Melbourne Victory has continued their unbeaten start to the season with a 1-0 defeat of reigning A-League Champions Brisbane Roar at Etihad Stadium on Friday night.
23,750 fans flocked to the Docklands to witness a matchup that pitted a Victory side with marquee signing Besart Berisha against his old side in a clash that many expected to be tightly contested – and it was, with Jade North’s own goal in the 77th minute separating the two sides.
Melbourne’s Fahid Ben Khalfallah worked in a free-kick from the right wing that was struck by Besart Berisha but the ball took a deflection off an unlucky North to find its way into the back of the net and give the home side its fourth win of the season.
In a first half of even stature, it was Brisbane’s Thomas Broich who fired off the first effort – a low shot in space that was easily saved by Nathan Coe in the eighth minute.
Melbourne marksman Berisha almost pulled one back against his former side in the 22nd minute after latching onto a brilliantly timed through ball from Daniel Georgievski but his effort from a tough angle was saved by an outstretched Jamie Young.
Just moments later, the visitors would demonstrate their set-piece prowess and threaten the Victory goal when Broich’s well worked free-kick was met by Brandon Borrello, but Nathan Coe was able to deny the Roar forward.
Brisbane almost gifted the home side an unlikely goal in the 40th minute after Daniel Bowles almost turned a Gui Finkler cross into his own goal – luckily for Bowles, his clearing header fell onto the roof of the net.
After a scoreless first half, the Victory looked to have grabbed the opener in the 56th minute when Adrian Leijer rose high to head in a ball that was taken over the line by Jamie Young – however the Victory defender was judged to be offside by the linesman.
The breakthrough would come in the 77th minute and although Berisha was at the centre of the action, it was Jade North who unwillingly turned the ball into the net for an own goal with a deflection – sending cheers around Etihad Stadium.
Fahid Ben Khalfallah had a chance to put the nail in the Brisbane coffin in the 92nd minute after blazing forward and finding himself one-on-one with Young – who arguably put in his best performance of his A-League career to date – but the Brisbane stopper was able to deny the Victory winger.
In an end-to-end contest, both sides had four shots on target apiece but it would be the home side who would walk away with the three points as well as momentum heading into next round’s clash with Adelaide United.
Melbourne Victory will welcome Josep Gombau’s Adelaide United to AAMI Park on Friday with kick-off scheduled for 7:40 pm.
Melbourne Victory 1 (North [OG] 77′) defeated Brisbane Roar 0 at Etihad Stadium [HT 0:0]
Melbourne Victory: 1.Nathan Coe (GK), 5.Mark Milligan (Captain) 6.Leigh Broxham, 7.Gui Finkler (11.Connor Pain 67’), 8.Besart Berisha, 10.Archie Thompson (9. Kosta Barbarouses 57’), 14.Fahid Ben Khalfallah, 15.Daniel Georgievski, 21.Carl Valeri (16.Rashid Mahazi 86’), 23.Adrian Leijer, 24.Scott Galloway
Unused Substitutes: 20.Lawrence Thomas (GK), 22.Jesse Marakounas
Yellow Cards: C. Valeri 21’, M. Milligan 35’
Red Cards: None
Brisbane Roar: 21.Jamie Young (GK), 2.Matt Smith (Captain), 3.Shane Stefanutto (15.James Donachie 17’), 10.Henrique, 13.Jade North, 14.Daniel Bowles, 17.Matt McKay (8.Steven Lustica 81’), 18.Luke Brattan, 22.Thomas Broich, 23.Dimitri Petratos, 28.Brandon Borrello (7.Mensur Kurtishi 67’)
Unused Substitutes: 30.Matthew Acton (GK), 34.Shannon Brady
Yellow Cards: M. McKay 29’, J. North 45’, L. Brattan 65’
Red Cards: None