Melbourne Victory have ended 2012 with a bang. After a derby victory the weekend prior, the Blues continued their momentum with an exciting 3-2 win over the Jets at AAMI Park on Friday. Marco Rojas proved the difference with a brace and an assist to continue his rare burst of form.

Victory

Finkler’s miss
It was not hard to look at this as a turning point in the game. Thompson had Mark Birighitti off his line and out of the picture after finding Guilherme Finkler in the penalty area, the Brazilian’s touch was uncharacteristically lead-footed as he was dispossessed with only a defender on the goal-line to beat. The ball found itself past Nathan Coe just minutes after Finkler’s blunder, ceding Jets the momentum and equaliser shortly after.

The goals
Victory’s system can be summed up by looking at all three goals scored, but more so on the second. A turnover from an errant Josh Mitchell header, a cutting pass from Billy Celeski, rapid pace and a cross from Rojas deep on the wide left found Archie Thompson for a brilliant goal.

It doesn’t seem fitting to use any more superlatives to describe Marco “The Kiwi Messi” Rojas. Described as a ‘hobbit’ by his coach post game, Rojas had an involvement in all three goals to almost single-handedly win his side the game, with his long range, powerful, precise opener the pick of the bunch. It is truly a joy watching him every week.

Makeshift defence
Having been booed in his 50th game for the club last season, Leigh Broxham has come a long way from the mire and showed it, having his best outing for Victory at centre-back. Against Emile Heskey and alongside Nick Ansell in what was a laughable scenario months prior to the season, Broxham provided some match-saving moments to play his part. Although two goals were conceded, fingers can’t be pointed at the centre-backs, rather coming from the Jets’ second half momentum in midfield and play generally.

The team or match winning individuals?
This was posed on Twitter post-game, whether or not Victory has overly relied on, in this game and over the season, individual brilliance. It is a rather simplistic view. As good as match-winners Rojas, Nabbout and to a lesser extent Thompson have been at scoring the crucial goals, it understates the impact Flores, Finkler, Milligan and Celeski have had in a balanced system. Leigh Broxham’s efforts in this game also are a case in point, despite his Kiwi teammate’s name in the headlines.

Results fall their way
Victory will end 2012 with momentum theirs and a chance to claim top spot after the Mariners and Adelaide suffered losses over the week. Arguably the form side in the A-League at present, more are starting to believe Melbourne are a chance this season. The questions still remain however. What benchmark are the Jets at this time? And while admirable, just how will the defence stand late in the season?  Whilst the rounds results stand them in good stead, it only will get tougher in 2013.

Newcastle

Heskey in Melbourne
The giant striker and his team’s efforts in the game sum up their season so far. Heskey is only as good as what is around him and the service he gets, when Newcastle didn’t have momentum and numbers forward, Heskey didn’t get opportunities. Dropping in to build up play in the first half, the target-man showed bursts of pace and an ability to close down Ansell/Broxham, and got the equaliser in a serviceable performance.

Second half dominance
They had the goals to show for it, but not the result. Able to impose their press forward and turn the ball over, enough pressure was built and eventually the scoreboard ticked for them. Goodwin and Virgili got on to some passes wide from midfield and applied the pressure there with differing results. An opportunistic tackle and subsequent long-range cracker from Ruben Zadkovich was just reward for a much improved second half.

The midfield
To prevent being overrun and being on the wrong side of 2 v 3 scenarios in midfield, both Heskey and Griffiths dropped in and out to receive the ball in midfield in the first half, leaving the proverbial bare bones up front when a quick transition could be made. This changed in the second when the Jets pressed and midfielders Zadkovich and Josh Brillante came into the game.

Should Galloway been sent off?
A possible turning point came in the first half when Marco Rojas and Sam Galloway tangled just outside the Victory penalty area. Some argued Galloway should have seen red, which would have been a very harsh call since a covering defender was just across Galloway. The referee handled it well, plenty of talk comes when they don’t get it right so they should be commended when they do get it right.

The new year ahead
For most of the season, it has looked one of adjustment and youth in the Hunter. Adjusting to the presence and role of Heskey has been an issue and will be for most of the season. Their season has stuttered after a fast start, which can be pointed in some part to Gary van Egmond’s strange decisions to tinker around and keep Goodwin and Virgili on the bench in some games. They should make finals from here, or at least that should be the expectation with important players such as skipper Jobe Wheelhouse to return in the New Year.