Melbourne Victory makes hot start, collapses to lose 3-2 to Western United
Western United produced the biggest statement of its month-long tenure by overrunning a disjointed Melbourne Victory that led 2-0 after seven minutes.
Melbourne Victory
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Disjointed Melbourne Victory let a two-goal lead slip, collapsing at home to Western United.
The A-League expansion club produced the biggest statement of its month-long tenure, with the club hoping a spirited 3-2 win will prove defining on and off the field as it tries to establish a footprint in the local market.
While this was meant to be the marquee fixture of the new season amid Western United’s entrance, the latest Victorian derby drew an underwhelming crowd of 20,865 at Marvel Stadium.
United’s impressive win lifts Mark Rudan’s side inside the top four, three points clear of Marco Kurz’s injury-ravaged and inconsistent Victory.
Rudan said this was a huge moment for the club.
“It’s moments like these that define clubs — this will be one of them,” Rudan said.
“It’s up there (as one of his biggest wins). Got to give the players a lot of credit. It’s persistence, it’s courage.”
RETURN OF THE BES
Besart Berisha had the crazy eyes going as he was emerging from the tunnel in his emotional reunion, before revving up his teammates in Western United’s pre-game huddle.
Unsure whether he would celebrate if he scored against the club where he became a cult hero, winning two titles in four years, Berisha appeared to equalise midway through the first half.
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But his measured celebration — a modest fist pump — may have been in part due to the fact that it came off Victory stopper James Donachie before going in.
Berisha played the focal point role well with and without the ball, enabling the players just behind him — Scott McDonald and Alessandro Diamanti — to flourish.
THE OCCASION
The game was bereft of derby spice, which will hopefully come in years to come as Western United establishes itself.
United’s away bay attracted a modest 1200 fans, with green and black splattered around other parts of the ground.
Victory got off to a flyer and United seemed rattled, with Ola Toivonen and Kristijan Dobras putting the home side ahead 2-0 within seven minutes.
While Western United steadied, Victory was content slowing the tempo and it played into the visitors’ hands.
Italian Diamanti scored on 16 minutes with a long-range rocket that has been brewing for a few weeks.
McDonald and wing-back Josh Risdon then combined, the latter sending in a dangerous Berisha-bound cross that deflected in off Donachie.
Level at the break, McDonald then put Western United ahead after the restart with a canny build-up that finished with a strike that went in via a deflection.
THE NEW KID
The silver lining for Victory was the performance of teenage debutant Brandon Lauton, who hails from Western United heartland.
Born in Durban but arriving in Australia age three, the Ballarat Red Devils product was a straight swap for injured Socceroo Andrew Nabbout.
Lauton provided some spark, whipping in a dangerous early cross but no one gambled for Victory.
The teenager was in and out of the game throughout his 80-minute outing, with his best chance coming just before the break that narrowly went over the bar.
His debut display was cause for optimism for Victory — but missing Socceroos duo Nabbout and Robbie Kruse and with Kenny Athiu set to join South Sudan on international duty, there will be reliance on him to step up.
Originally published as Melbourne Victory makes hot start, collapses to lose 3-2 to Western United