Summary
We had eight or nine yellow cards; a red card; five goals, several of these from the very top draw, and four of these actually awarded.
Both sides enjoyed see-sawing momentum - City snatching a lead against the run of play with some sublime passing movements - with Fornaroli etching his name next to one of the A-League goals of the decade.
But Victory to their credit fought back. Ben Khalfallah’s long-range effort would form the highlight reel on any other night - but unfortunately after all this is digested, it will be a refereeing decision that will be most critically scrutinised. (The only silver lining being, had this been a drab, dull affair, several poisoned pens would be furiously scratching about the continued presence of flares, thrown bottles, and other moments of crowd misbehaviour).
But none of this should detract from a fixture between two teams that will most definitely feature prominently in the A-League final series. On a night when rivals Sydney FC meekly capitulated their potential claim to the throne, both Victory and City have sent a strong message to the rest of the league; these are sides not just with skill and brillance, but bite and perseverance.
John van ‘t Schip will be relieved to avoid a loss, but his side were more than equal for Victory’s efforts over the closing minutes of a frenetic, pulsating, and dramatic Melbourne derby.
Full time: Melbourne City 2 - 2 Melbourne Victory
95 min: Not to be! Novillo hits it harmlessly wide, and that is full time.
It finishes points shared, and many in dark blue might feel aggrieved about that, but no fan will go home unhappy for what they’ve seen tonight - there’s been aggression, goals galore, and moments of real finesse.
94 min: Another flashpoint - Delpierre has gone into the book for a strong header; but it was two defender on one, and the Frenchman’s angry response to the whistle has earned him a booking.
City with perhaps the last meaningful chance from the dead ball? Ohh, what if this went in..
92 min: Mooy hoofs a clearance 50 yards, they’re dropping deep and putting the onus on Victory to unlock them, City.
Fornaroli with some great defensive work now, he’s won a freekick from FBK and milks it for every second.
89 min: Sorensen in no hurry to take a free kick, Victory forced to rebuild from the back.
5 extra minutes have been shown though - it’s as if the assistants are on to these types of wily tricks.
87 min: All Victory now, as a lovely passing passage finishes with a Finkler driven shot. Mahazi does well to pick out the Brazilian initially, who rolls an effort just wide of Sorensen’s post.
They need to keep the intensity high, here, Victory - there are two banks of white shirts forming with structured consistency.
85 min: Broxham makes way - Muscat is chasing this, a striker for a midfielder.
Retre saves a corner with a hurried clearance, you sense the hosts in white might just start to try and close up shop at the back.
83 min: Can Victory assert their one man advantage?
Mahazi beats Mooy to it, as Victory try to control the midfield. You’d warrant that van ‘t Schip would probably settle for the point about now.
And cometh the hour (and twenty-three), cometh the man - here’s Archie Thompson to enter the fray.
Red card!
79 min: Well - we knew it was coming; but with FBK and Garuccio avoiding the red mist, its Caceres - arguably one of the best players on the pitch over the last ten minutes - who gets his marching orders.
You have to feel for the young lad - he’s picked up almost as many red cards as he has appearances for City; he only just came back into the lineup from suspension.
Updated
77 min: So who will step up for the final fifteen minutes of this pulsating encounter?
A few tired legs creeping in now, with neither side consistently stringing decent passages.
Muscat looks to Mahazi off the bench - to see if he can inject anything to this derby.
74 min: Caceres and Fornaroli combine nicely, and the former Mariner drives in a firm shot. No problem for Vukovic, though.
Sorensen at the other end plays keepy-offy off Berisha. Not the best idea in tonight’s context, some might offer.
72 min: Caceres looks to get something going, as Fornaroli’s adds the nutmeg to his grab-bag of tricks tonight. City probing, but final delivery from Franjic is disappointing.
69 min: Some patient build up from Victory. They’re keen to try and re-cement their authority on this game. If you can, in fact ever re-cement anything. Once that stuff sticks, it sticks, no?
66 min: Garuccio with very heavy contact on Barbarouses, and the youngster very nearly tempts the referee into producing this inevitable red card.
Why not, this clash has had everything else.
Zullo warming up on the bench looks a lot like van ‘t Schip plans to remove this scenario; Garuccio to shortly make way.
65 min: First substitution - it’s debutant Alex Wilkinson coming off for Paulo Retre. He’s had a solid first hour in a City shirt, but perhaps short of full match fitness.
Malik drops back into defence.
62 min: Huge apologies to those attempting to join the coverage tonight; the message wonks in tech support are telling me richard.parkin.casual@theguardian.com is the best way to get in touch.
Not that we’ve had much of a break for tangental e-based distractions - there is just so much happening on the pitch right now.
Berisha wriggles, twisting and turning inside the six yard box, but he’s well marshalled by Malik and Wilkinson. He’s really getting short change tonight, especially with Kisnorbo monstering him at any given opportunity.
60 min: FBK dodges going in the book there for another nasty hack.
Confirmation that we have had seven yellow cards thus far - and on any other night that should have been an eighth. Master Beath calls for calm, as he attempts to try and defuse the firecracker start to this second half.
57 min: Like David Beckham v Greece in extra time, I had a feeling of pure inevitability about Finkler there. He is just so unbelievably impressive from that sort of range.
I called on the Brazilian and his Tunisian counterpart to stand up, and both have been excellent thus far.
Broxham goes in the book too - a crude hack on Fornaroli. Professional, cynical; call it what you want.
The mood out there is darker than a John van ‘t Schip spray tan right now.
Goal?? Melbourne City 2 - 2 Melbourne Victory
54 min: Oh no, oh no, oh no.
Finkler has slammed that freekick into the crossbar, and it’s bounced a good half-metre across the line, inside the goal!! The referee can only rely on his linesman, and you don’t want to say it, but the assistant has butchered this.
Victory fans are throwing bottles from the crowd - Sorensen won’t restart. The ‘away’ fans are livid with that non-decision, and it’s the unlikely peacemaker of Besart Berisha who heads over to beseech calm from the fans!
53 min: Berisha tries to turn through about six white shirts - and Chris Beath has given a freekick, right on the box, bang in front.
What are the odds - it is deadly Gui over it..
50 min: Fornaroli’s down with an ‘accidental’ elbow from Bozanic. We’ll give him the benefit of the doubt, but that must have tickled.
FBK draws an excellent save from Sorensen with a driven effort, just earlier. As Fornaroli goes to the sideline for treatment.
48 min: I was about to write ‘awful corner from Leigh Broxham’ when a delicate touch from Delpierre at the near post helped it on to Bozanic, who fluffed his shot in the way of Finkler, who fluffed his header/shouldered effort past Sorensen!
The Brazilian looks slightly sheepish - that’s an ear goal special, but he’s done enough.
Goal! Melbourne City 2 - 2 Melbourne Victory (Finkler)
47 min: This is ridiculous - Victory are level!
Well, that goal was as shabby as Fornaroli’s first was sublime.
Kick off! Second half.
45 min: Okay, The Beath is rested; the Brox is rested; I hope, you too, dear readers, are rested, because we’re back under way.
What can this next 45 wring out - anyone game to vote for pure dullness?
Half time: Melbourne City 2 - 1 Melbourne Victory
Pfffft! Chris Beath blows his whistle. He’s seen enough, and who can blame him wanting a wee breather.
A hatful of bookings, some real spite and feeling, and three sumptuous goals. That was some half of football.
Which was your pick of the goals? And who’s been the X-factor for the two sides?
On balance you’d perhaps say that Victory dominated that half, yet find themselves behind. Where’s it going right or wrong for your side? Somebody please tell me. Then we’ll both know.
45 min: Novillo has a mini-spat with Broxham, just for something different. It’s actually a relatively subdued crowd now, but possibly because they’re all spent from that frenetic first offering. Coaches begin to prepare their halftime oratory.
43 min: Fornaroli and Fitzgerald combine to almost sneak through the Victory defence. Before Victory respond, probing down the flanks.
In other news, Novillo’s having a blow-up on the touchline; right under the nose of Kevin Muscat. Have they not shown him the video of Muscat v Kosmina?? Brave boy.
Updated
41 min: Fornaroli harries Vukovic, a heart-in-mouth moment as the Uruguayan hunts his hattrick.
Would you believe that’s 17 goals for the season for Fornaroli, and 17 assists for Aaron Mooy.
Anyone else see a correlation here?
38 min: Good piece of defending as Wilkinson intercepts a Barbarouses cross, following a sublime ball from Finkler to pick out the Kiwi speedster.
And now, finally, a slight lull in the tempo. Before Novillo also impedes Barbarouses.
What can Victory conjure from this? Dare I suggest Berisha’s been quiet. Or is it just that Fornaroli’s been so gosh-dang noisy at the other end?
36 min: If you got blackmailed into attending your six-year-old’s niece’s school musical, and you can only follow this in covert peaks at your phone, then kick yourself. You’re missing a belter.
33 min: Well, I’m going to hazard we’re not done here. This is breakneck stuff.
Novillo wants to try a free from about 35m out; and for seemingly the first time in about twenty minutes, the fans in the ground have a moment to sip water as the effort sails harmlessly by.
In the interim - I believe Nick Fitzgerald and Scott Galloway have also gone into the book - somebody please count back and tell me how many this is now - six? seven?
It’s yellow card, goals, and crowd misbehaviour central, just lately. Andy Harper’s almost lost for words!
And Andy Harper is never, lost for words.
Goal! Melbourne City 2 - 1 Melbourne Victory (Fornaroli)
30 min: Well, sh*t me, if this isn’t getting ridiculous.
We’ve had a hold up for a minute as - would you believe it - someone’s let of a flare in the crowd; but scarcely before the cloud has cleared, it’s City back in front!
Mooy with a peach of a curling freekick, and Fornaroli’s bisected two defenders perfectly, and nudged home with the most gentle of flicked headers.
Just try and catch your breath!
Goal! Melbourne City 1 - 1 Melbourne Victory (Khalfallah)
28 min: From City’s corner, Victory pick out a fast-moving Barbarouses who ends up one-on-one with the Great Dane, Sorensen.
A brilliant save from Sorensen - but only as far as FBK, who has curled a delectable 35m effort to loop back over the sprawled ‘keeper!
All the way with FBK!!
26 min: Once again, it was Aaron Mooy with the assist. A really well-disguised reverse ball to pick out Fornaroli who then finished with aplomb - a dinked finish over Vukovic, to end a move, he started with his initial elaborate footwork. Lovely from the Uruguayan.
Now it’s City with some pressure - Mooy whips in a corner, but it’s broken kindly for Victory.
Wait for this, wait for this...!
23 min: Reach for whatever footballing cliche you want - something about ‘against the run of play’ springs to mind; but having spent a good twenty minutes getting pasted, Melbourne City have come up with the first decisive play.
Still waiting for a replay to help paint how exactly that unfolded, but we’re already embroiled in a new controversy with a very heavy shoulder challenge on Captain Broxham from the goalscorer.
It really is ugly out there. Except for the rabona. That was pretty.
Goal! Melbourne City 1 - 0 Melbourne Victory (Fornaroli)
21 min: Well, would you believe that - City have taken the lead!
An absolute treat from Fornaroli, a rabona in the build up, and the Uruguayan has finished a brilliant, flowing counterattack.
20 min: First goalmouth chance - Galloway with a fine cutback to pick out Finkler, and the Brazilian has Kanu-ed it from about eight yards out!
Scooped badly over, a real opening there with Victory still dominating early proceedings.
Now Geria crosses from the other side, but he can’t find a teammate. Great pressure this.
17 min: Now Kisnorbo’s clattered Berisha - and having called for the beleaguered man in the middle to ‘let things flow’, now our friends at Fox are calling for the whistleman to ‘slow things down and give the players a talking to’.
Who’d want to be a referee.
15 min: There’s definitely some niggle out there. Barbarouses leaves a foot in on Garuccio, and van ’t Schip leaps to his feet calling for a card - which Beath duly produces.
And now Kevin Muscat’s getting a talking to!
It’s okay. It’s not like the Victory coach to lose it in a Melbourne derby.
Updated
12 min: Barbarouses almost releases FBK with a great ball; Victory showing the lion’s share of intent early on.
And now it’s Caceres going into the book for a stomp on Leigh ‘the Brox’ Broxham.
Three cards for the hosts in under 15 minutes, do you reckon they’re feeling the early pressure?
10 min: Mooy lines up a freekick from just outside the Victory box, but the delivery is underwhelming. Caceres was crudely brought down in the build up, but City’s hugely impressive deadball deliverer fails to turn the screws.
8 min: And here’s the first for the ‘what have I missed’ files; Erik Paartalu, no longer at City. Who knew. Next I’ll find out Alvin Ceccoli isn’t still stomping the lines at Sydney FC..
6 min: Not trademark cool from Thomas Sorensen between the sticks, and suddenly it’s City with the water-bailers trying to keep the boat afloat early on.
Half a shout for a penalty - Chris Beath says no - but it’s brought the ‘away’ fans to life - they reckon their team, Victory, is firmly in control.
4 min: Who saw that coming - a yellow card for Ivan Franjic for an awful early tackle. He’s slid in two-footed through the back of FBK, and frankly, wasn’t even close there.
And the card’s out again! Garrucio follows his fellow fullback in the book - a yellow for pulling down the speedy Barbarouses.
Who reckons Victory might target the flanks for the next 85 minutes?
Updated
2 min: Early flashes that Berisha is looking to buzz, and snap, and harry. As if you had any doubts of that. Victory pressuring the City back four high early on.
Kick off!
And we’re under way! City with possession, running right to left (but that’s extraneous info for you, dear onliners). Early free kick won by Kisnorbo who was fouled by an exuberant Oli Bozanic.
Kick off just moments away, as the players enter the playing arena.
For mine, I’m keen to see a real turn from Gui Finkler, here. His stats this season are well down on his usual excellence, and with the Brazilian’s Tunisian co-creator Fahid Ben Khalfallah also quiet lately, Victory fans could well do with one of these two firing tonight.
As always, please send your musings, quips, witticisms etc to richard.parkin.casual@guardian.co.uk or via twitter @rrjparkin. Ideally these should be at least loosely related to the game at hand, but I’ve always fancied my hand as an advice columnist, so try me. Incidentally, the ‘casual’ part of my guardian email address refers to my lax approach to grammar and punctuation, not my employment status, I assure you, so apologies in advance for tpyos and misspeellings like Mathieu Delpierre (sic) etc.
Who do you reckon is going to edge tonight – can Victory fire without the steel of Valeri in midfield; will Wilkinson slip seamlessly into the City back four; and can Van’t Schip’s men send a really strong message to the league tonight, and make it four consecutive derby wins at AAMI?
Keen to hear from any A-League fans from Tasmania – any time I went into a pub there to watch a game there didn’t seem to be much interest shown for the round ball. Melbourne Victory have played there in the past (and possibly so have some of City’s ex-CCM cohort) – keen to know which flavour of Melbourne the forgotten state will be supporting tonight.
Updated
Preamble
Hi all - Richard Parkin here. Great to be back in the A-League chair after a six-month ‘sabbatical’. I’ve been trying my hand as Grizzly Adams in the Tasmanian wilderness; not the best foxtel reception in the more remote corners of the island state, so bear (*boom boom*) with me if I’m not quite finger-on-the-pulse with the latest A-League insights/injokes. Is that kid still eating that watermelon? I’ll just have to rely on antiquated references to the golden age of Melbourne derbies then – Rutger Worm jokes, anyone?
This is the nineteenth installment (yep, read and weep you San Siro ultras) between these two ancient and battle-hardened foes; or by my maths, only the seventh league encounter since the Melbourne Heart-transplant and subsequent rebranding. The ledger stands Victory 8 v City 6 (with four draws) but it all depends heavily on who the ‘home’ team is.
You internet stats-wizards can check this for me, but by my reckoning since the Abu Dhabi takeover Melbourne City have never lost at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, but also never won at Docklands? A touch awkward given that isn’t this the mob that owns Etihad, major sponsors of said stadium – home to the crosstown rivals of the football team they also own?
Gosh, I can’t keep up with this crazy world of modern football. Give me Alf Ramsay’s wingless wonders and repeats of Ron Manager, please.
For team news, here’s the respective XIs:
Our team is in for tonight's massive #MelbDerby and @alexwilkinson84 will make his debut for us tonight! #together pic.twitter.com/fzmPkZBOi7
— Melbourne City FC (@MelbourneCity) February 13, 2016
City have made four changes, three of whom you’d associate more with the yellow and blue of Gosford. Former Mariners skipper and World Cup defender Alex Wilkinson joins the continuing City v2.0 revolution that is season 2015/16 – he slots in at centre back for his debut. Also returning is Anthony Caceres and fellow Masterfoods want-away Nick Fitzgerald. Ben Garuccio comes in; presumably at left back.
‘Away’ side Victory will look like this:
Here's our starting XI for the #MelbDerby at @AAMIPark tonight 7.30pm AEDT. FBK returns from suspension #MVFC pic.twitter.com/3vAAf7Y9n5
— Melbourne Victory (@gomvfc) February 13, 2016
Just the one change for Muscat’s men – Fahid Ben Khalfallah returns from suspension at the expense of Connor Pain; but look who’s lurking on the bench – that big game pest, Archibald Thompson.
With Shane Smeltz grabbing A-League goal number 88 tonight, what odds of Archie popping up with an all-important late equaliser to defend his all-time tally of 90? It’s a battle that’s been giving for about a decade, that one.
That said – ol’ mad-lamps Besart Berisha – number three on the all-time topscorers list with 77 – is never shy on the big occasion; and he’ll relish his own strikers battle with this season’s topscorer, his opposite number in City’s colours, Bruno Fornaroli.
With both sides keen to secure third place, and with Brisbane and Western Sydney Wanderers threatening to pull clear, there will be battles all over the pitch (and probably in one of the dugouts).
There’s never too much fuel needed to ignite the Melbourne Derby, so get your rooibos and your slippers prepped early, this could be an absolute ding-dong.
Updated
Richard Parkin will be here shortly, giving you just enough time to have a chuckle at David Squires’ latest cartoon which, admittedly, has nothing to do with tonight’s game:
Although topical really, given this announcement today:
Updated
