Melbourne Victory have put together a convincing performance, defeating Perth Glory 4-1 in the National Youth League at Lakeside Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Dominating the affair, a brace from Andrew Nabbout saw the hosts over the line with Christopher Cristaldo and Damien Miskulin netting either side of the interval.
Victory signalled their intent from the opening seconds with Jimmy Jeggo surging forward from kick off, earning an early corner for the home side.
The visitors though failed to find any rhythm, looking uncomfortable as Nabbout, Cristaldo and Jesse Makarounas combined well going forward, breaching the Glory’s back four on numerous occasions.
Despite starting behind the eight-ball, Glory conjured up a threatening opportunity of their own, but a lunging tackle from defender Nick Ansell blocked Borbor Sam’s effort on goal after almost rounding Victory keeper Lawrence Thomas.
Victory thought they had taken the lead moment later with Nabbout finding the back of the net but was nevertheless denied by the assistant, who adjudicated Nabbout to be offside.
Victory were however rewarded for their hard work after 32 minutes with Cristaldo opening the scoring through a fantastic solo effort.
Weaving his way through the box amongst a scramble of trailing Glory defenders, Cristaldo slotted the ball passed Perth’s Jack Duncan at the near post, despite the opportunity looking to have passed.
With ten minutes until the interval, Nabbout came agonisingly close to extending Victory’s advantage but his long range effort crashed into the woodwork.
The away side notably began the second half more lively, holding possession and moving the ball with purpose, but two goals in two minutes from Victory put the result beyond doubt.
In an excellent display of football, a cross from Nabbout hung up the the back post and was squared by Jimmy Jeggo on the volley towards Miskulin, who comfortably finished on the edge of six yards
Melbourne then added their third only two minutes later through a classic counter attack.
Starting from the back and prompted by an early release by Lawrence Thomas, a penetrating through ball by Jimmy Jeggo found Nabbout 25 yards from goal who took a touch and fired his strike across Duncan into the bottom corner.
Glory though earned themselves a consolation after 72 minutes.
Cutting in from the left wing, former Victory midfielder Isaka Cernak found Brandon O’Neill unmarked outside 18 yards, who with time to shoot, powerfully struck it past an outstretched Thomas.
The hosts seemed unfazed by the consolation goal, and saw out the game all too easily.
Duncan was called upon on more than occasion to halt Victory from extending their lead but Nabbout added the fourth with the last kick of the game, a simple tap in from two yards out.
Team Lineups:
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Substitutes:
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Substitutions:
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Scorers:
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