In their opening home game of the National Youth League season, Melbourne Victory convincingly defeated a visiting Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) side 4-1.
Senior players incorporated into the youth team were instrumental to the game, with Andrew Nabbout and James Jeggo in particular stamping their authority on the match. Newly appointed Victory A-League boss Kevin Muscat witnessed Victory’s competent performance from the stands, with an eye on senior fringe players and emerging fresh-faced youngsters.
Only minutes passed before the home side took the lead, with a perfectly-weighted through-ball from Andrew Nabbout splitting open the AIS backline to put James Jeggo through on goal. AIS goalkeeper Jordan Thurtell rushed out from his line to spread himself wide, but couldn’t prevent Jeggo from delicately chipping the ball over him to nestle softly into the back of the net.
A lacklustre period followed, but the calm was ruptured by a second goal for Victory, as Nabbout went from provider to goalscorer. Former Brisbane Roar striker Anthony Proia scuffed an innocuous ball into the box from the right flank, which somehow bypassed a flat-footed AIS defence to find Nabbout. The 20-year old forward exploited time and space in the box to compose himself and lashed the ball past Thurtell.
Minutes later, Christopher Cristaldo accelerated at breakneck pace to bring down a long ball just inside the penalty area. AIS custodian Jordan Thurtell scrambled off his line again, but on this occasion was able to thwart the danger by blocking Cristaldo’s snap shot.
Jesse Makarounas stepped up to deliver a string of dangerous fizzing free kicks for Victory, and duly forced a pair of leaping saves from Thurtell, impressing the crowd with his masterful dead-ball skills.
The AIS side struggled to find penetration and were largely reduced to peppering the goals with ranged efforts.
Another stinging rocket from Makarounas was palmed over by Thurtell, ending the first half’s proceedings.
The second half began with a passage of ponderous play from the two sides.
It was Nabbout again who provided a spark as he demonstrated classy touch with a lob to set up Cristaldo, but the diminuitive attacking midfielder’s touch failed him at the last moment in front of goal, allowing the AIS goalkeeper to capture the loose ball.
AIS youngster Mark Ochieng, who has trialled for Adelaide United, tried his luck from range a couple of times but narrowly missed the target on both occasions.
In a killer blow, Andrew Nabbout again forced his way onto the scoresheet. He was played through in space by a lofted pass, with all the time in the world to expertly tuck a precise near-post finish past Jordan Thurtell.
A subsequent lull in play was broken by ex-Dandenong City man Damien Miskulin, who peeled loose from his marker on the flank to hook in a ball from the edge of the box, teeing up fellow substitute Anthony Duzel. The young midfielder, who has been previously scouted by Blackburn Rovers and Everton, was quick to create space for himself and nonchalantly fire the ball into the top corner.
Presiding over a 4-0 lead, the game was clearly in the bag for Victory. Perhaps this engendered a sense of complacency, as AIS were able to pull back a consolation goal just minutes after Duzel netted his.
Darcy Madden evaded Victory’s tall centre-backs to nod an emphatic header into the back of the net from an AIS corner to make it 4-1.
Once again showcasing his repertoire of firepower, Makarounas unleashed a booming strike from range, whistling wide of the woodwork. It was the last meaningful action of the game, the referee blowing his whistle to grant mercy for the outplayed visiting AIS side.
It was Victory’s first youth league win of the season, after a dramatic 3-3 draw away to Brisbane Roar in the opening round. Darren Davies’ men have now netted seven goals in two games, with an impressive Andrew Nabbout netting four of them and orchestrating several others in a bid to force his way back into Victory’s A-League lineup.
Follow Steven Chang on Twitter at @Gixibyte.