Top 10 MVFC Moments
On Friday night Melbourne Victory take on Adelaide United to celebrate their 10th Anniversary. Stephen Ganavas looks back at his favourite 10 moments in Melbourne Victory history.
10. 5-0 Win over Sydney in Second Encounter, Season One.
The first home Big Blue at Olympic Park, Melbourne Victory put Sydney FC to the sword with a dominant second have display that included a burst of four goals in 25 minutes – two to Kevin Muscat, and two to Archie Thompson, including an unbelievable solo effort from the latter that saw him hold off four Sydney defenders with skill, before finishing calmly into the bottom corner.
- This Season’s 5-2 Derby Victory.
Melbourne Victory left their mark on the Melbourne Derby just a few short weeks ago with an authoritative 5-2 win at Etihad Stadium. Victory came from behind twice thanks to a brace from Thompson and a hat-trick from new recruit Besart Berisha, leaving City reeling in their first Derby appearance since their regeneration.
- James Robinson Semi-Final Winner against Adelaide.
In what was Victory’s first Finals Series appearance, in the A-League’s second season, and with the team needing a goal – trailing the tie on away goals at the time. Up stepped James Robinson, a bit-part player in Victory’s season, to head home a 92nd minute winner to book his side a home Grand Final.
- Kevin Muscat, John Kosmina incident.
The moment that sparked the Cross-Border Rivalry – Kevin Muscat, ex-Victory captain vs ex-Adelaide United manager John Kosmina. As the ball trickled out of play in the latter stages of a 1-0 Adelaide victory, Muscat bundled over Kosmina as he reached below his chair to grab the ball. What ensued was a Kosmina stranglehold on Muscat and his subsequent sending off, while the Victory captain received a yellow card. However, the animosity it generated fuelled the main battles of the rivalry between Melbourne and Adelaide from 2006-2008.
- 1-0 Grand Final Win over Adelaide.
This Grand Final win was a momentous occasion for the Victory as they became the first team to secure two A-League titles – after only four seasons of the competition. A Tom Pondeljak long-range strike was enough to see them triumph 1-0; again over by then arch-rivals Adelaide United. However, since this match in 2009, Victory have been unable to even reach the decider again, and have become regular semi-final losers.
- The Signing of Harry Kewell.
The signing of Harry Kewell was a pivotal moment for the club for two reasons. Firstly, it established the club as the A-League’s biggest club after they beat out Sydney FC to the Socceroo legend’s signature. It also demonstrated Victory’s on-field ambition. Even though Kewell failed to set the league on fire, he ended up being a big marketing coup for the club and attracted plenty of new fans to matches.
- First Game at Telstra Dome, 3-2 Win over Sydney FC.
When Australian domestic football first displayed its true potential. 39,730 fans flocked to Telstra Dome and they were not disappointed, the match lived to up to its billing, with the Victory securing a 3-2 win thanks to a Kevin Muscat penalty and a Danny Allsopp brace. Subsequently, after the success of the night, all of Victory’s remaining fixtures – bar one – were moved to Telstra Dome with immediate effect.
- 90th Minute Derby Winner.
The most iconic derby moment so far. At 1-1 in the 92nd minute, a December 2012 Melbourne Derby looked destined to finish 1-1 until – who else? – Archie Thompson made a brilliant run through and chipped the goalkeeper to send the Victory fans into raptures. Thompson celebrated his goal by celebrating in front of a group of Heart fans, while the Victory faithful celebrated it by storming the pitch post-game.
- Liverpool Friendly.
In a stunning coup for the club, Liverpool travelled to Australia to play the Victory at the MCG. A crowd of over 94,000 people gave a stunning rendition of ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’, and what was delivered on the pitch was similarly commendable despite the Victory succumbing to a 2-0 defeat with goals from Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard and Iago Aspas. This was a stunning coup for the club that boosted its worldwide profile, got people through the gates to expose them to the game, and now have created an administrative partnership with the English club.
- Archie Scores Five in 6-0 Grand Final Win.
A night no Victory fan will ever forget. Playing in their first A-League Grand-Final, Melbourne played Adelaide in what promised to be a tightly fought contest at the Telstra Dome, meeting just a few short weeks after James Robinson’s late goal sent the Victory to the decider. However, a close contest it was not. Victory dominated, Archie Thompson bagged five goals, with Christian Sarkies also finding himself on the scoresheet.
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