Melbourne Victory’s NYL season came to a close today with a 5-1 defeat at the hands of an impressive Brisbane Roar at AAMI Park.
Goals to Dane Ingham, Jesse Daley, Dylan Wenzell-Halls and Nicholas D’Agostino double were enough to get the visitors over the line, despite an equaliser from John Maclean sandwiched in between.
A back and forth first half played out in front of a healthy AAMI Park crowd, who poured through the gates in numbers ahead of the two side’s A-League meeting straight after.
While the half was littered with opportunities for both sides, the clinical finishing was saved for both the very start and very end of the first 45, with Brisbane scoring with just two minutes on the clock, before the Victory found their equaliser with one of the final passages of play.
With brother Jai sitting on the sidelines, Dane Ingham put the visitors into an early lead, taking a touch past the superb Lucas Spinella with the outside of his boot before tucking a finish into the near post past the recovering run of the defender on the line.
A neat exchange of passes for Brisbane stretched the Victory defence once more, with Jesse Daley denied a second by a reflex stop from Spinella who tapped the ball onto the post before the ball was cleared by James Xydias on the line.
A loose pass from Damien Miskulin back to his keeper saw Young Roar forward Nicholas D’agostino pounce, with Spinella smart off his line to smother the shot.
Ingham powered a low effort towards the bottom corner which was palmed away by the Victory keeper, before he made another equally sensational stop following a controversial backless call.
D’agostino received the ball from a lay-off from the free-kick inside the area before lashing a shot towards goal, making Spinella work once again to keep his side in with a shout.
Skipper Joey Katebian had the first meaningful opportunity for the Victory as he slipped into the channel to meet a well measured ball from Kieran Dover, forcing keeper Andrew Jannese into a smart save.
The forward got onto the end of another opportunity provided by Miskulin, who was allowed to skip forward from defence to release his teammate, but the resulting shot was well stopped at the near post.
Jonathan Vakirtzis toiled hard in defence and put in a crucial tackle to break up play in the 37th minute.
A ball back into the area found Daley who was once more stopped by the seemingly impenetrable Spinella.
An equally good stop at the other end from Jannase denied Maclean an equaliser, as the winger was found by a wonderful Christian Theoharous cross.
The attack was started by a good run from Xydias in defence who played a ball down the left wing for Theoharous, who then in turn found Maclean with a low ball across goal, who shot back in the direction it came, brilliantly stopped by the trailing leg of the keeper.
They had an equaliser in the 45th minute through Maclean as he was brilliantly spotted by Sebastian Pasquali, who showed strength to keep his feet under pressure before slipping through his teammate for a simple finish across the face of goals.
He nearly had a second within 10 minutes of the restart as his right footed cross nearly caught out Jannese who was forced to tip over the bar.
A half shout for a Victory penalty was denied by the referee, despite the protest of Katebian who appeared to be scythed down on the right side of the box.
Dover then struck the side netting after slipping clear of his defensive marker after a late burst from behind the striker before Brisbane struck for their second.
Daley was the recipient of a delightful cutback from a Roar teammate who found the midfielder on the penalty spot, before clinically dispatching the ball into the side of the goals.
The game was soon killed off by a second Roar effort, coming courtesy of D’Agostino, who was picked out by a peach of a cross from Jaiden Walker to header home his side’s third.
Katebian rattled the crossbar from a close range free-kick in the dying embers of the match before the game was finished off by a sumptuous effort from D’Agostino – who picked out the top corner of the net with a thunderbolt effort – and an injury time finish from substitute Wenzell-Halls
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Melbourne Victory 1 (Maclean 45’) defeated by Brisbane Roar 5 (Ingham 2’, Daley 66’, D’Agostino 80’ 89′, Wenzel-Halls 90+3′) at AAMI Park [HT: 1-1]
Melbourne Victory: 1. Lucas SPINELLA (GK), 15. James XYDIAS, 3. Callum GOULDING, 5. Damien MISKULIN, 2. Jonathan VAKIRTZIS, 8. Anthony DUZEL, 4. Sebastian PASQUALI (16. Jordan BROWN 65’), 10. Kieran DOVER, 13. Christian THEOHAROUS (7. Lucas DERRICK 55’), 9. Joseph KATEBIAN (c), 11. John MACLEAN (12. Dion PAOLA 67’)
Substitute(s): Wyatt CHANT (GK)
Yellow Card(s): Dover 18’, Pasquali 35’
Red Card(s): Nil
Brisbane Roar: 1. Andre JANNESE, 9. Nicholas D’AGOSTINO, 15. Jesse DALEY, 14. Daniel DRIVER (10. Adam SAWYER 57’), 13. Mitch HORE (c), 7. Dane INGHAM, 11. Jayden PRASAD (26. Dylan WENZEL-HALLS 62’), 4. Mark RODIC, 2. Jaiden WALKER, 23. Lachlan WEIER (3. Cameron CRESTANI 78’), 5. Luke DEVERE
Substitute(s): 20. Tomislav BILIC (GK)
Yellow Card(s): Daley 29’
Red Card(s): Nil