Summary
Well, well, well.
Melbourne will be sky blue tonight following City’s come-from-behind victory, sparked largely by the hugely controversial penalty decision reviewed by the VAR system.
Can City kick on from here and launch a serious campaign for the top two following the disappointment of last season’s play-offs? The arrival of De Laet certainly stablised the defence and brought experience to the side, which helped City see out the closing minutes.
For Victory, Kevin Muscat must be asking himself how his team failed to take at least a point from this game. Troisi could have had a brace in the second half alone with his effort striking the post and another well saved by Galekovic. He may look to change his team for next weekend with Valeri and Toivonen all staking a claim for a place in the starting XI.
This was a memorable Melbourne Derby, perhaps for the wrong reasons with VAR. Thank you for joining me and reading the live blog today!
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Despite the defeat, a huge positive for Victory would have been Keisuke Honda’s performance and how he adapted to the A-League.
From early on in the first half, he was always asking for the ball and exerting his influence on the match. His goal was well taken and Victory fans can expect more on the basis of the positions that he was getting himself into.
In the second half, he dropped slightly deeper to drop balls into the feet of Athiu to great avail. Kevin Muscat must be licking his lips at the prospect of Ola Toivonen coming into the side and linking up with Honda in the weeks to come.
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Just two games into the season and we already have a flash-point with VAR. Quite incredible how Kurt Ams was firstly convinced by his VAR team to have a look at the monitor, and secondly decide that the incident was a penalty.
There was indeed contact on Fornaroli, although not enough for it to be considered a foul even outside of the box. The swarm of players around Fornaroli at the time may have convinced Ams to award the initial free-kick, yet surely he had enough replays and angles of the incident on the monitor to prove that there was very minimal contact?
It will be interesting to see what Kevin Muscat has to say in his post-match press conference on this. Needless to say that this will certainly not be the last talk of VAR this season, or even this matchday.
Victory are now without a win in their last four season openers following that defeat against their intercity rivals.
City, on the other hand, are now unbeaten in their last seven season openers, as they get off to a winning start in the 14th A-League season,
FULL-TIME: Melbourne Victory 1-2 Melbourne City
Nothing comes from the VAR check after the referee calls time after playing six minutes of additional time.
City claim the bragging rights in Melbourne with a famous win at Marvel Stadium after coming from behind with a surprise win against the defending champions.
Melbourne is Sky Blue.
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90+4 min: That could be the final chance for Victory as a hopeful ball evades Athiu. Few would have predicted City to take all three points today.
There is a VAR check going on for an incident in the City penalty area...
90+2 min: Late chance for Victory!
Ansell flashes a cross across the face of the City goal which is cleared as far as Troisi, who chests the ball down inside the box to unleash a powerful volley. Galekovic is equal to the effort though and gets a strong palm to send the ball behind for a corner.
The corner is cleared and City survive another attack.
90 min: 18-year-old Lesiotis is booked for a clumsy foul on Niedermeier.
The German is unable to continue and he makes way for Thomas Deng as Kevin Muscat rolls his final throw of the dice.
Five minutes of added time.
88 min: City are controlling the end of this match well, before Fornaroli blazes over from 30 yards to hand Victory a chance to restart.
86 min: No foul says the referee as Troisi is felled on the edge of the City box.
Victory look devoid of ideas despite their summer signings.
84 min: City can break though. De Laet flashes a cross from the right flank across the face of goal but they are content with their one-goal lead.
82 min: Victory now finally committing men forward in search of an equaliser. Honda’s corner is dealt with by the City defence before Galekovic gets a Rocky-esque punch on a resulting cross to see off the danger.
81 min: Silky skills from Baena in the centre of the pitch as he spins three City players and the referee.
30 second later, he is clattered.
80 min: The attendance is displayed on the big screen. 40,504 fans inside Marvel Stadium this evening. A great turnout for what I am now calling Mel Clasico.
78 min: Ironic cheers from the home crowd as Fornaroli goes down inside the box asking for another penalty. No VAR this time, thank goodness.
76 min: Almost an equaliser!
Honda tries his luck from the right-hand edge of the box, cutting in on his left foot with a curling effort. It takes a deflection and is just palmed over the bar by Galekovic for a corner.
74 min: Griffiths comes on for City to make his club debut in place of Berengeuer.
City plant a free kick into the box, but the final shot is easily caught by Thomas.
72 min: Oh dear Athiu. He finds space inside the box but his shot again clears the crossbar.
He’s having one, isn’t he?
GOAL: Melbourne Victory 1-2 Melbourne City (McGree)
Who saw that coming? What an introduction for Riley McGree after coming off the bench for Caceres just moments ago.
A superb pass from Bratton in the middle of the Victory half cuts through the heart of the defence to release McGree, who hits a first-time right-footed shot into the bottom corner. Thomas did not move.
We have a game on our hands.
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66 min: Superb ball from Honda again, taking half the City team out of the game with a single pass.
Athiu is the recipient but he miscontrols and gives away a sloppy foul. He looks increasingly isolated up top and it’s hard to see if Kevin Muscat has any plans to chane that.
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64 min: Troisi hits the post!
The 30-year-old drives inside the City half after being released by Honda. It opens up for him and he releases a curling left-footed shot from just outside of the box, which strikes the bottom of the post and rebounds away to safety for City.
61 min: Victory fans making all the noise as the camera pans to them bouncing up and down, throwing pieces of paper or fabric (I think?)
The attendance will certainly be more than that of the curtain-raiser yesterday.
60 min: Brattan gets in behind the Victory defence, one of the few instances that City have managed to do so in the whole game. He overhits the cross though and it goes out for a throw.
Perhaps a sign that the game is getting a bit stretched and some gaps appearing at the back for both sides?
57 min: Barbarouses is unable to release the shot after Honda plays him through.
The first bright spark from Honda in the second half. Hopefully that will spark this second period into life.
55 min: If the end of the first half was chaotic, frantic and feisty, then the second half is the polar opposite.
City seem content with passing the ball and retaining possession, while Victory are yet to get out of the blocks in the second half.
Just as I type this, Baena superbly rugby tackles Wales and is deservedly booked.
54 min: Not really sure what Athiu tried to do there.
Victory work the ball well around the edge of the box with Troisi, and the ball lands at the feet of the Athiu. The 26-year-old attempts to chip Galekovic but gets it horribly wrong and the ball goes sailing into row Z.
52 min: Encouraging play by City inside the Victory half. They peg back the hosts deep inside their own half but are unable to play the incisive ball to unlock the defence.
Victory were sitting back so deep that City found it hard to find a way through or round the sides.
50 min: Athiu is unable to control the ball in the box and his chance escapes him.
Victory started the second half the better of the two teams but City are growing into the match, passing the ball around inside the opposition half.
48 min: Highlight of the game so far as Caceres has the ball between his legs near the corner flag and attempts to bunny-hop with the ball between legs.
This truly is Mel Clasico.
46 min: We’re back underway for the second half of the Melbourne Derby.
We are in for a treat if the intensity of the second half is anything like the end of the first half.
Wow. Time to catch your breath.
A lot to take in after the penalty that probably shouldn’t have been for City and it will be a decision that will prompt further debate on the ongoing use of VAR for the A-League. It’s only the second game of the season too!
Victory have looked dangerous with the majority of their play coming down the right wing with Roux and Honda. The latter, especially, has looked dangerous when cutting back inside on his left foot to whip balls into the path of Athiu.
City have relied on the counterattack for the most part of the first half and to great avail. Fornaroli has caused havoc for the Victory defence and will surely be the victim of a few more fouls at least in the second half.
Poised delicately at the break and we will be lucky if the game finishes with 22 players on the pitch.
HALF-TIME: Melbourne Victory 1-1 Melbourne City
Honda’s teasing cross from the corner evades everyone in the City box and referee Ams blows for the break.
End-to-end stuff in the final 15 minutes following that penalty decision with some reckless challenges flying in from both teams.
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45+5 min: Victory have one last chance of the half from a corner. Surely this will be the end of a compelling first 45.
45+4 min: Victory come again as they look to get their noses back in front before the break but their attack comes to little.
City break and Fornaroli cleverly wins a free-kick in the danger area after shielding the ball from three Victory players. It would be an understatement to say that the Argentine forward is a target for the Victory defenders following that penalty decision.
45+1 min: FIVE minutes of added time at the end of the first half as Bart Schenkeveld and Baena clash heads.
There’s a lot of blood coming from Baena, which will prolong this first half even longer.
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45 min: Roux and Honda combine again down the right flank but City manage to clear the resulting cross.
Everything is coming down the right side for Victory through poster boy Honda.
43 min: Things are heating up inside Marvel Stadium!
Athiu is booked for a clumsy challenge on Fornaroli. He is immediately swarmed by players from each side and is somehow the only player who goes into the book following the handbags.
It could get tasty inside the tunnel at half-time at this rate!
GOAL: Melbourne Victory 1-1 Melbourne City (De Laet)
The marquee signing on the sky blue side of Melbourne now responds for the visitors.
Big controversy around the penalty but De Laet slots in the rebound after Berengeuer’s penalty is tipped onto the post by Thomas.
All square in Melbourne.
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38 min: Penalty to City!
Incredible scenes at Marvel Stadium. The referee comes to the touchline to watch the replay after recommendation from his VAR team and comes to the conclusion of a penalty.
He adjudges Fornaroli to have been felled inside the box and City have the chance to level it from the spot. The home fans are not happy.
37 min: VAR is currently being checked on a Victory foul on the edge of their own box.
Here we go!
35 min: A chance for Victory through Honda again!
The Japanese schemer evades the defender down the right wing to pick out Antonis at the edge of the box. His half-volley is well executed but lacks any direction or power to challenge City keeper Galekovic.
Honda is beginning to really exert his influence on this Melbourne Derby.
32 min: Honda loves a debut goal. After scoring on his debut for previous Mexican club Pachuca, he now has his first league goal in navy blue colours after less than 30 minutes.
30 min: City look to respond but they overrun the ball again.
Marvel Stadium is alive and bouncing. Could that goal be the start of something special for Victory and the A-League?
GOAL: Melbourne Victory 1-0 Melbourne City (Honda)
Welcome to Melbourne, Keisuke Honda! What a way to announce your arrival in the A-League.
Roux breaks down the right flank for Victory, releasing a delicate cross into the area. Who is there to attack it but Honda, who glances the header into the bottom-left corner beyond the despairing Galekovic.
Dream. Debut.
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24 min: A spell of head tennis on the periphery of the Victory penalty area but they eventually boot the ball clear.
Wales aims to get down the right flank but overruns the ball, before needlessly sliding in late on debutant Niedermeier, to the displeasure of the Victory faithful.
22 min: De Laet has been tasked with the mammoth job of man-marking Athiu, with whom he grapples with on the near side of the pitch. That could certainly be an intriguing battle.
20 min: A Honda free-kick glides into the City penalty area but no Victory player is on hand to make contact with the ball.
City break from the back and Fornaroli is clean through after shrugging off a defender. He is ultimately unable to get a touch on the ball though as it rolls through to Victory keeper Thomas.
A big scare for Victory and a sign of how dangerous the guests can be on the break.
19 min: Victory now beginning to push gradually upfield as they take control of the midfield battle, winning the 50-50 challenges and sweeping up all loose passes in the middle of the park.
17 min: There’s an air of excitement and anticipation inside Marvel Stadium whenever Honda has the ball at his feet as he whips a left-footed cross into the mixer.
Athiu is making a nuisance of himself inside the City penalty area and is looking to be a handful for the visitors.
15 min: Corey Brown delivers a looping cross into the City box in the direction of Kenjok Athiu.
The two-metre striker leaps highest in between the opposing City centre-backs, but his headed effort sails over the crossbar.
13 min: A decent spell of possession for City as they spread the ball throughout the defence and down the right flank. They look comfortable with the ball at feet but struggle with the killer pass in the final third.
10 min: A big scare for City!
Terry Antonis crosses from the left wing, adjacent with the edge of the penalty area. City keeper Eugen Galekovic is back-pedaling as the ball sails dangerously close to the top-right corner of the goal. He is able to get a fingertip to the ball to tip it behind for a corner.
City deal comfortably with the resulting corner from Honda.
8 min: Still awaiting the first goalmouth action of the game with both sides cancelling each other out.
Victory look to be concentrating on the right flank, where Honda is situated.
5 min: Ugly challenge from Corey Brown as he slides in late on former teammate Luke Brattan.
Referee Kurt Ams initially waves play on but comes back to book Brown, who will now be on a tightrope for the remaining 85 minutes.
3 min: Victory look to be playing with a diamond in midfield with Jose Baena anchoring the midfield four ahead of the defence, allowing Keisuke Honda to operate down the right flank.
City launch a throw into the box but Victory can clear, allowing for Honda to get his first touch of the ball, much to the delight of the home fans.
1 min: Great noise from the Victory faithful as their team charge forward straight from the kick off.
KICK-OFF
We’re underway at Marvel Stadium as Victory get the ball rolling.
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Referee tonight is Kurt Ams, in charge of his first Melbourne Debut.
‘Stand By Me’ rings around Marvel Stadium, today with its roof closed due to the heavy rain. Both fans are in fine voice as the players take to the field and shake hands.
There is a smirk on the face of the Keisuke Honda as he glances around his new surroundings ahead of his A-League debut. Will he deliver a debut to remember?
Time is ticking until the first Melbourne Derby of the season and the first sporting event at the newly-named Marvel Stadium.
The players are in the tunnel and the Victory scarves are being held aloft.
The last five editions of the Melbourne Derby have been settled by a single goal:
Round 22, 2017/18: City 1-2 Victory
Round 12, 2017/18: City 0-1 Victory
Round 2, 2017/18: Victory 1-2 City
Round 18, 2016/17: Victory 2-1 City
Round 11, 2016/17: City 1-2 Victory
Are we in for another tight-knit affair this evening at Marvel Stadium?
In the City camp, it is another marquee signing that wears the armband on their league debut in the form of Ritchie de Laet. New signing Anthony Caceres also makes the starting XI.
15-year-old Idrus Abdulahi, who has represented the Socceroos at youth level, is on the bench and poised to make history should he feature.
Our team is in for tonight's massive #MelbDerby! pic.twitter.com/SI4IAl9YM9
— Melbourne City FC 🏙️ (@MelbourneCity) October 20, 2018
Let’s start with the hosts first.
Marquee signing Keisuke Honda captains the Victory side in deputy of club captain Carl Valeri, who only makes the bench through injury. There are also starts for summer arrivals Corey Brown, Georg Niedermeier, Raul Baena, Nick Ansell and Storm Roux as Victory look to line up in a 4-2-2-2 formation.
Swedish striker Ola Toivonen is deemed not fit to make the matchday squad and has to wait on his A-League debut.
Our #MelbDerby team is in, @kskgroup2017 will wear the armband #ALeague #MVFC pic.twitter.com/ANG982SlKc
— Melbourne Victory (@gomvfc) October 20, 2018
The teams are in from both sides...
Welcome one and all to the 27th Melbourne Derby.
All change for Victory for the 2019 A-League season as they go in hunt of securing back-to-back Championships for the first time. The likes of Besart Berisha and Leroy George have departed for pastures new, signalling the end of an era for some Victory supporters. In their place have come, among others, Japanese superstar Keisuke Honda, Swedish striker Ola Toivonen, who is deemed not fit to play today, and former Bundesliga defender Georg Niedermeier.
The sky blue side of Melbourne have had a few arrivals of their own too. City have brought Anthony Caceres, Mark Birighitti and Curtis Good all back to the A-League, while the addition of Premier League winner Ritchie de Laet will be bring some much-needed experience and stability to their backline.
There are plenty of new faces on each side and it will surely be a cracker of a Melbourne Derby to kickstart the opening weekend of the 14th A-League season.
Don’t forget that you can get involved with the live blog too by emailing or tweeting me at the links at the top of the page.
Preamble
A lot has happened in the cultural capital of Australia since Melbourne Victory clinched a record fourth Championship 168 days ago.
The 2018 World Cup came and went, while there were notable exits and arrivals in both the navy- and sky-blue sides of Melbourne during the summer break.
Club legends and cult-heros have departed. In their place are a new breed of aspiring club legends, fresh of the back of the biggest footballing stage in the world.
And what better venue for those new signings to become superheroes than the newly-branded Marvel Stadium? Stay tuned for what will hopefully be a blockbuster of a Melbourne derby, and inevitably more Marvel-related puns.
