Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.
AFTER threatening for several weeks Melbourne Victory finally showed a ruthless streak, inflicting a merciless 3-1 defeat on 10-man Melbourne Heart to leave them rooted to the bottom of the A-League ladder for Christmas.
Victory rose to third after a sublime performance from Mitch Nichols, who scored two and set up a James Troisi goal in a heated AAMI Park derby in front of 26,491.
Kevin Muscat's side was aided by the red card to Heart defender Patrick Kisnorbo after just 20 minutes for a studs up tackle on Connor Pain when the game was scoreless.
Re-live all the action in our live A-League Match Centre by clicking here, for video highlights, stats, line-ups and play by play commentary .
Who'd be a coach. Source: Getty Images
Though fighting to the death, Heart's winless streak now stretches to 16 games and sets up a must-win clash at home to struggling Wellington Phoenix on Friday, or else coach John Aloisi will be fighting to save his job.
The win also gives Victory the derby edge now (four wins, three losses, four draws) but opens up an alarming 14 point gap between the pair.
The controversy started before kick-off when Archie Thompson twinged his hamstring, with Pain brought into the XI and Andrew Nabbout onto the bench.
There was no love lost during the derby. Source: Getty Images
Heart started well and buzzing about after opening his scoring account last week, Michael Mifsud forced a save from Nathan Coe before finding the side netting - from a Harry Kewell pass _ in the space of three minutes.
But that would be his last contribution as he was sacrificed in the reshuffle that ensued after Kisnorbo's red card.
Defender Patrick Gerhardt came on to partner Rob Wielaert in defence as Heart reverted to a 4-4-1 with Kewell playing up front alone with Mate Dugandzic and David Williams asked to drop deeper.
Heart even created the next chance as Kewell curled in a lovely cross for Williams, but his tame header was easily saved by Coe.
But Victory then started gaining the ascendancy as Kosta Barbarouses forced a good save from Redmayne in the 34th minute before opening their account four minutes later.
Redmayne fluffed his clearance sending it straight to Mark Milligan who with an exquisite first touch not only set up Nichols but ensured he remained onside and the former Brisbane player did the rest, controlling it and slotting it past the keeper.
Heart then appealed for a penalty when Leigh Broxham brought down Williams but his namesake with the whistle correctly adjudicated it to be outside the area, by centimetres.
Victory had three chances to kill of the game by half time through Milligan and Pain (twice) with the latter striking the upright after cutting in from the right.
Mitch Nichols punishes Andrew Redmayne. Source: Getty Images
Importantly Heart went into the rooms just one goal in arrears and Kewell was again influential after the restart.
Three minutes after the restart he got goalside of Pablo Contreras after a long Wielart pass but failed to connect when trying to lob Coe before the Chilean recovered.
He spun and shot in a tight space in the 53rd minute with his shot flying inches wide of the post and Heart was made to pay for not converting.
Troisi made a clever run and released Nichols out wide on the right who played it straight back for him to cleverly curl it inside the post with his right boot.
And Victory weren't going to relent, bringing on Gui Finkler for Troisi and the Brazilian was involved in the fourth, cleverly dinking the ball over a Heart defender's foot with Nichols then slotting it past Redmayne.
Heart pulled one back through Nick Kalmar, who knew little about it as Coe's clearance whacked him in the head and rebounded into the net.
Dugandzic then had a golden chance to make it a tense finish in the 85th minute but tried to control Aziz Behich's cross when he should've volleyed from point-blank range.
Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang
Victory punishes 10-man Heart
Dengan url
http://sportifoclube.blogspot.com/2013/12/victory-punishes-10-man-heart.html
Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya
Victory punishes 10-man Heart
namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link
sebagai sumbernya
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar