incidents of note. And when there were chances, both Chris Long and Sam Klein fired off target for Brisbane.
At the other end, substitute Santos, replacing Jelacic, hit a cross-shot that needed turning past the post by a scrambling Bouzanis. Another introduction, Grimaldi, nearly made an immediate impact, but saw his strike charged down.
From a wide set piece, Davidson headed over an inviting Mata free kick, and no sooner had this opportunity passed than the Roar pulled level. A stretching D’Agostino was the man to equalise, converting Klein’s low centre after 76 minutes.
The Boys in Blue would push and probe for a winning goal, creating a number of chances but ultimately not finding a way through the resolute Roar defence.
Match Details
Melbourne Victory 1 (NDUKA 13′)
Brisbane Roar 1 (D’AGOSTINO 76′)
Melbourne Victory starting XI: 40. Jack WARSHAWSKY (GK), 2. Jason DAVIDSON (C), 21. Roderick MIRANDA, 15. Sebastian ESPOSITO, 22. Joshua RAWLINS, 10. Denis GENREAU, 8. Jordi VALADON, 17. Nishan VELUPILLAY (14. Matthew GRIMALDI 69′), 64. Juan MATA, 23. Keegan JELACIC (11. Clerismario SANTOS RODRIGUES 58′), 44. Charles NDUKA (9. Nikolaos VERGOS 69′).
Substitutes not used: 25. Jack DUNCAN (GK), 16. Joshua INSERRA, 29. Oliver DRAGICEVIC, 34. Xavier STELLA.
Booking: VALADON 47′, ESPOSITO 57′, RAWLINS 81′.
Brisbane Roar starting XI: 1. Dean BOUZANIS (gk) (C), 2. Youstin SALAS, 3. Dimitri VALKANIS, 5. Marius LODE, 8. Samuel KLEIN, 9. Christopher LONG (10. Georgios VRAKAS 71′), 16. Matthew DENCH (7. Jacob BRAZETE 90+2′), 19. Michael RUHS (41. Emmett SHAW 70′), 23. James MCGARRY, 25. Nicholas D’AGOSTINO (17. Justin VIDIC 79′), 47. James DURRINGTON.
Substitutes not used: 11. Macklin FREKE (GK), 15. Hosine BILITY, 44. Jordan LAUTON.
Booking: D’AGOSTINO 43′, RUHS 53′, MCGARRY 85′.
Coming soon
The heavyweight clashes keep coming. After the third and final Melbourne Derby of the season next weekend, Adelaide United visit AAMI Park at the end of the month.
