Melbourne Victory and Melbourne City share points in rainy derby draw
Web StoryWatch this story in 15 seconds →Key takeaways
- Victory led through Keegan Jelacic in the seventh minute, but Andrew Nabbout levelled for City early in the second half.
- Both Melbourne clubs are still without a win after two A-League Men games this season.
- City host Sydney FC next Saturday, while Victory travel to face Central Coast Mariners.
Melbourne Victory and Melbourne City drew 1-1 on Saturday night. The match was the 52nd Melbourne Derby. It was played at AAMI Park in heavy rain.
Keegan Jelacic put Victory ahead in the seventh minute. Andrew Nabbout scored the equaliser for City after half-time. Both teams are still without a win after two games this season.
The draw left both coaches with mixed feelings. Victory felt they had lost two points. City felt they had earned one.
What happened
Victory started fast in the rain. Charles Nduka drove forward and played a quick one-two with Keegan Jelacic. Nduka then cut the ball back, and Jelacic drove it high into the net.
The goal gave Victory an early lead. It also set the tone for a fiery first half. City had to chase the game from that point on.
City found chances as the half went on. Awer Mabil came close in the 28th minute, but his shot flashed wide. He went close again before half-time, but his effort flew over the bar.
City had six shots in the first half, according to A-Leagues. None of those shots hit the target. Victory went into half-time with their lead intact.
City coach Aurelio Vidmar made one change at half-time. He sent on Emiliano Marcondes for his City debut. The change gave City fresh energy right away.
City goalkeeper Macklin Freke made two big saves just after the restart. He stopped a header from Guillermo May in the 49th minute. He then kept out a close-range effort from Jason Davidson.
Those saves kept City in the game. Minutes later, City found their equaliser. Marcondes flicked the ball into the penalty area for Medin Memeti.
Memeti held off his defender and kept the ball in play. He returned the ball to Marcondes, who cut it back across goal. Nabbout tapped it home from close range.
AAP put the equaliser in the 52nd minute. The goal made it 1-1. It was a fine team move, and it capped a strong start to the half for City.
The game opened up after the equaliser. Both teams pushed for a winner. Neither team could find a second goal.
City came close when Harrison Delbridge rose for a header. His header was cleared off the line in the 74th minute, according to Melbourne City. Victory then pressed late with crosses from the right side.
City handed a debut to 18-year-old Roland Ballah late in the game. He showed a burst of pace at once. But he lost the ball as he closed in on the Victory defence.
Victory applied late pressure through a series of corners. City stood firm in five minutes of stoppage time. The game ended level at 1-1.
Before kick-off, there was a farewell for Juan Mata. The Spanish star took a lap of honour around AAMI Park. He chose not to return to Victory this season, according to AAP.
Mata was last season's Johnny Warren medallist. That award goes to the best player in the A-League Men. Fans showed their thanks before the game began.
Why it matters
The result keeps both teams waiting for a first win. Victory have now drawn after losing their opener. City have also failed to win in two games.
Victory coach Giovanni Savarese was unhappy with the draw. "It feels like we dropped two points," he said, according to AAP. He felt his team had the better chances late in the game.
Savarese also praised his team's first half. He said their football was very good in that period. But he felt they lost sharpness after half-time.
City coach Aurelio Vidmar saw it in a different way. He said Victory took advantage of City's slow start. But he was pleased that City turned the game around.
Vidmar said City improved in the last 10 minutes of the first half. That improvement carried into a much better second half. The half-time change played a big part in that shift.
Marcondes made a real impact on his debut. He created the equaliser within minutes of coming on. His calm pass set up Nabbout for a simple finish.
City also gave debuts to Julio Cascante and Roland Ballah. Cascante gave City a calm presence at the back late on. Ballah showed pace that could help City in future games.
Awer Mabil was another bright spot for City. The new Socceroo signing was influential in attack. He just missed with great chances in the first half.
Mabil gave City drive and skill on the ball. "He was excellent tonight," Vidmar said, according to AAP. City signed him to add quality to a young attack.
The derby is the biggest game on the A-League Men calendar. It pits two clubs from the same city against each other. A draw keeps both sets of fans waiting for bragging rights.
Neither team will be happy with two games and no win. But both teams showed enough to suggest wins will come. The next round gives each team a fresh chance.
What happens next
City are back at AAMI Park next Saturday night. They play their official home opener against Sydney FC. The game falls on Halloween matchday, according to Melbourne City.
City will want their first win of the season there. A home crowd could give them a lift. Their second-half form in the derby is a good base to build on.
Victory travel to Indonesia for a Wednesday game. They play Persib in the AFC Champions League Two. That is Asia's second-tier club event, and it is a tough away trip.
Victory then face Central Coast Mariners next weekend. That game is their next league test. They will want to turn derby promise into three points.
Elsewhere this weekend, rugby league fans have a big game too. New Zealand's Kiwis face Cook Islands in World Cup action. It is another big fixture on a busy sports weekend.
For now, the Melbourne Derby ends in a share of the points. Victory led early, City fought back well, and neither side blinked late. The race for a first win now moves to next weekend.
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