Melbourne City have recorded their fourth-straight win, prevailing over city rivals Victory in a thrilling contest in front of 23,572 fans at AAMI Park on Saturday night.
The match ebbed and flowed but it was City who claimed local bragging rights, prevailing 2-1 thanks to goals from Stefan Mauk and Paulo Retre as well as a number of brilliant saves from goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen.
The opening minutes belonged to Victory, but their dominance came to nothing and, in the 20th minute, City hit the front.
Ben Garuccio out-witted Kosta Barbarouses on the left-hand side and proceeded to whip in a lethal ball that was met by Mauk. The youngster powered his diving header beyond a stranded Danny Vukovic.
Things only got better for City soon after. They assumed the momentum and before long doubled their money. Retre was in the right place at the right time on the half hour mark as he bundled home Bruno Fornaroli’s parried effort.
The hosts had their City rivals firmly on the back foot for the remainder of the half before Victory broke through just before the interval.
Besart Berisha held his run long enough to spring the offside trap, much to the surprise of the City defence, knocking home Fahid Ben Khalfallah’s delightful ball to give Victory hope at the break.
They carried the momentum into the second half and started with a flurry. Muscat’s men so nearly capitalised as Gui Finkler’s short corner found the head of Barbarouses, whose effort was met with fingertips from Sorensen and tipped onto the upright.
Berisha again found an opening in the penalty area but once denied by the midriff of the danish goalkeeper once more.
The Premier League veteran was called into action moments later, tipping away Finkler’s dead ball effort. City broke up that momentum somewhat as Harry Novillo shot into the side netting after some neat stepovers. The Frenchman again went close narrowly missing Vukovic’s far post.
Victory continued to push the envelope and were again inches away twice in a minute. Khalfallah struck the post with a curling effort from the right before fit-again Archie Thompson’s effort was saved by the legs of Sorensen and then bundled off the line.
Fornaroli was presented with a guilt-edged chance to win the game in the 89th minute after a flying David Williams counter-attack, but he was denied by an outstretched Vukovic.
Victory huffed and puffed but ultimately could not blow City’s house down as they were condemned to their fourth straight defeat. By contrast, City have now won the same number on the spin.
If he’s worth it, he’s worth it
In the season’s early days, the media and fans alike had debated the value in using an visa spot on a goalkeeper.
The man in question was ex-Stoke City gloveman Sorensen who was – and still is – at the ripe old age of 39. Any such doubts about City’s decision to use a foreign spot on the Dane can surely now be dispelled. Sorensen was simply immense when it mattered most, standing tall as Victory launched a full-scale barrage on his goal.
He made save after save after save, most notably off the feet of the ever-present Berisha and then with his legs, this time against Thompson.
Somehow, largely thanks to Sorensen, Victory registered only one goal.
City make their chances count
Though the heroics of the goalkeeper helped, City should not be counted overly fortunate. On the back foot, it took only a moment for them to make their opposition pay cash for not converting their initial foothold on play into goals.
A superb ball after some equally good skill from Garuccio put the ball on a platter for youngster Mauk, who matched Garuccio’s quality in effort. Lunging in, the 20-year-old connected cleanly with his head, putting City 1-0 up against the run of play.
They were again efficient 10 mintes later. A quick counter presented City with a fantastic opening. Fornaroli’s effort could only be scrambled clear by Victory and it fell to Retre, who thundered home against his old club.
Have the little brothers finally arrived?
A derby that did not disappoint
Well, maybe unless you’re a Victory fan.
What can you say about this contest? It was a derby to remember.
The second half, in particular was simply breathtaking, nailbiting… any other superlatives?
This was a free-flowing contest with skill left, right and centre and delivered the entertainment factor the A-League craves in one of its showpiece events.
Outside90 Player of the Year votes
3 – Thomas Sorensen
2 – Besart Berisha
1 – Fahid Ben Khalfallah
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