Melbourne Victory got off to an excellent home start with a first-up win against Perth Glory in the pre-season cup. Archie Thompson scored just on the hour in an entertaining game which should assist Victory’Äôs quest for the Melbourne football fans’Äô allegiance.
Archie Thompson scored just on the hour, lobbing Glory goalkeeper Jason Petkovic from the point of the penalty-area.
’ÄúIt was a scrappy win,’Äù said Victory coach Ernie Merrick after the game. ’ÄúWe had some very good passages of play, but I wouldn’Äôt get carried away with it. (We’Äôre) just not playing consistently yet.’Äù
Merrick had brought on Andy Vlahos for Steve Pantelidis at the break to give the team more drive, and this was an astute change. ’ÄúI thought Steve did a good job, but I wanted a more creative midfielder.’Äù
Glory coach Steve McMahon was not overly-concerned at the result. ’ÄúI’Äôm quite pleased with progress,’Äù he said. ’ÄúWe’Äôve still got a number of weeks before the main season starts, (but) our main goal is to (prepare) for 26 August.’Äù
’ÄúWe forced the issue once we went a goal behind. We had chances.’Äù
Much of Victory’Äôs drive came from young Kristian Sarkies in the engine-room of midfield, playing with a level of composure well beyond his eighteen years, and was the game’Äôs stand-out player. ’ÄúI thought he was outstanding,’Äù said Merrick.
Naum Sekalovski had the first shot of the game for Glory with just three minutes gone, but Victory’Äôs first reply of note took until just before the quarter-hour when Austrian Richard Kitzbichler let fly after a meandering run which started well inside his own half.
Daniel Allsopp was later set free up the right from a Michael Ferrante pass, but his cross flashed across the face of goal without a Victory player near enough to get a touch.
Glory had claims for a penalty turned down just before the half-hour by referee Peter Green when Bobby Despotovski’Äôs free-kick crashed off a rising wall. Ferrante had committed the foul on the edge of the penalty-area to set up the free-kick in a dangerous position.
’ÄúTo be fair, it was only one hand,’Äù said McMahon to laughter. ’ÄúWe didn’Äôt even get a corner from it. I’Äôm baffled.’Äù
Just after the half-hour, Sarkies went on a storming run up the inside-left channel and then released Thompson wider to his right who had got behind Jamie Coyle. Thompson shot first time but over the bar.
The balance of play began to fall Victory’Äôs way, but - as the half drew to a close - Perth Glory should have made more of some good possession from a corner which eventually led to a ball being played in to Despotovski inside the penalty-area, but the Glory striker shot over the bar.
Despotovski had an even better chance ten minutes after the break. Adrian Cacares had been Glory’Äôs best avenue of attack and once again he was the architect of a dangerous move. His cross fell to Nick Ward who was able to squeeze the ball through to Despotovski as Muscat closed him down. Despotovski faced only goalkeeper Michael Theoklitos but scuffed his shot and the chance was gone.
Immediately the ball was played forward for Victory and Daniel Allsopp saw the assistant’Äôs flag raised saving him the embarrassment of putting the ball wide from one yard out as the ball crashed off the post from Thompson’Äôs shot back into his path.
But Thompson brought off the moment of magic the game called out for on the hour. Ferrante had set free Kitzbichler who in turn found Thompson free up the right. Petkovic saw the danger and decided to try to get to the ball first. Thompson was quicker. He lifted the ball high over Petkovic’Äôs despairing leap and watched as it bounced into the net.
’ÄúEvery time Archie gets the ball he’Äôs electric,’Äù said Merrick. ’ÄúIn fact, I’Äôve never seen him pass the ball unless (he’Äôs surrounded). If there’Äôs five defenders, Archie would take them all on.’Äù
Within a minute, Glory could have levelled. Despotovski again found himself in a good position and ready to strike but was swiftly closed down with a crunching tackle by Mark Byrnes which snuffed out the opportunity.
Victory could have extended the lead in a frantic close. Geoffrey Claeys saw a shot headed off the line from a corner, Kitzbichler brought out a fine save from Petkovic, and Thompson and Allsopp managed to waste an opportunity with Glory stretched.
Henry Fa’Äôarodo was introduced late to the fray and almost turned the game for Glory. He had home hearts racing when he found himself in a similar position as Thompson did for Victory’Äôs goal as he chased down a ball which Theoklitos raced out to collect. Fa’Äôarodo got in first and lofted the ball, but it fell agonisingly wide of the near post.
Fa’Äôarodo had another opportunity right at the death when he beat Victory’Äôs offside trap on a Despotovski pass, but Theoklitos was able to get in a fine block for the save which confirmed it would be Victory’Äôs night.