Melbourne Victory beaten by nine-man Adelaide United 2-1

MELBOURNE Victory’s sputtering season fell to a new low, beaten 2-1 by Adelaide United despite the Reds losing two men to red cards late in the Star Wars Round match.

George Blackwood’s late goal sent Victory’s hopes of winning the way of Planet Alderaan. Picture: AAP

The Melbourne Victory rollercoaster took another dive after losing 2-1 to Adelaide United, with an injury to goalscorer Mark Milligan compounding the loss.

While a Besart Berisha penalty miss hurt, Kevin Muscat’s biggest lessons from tonight may come from Adelaide United’s Etihad Stadium match winners Papa Baba Diawara and George Blackwood.

Diawara broke his scoring drought with a 17th minute header in just his fourth start of the season, having been benched seven times in all competitions, while missing a few through injury.

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Mark Milligan, take a bow. #MVCvADL 1-1 #ALeague @FOXFOOTBALL pic.twitter.com/ArL0t9MQCm

— Melbourne Victory (@gomvfc) December 8, 2017

Adelaide coach Marco Kurz preferred to persist with rough diamond George Blackwood, 20, whose only goal came via a penalty against Victory in the FFA Cup.

Kurz’s squad management paid off in spades tonight, as Blackwood netted the winner with a clean finish just four minutes after replacing Diawara.

Muscat’s teamsheet can be picked with one’s eyes closed, and that predictability can’t be good, while Victory’s play lacks variety and dynamism.

Besart Berisha and James Troisi were upset after the game, but at least they aren’t learning a new definition of pain and suffering in the Sarlacc Pit’s belly, being slowly digested over a thousand years... Picture: Getty Images

Victory threatened for moment, as Milligan produced a moment of magic, flicking the ball over Daniel Adlung before unleashing a stunning left-foot volley to equalise on 56 minutes.

But it wasn’t long before he clutched his right hamstring as he played a forward pass and collapsed, replaced by Matias Sanchez. He was limping heavily and looks set to be sidelined for at least a fortnight.

Blackwood scored as Milligan was headed for the bench, with Nikola Mileusnic supplying the cross and keeping his feet despite cramp setting in as he was taking on Stefan Nigro,

The loss leaves Victory with two wins in 10 games and hanging onto a top six spot by a thread.

For a fleeting moment, Mark Milligan was Victory’s Luke Skywalker, scoring the equaliser, but was later taken to the healing field generator in The Resistance Base on Planet D’Qar, with what appeared to be a serious hamstring injury. Picture: Getty Images

Paba Babacar Diawara led Adelaide United’s Imperial Forces and helped crush the Victory resistance. Picture: Getty Images

Adelaide, who climb to fourth for now, started well with Ersan Gulum forced a top save from Lawrence Thomas inside the first minute.

Leroy George had a goal disallowed for off-side minutes later and the visitors pounced.

Diawara rose to head home Ryan Kitto’s corner on 17 minutes and the Senegalese striker then kept Thomas on his toes, with a superb spin and shot from outside the box that was narrowly tipped away.

The match sparked into life just before the break when the ball struck the hand of Adelaide fullback Ben Garuccio.

The Force was not with Melbourne Victory on the opening night of Star Wars round. Picture: Getty Images

VAR changed Isaias’ booking for trip on Rhys Williams to Adlung. Referee Kurt Ams bamboozled himself, as it appeared for a split second that he would forget to send the German off when he copped his second booking in the 83rd minute.

Garuccio was then sent off in comical scenes in the 88th minute for time wasting as he was about to take a throw in.

Aided by two extra men, Victory threw everything at them in the closing minutes, with Izzo tipping away a dangerous Leroy George cross in the closing minutes.

Originally published as Melbourne Victory beaten by nine-man Adelaide United 2-1