10 of the best Melbourne Victory moments
Melbourne Victory celebrates10 years as a football club in Friday nightâs game with rivals Adelaide United. To honour the milestone, weâve picked 10 of the clubs finest moments.
Archie Scores 5 in the Grand Final
With help from assist king Fred, Archie Thompson tore through Adelaide United at Etihad Stadium with five goals in the 2007 A-League Grand Final. Victory fans will long remember marching down Swanston St after the win chanting the electric strikers name.
The Big Blue begins
In the A-Leagueâs inaugural year the rivalry between Sydney âBlingâ FC, boasting Dwight Yorke, and Melbourne Victory came to life. In the second meeting ever between the sides, Richard Kitzbichler fired Victory ahead just before half time. The four extra goals after the break then ignited the hatred that lasts to this day.
Robbie Kruse stunner and that celebration
In my humble opinion, the best goal ever scored in the A-League. One of the best pieces of technique and skill ever produced in a Melbourne Victory shirt. In a final, away, and after he had been crudely tackled on the same pitch merely weeks before Robbie Kruse did something special. And that celebration!
Carlos Hernandezâs rocket on the Gold Coast
The range of passing and shot power this man had made up for what he lacked in fitness and a sometimes-aloof attitude. You could argue which one of his 28 Victory goals was the best until the cows come home but for sheer âwow factorâ this bullet is it.
Tom Pondeljak helps Muscat lift title number two
Journeyman Tom Pondeljak drifted a long range strike into Adelaideâs goal in the 2009 Grand Final to give Victory their second title. While not a great game, or a really amazing goal, the title win was a fitting moment for captain Kevin Muscat and coach Ernie Merrick who helped create the A-Leagueâs first tw- time title winners and powerhouse team.
The miracle against Sydney FC version one
Shannon Cole scored for Sydney at the 28-second mark of the game. Brendan Gan made it 2-0 in the fourth minute with both goals rippers from outside the box. It set up another 90 or so minutes of genuine mayhem highlighted by Nick Wardâs laser beam equaliser in the 71st minute. The roar when Ward struck will go down as one of the loudest ever at the Docklands, only neared by the one for Ney Fabianoâs winner soon after.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhqhE_7eT0k
The North Terrace at AAMI Park
Melbourne Victory fans who say they prefer games at Etihad Stadium over the boutique AAMI Park are in the minority. In fact they may not even exist. When the North Terrace is in full voice, colour and unison at AAMI underlined by the slapstick English style chanting of the South End, there are few better scenes in Australian sport. See below the North Terraceâs response to Archie Thompsonâs late winner against Melbourne Heart in 2012.
The miracle against Sydney FC version two
Plucked from State League side Altona Magic by Ange Postecoglou, Andrew Nabbout became a Melbourne Victory legend in 35 minutes of extraordinary football in only his second game. Words wonât do it justice, so check it out below.
Leigh Broxham: from first team assistant to captain
The story goes, when he first started training with the senior squad as a teenager, manic competitor Kevin Muscat used to rough up Broxham in training. Not out of scorn, but out of respect for the talent and potential of Broxham, his captain was hard on him. Similarly so were Victory fans in the clubâs leaner years under Ernie Merrickâs late reign and Mehmet Durakovicâs temporary spell. But as soon as Ange Postecoglou came to coach, Broxhamâs fortunes changed and he is now integral to the Victory side.
Besart Berisha becomes the Marquee Man
In the middle of A-League season nine Melbourne Victory announced theyâd signed arguably the best player to ever feature in the competition. After a few lean years and a couple of seasons using Postecoglouâs âFalse 9â system with no central striker, Berishaâs arrival brought unseen levels of optimism to AAMI Park. If his start to Victory life is anything to by, the combustible yet freakishly skilled Albanian will be a legend of the club.
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