Melbourne Victory got their first points of the season with a 2-1 win over Adelaide United, in front of nearly 20,000 to kick-off Round 3. But why did the result happen and what was there to learn from it?

Melbourne Victory

Ange swings the axe
Six changes were made to last week’s starting side, with Lawrence Thomas, Jonathan Bru and Jimmy Jeggo relegated to the bench, Danny Allsopp retired, Leigh Broxham out of the squad and Spase Dilevski and Andrew Nabbout injured. Mark Milligan returned in midfield, Marco Rojas and Archie Thompson wide, Petar Franjic in to centre-back, Tando Velaphi in between the sticks and Billy Celeski starting next to Milligan in midfield.

One ball away all night
All night, Victory prodded around midfield and the final third searching for that ball in, but was denied for most part by the Adelaide defence (Watson, Golec, Boogard, Bowles). There looked to be much more in attack than in the past two weeks. Rojas and Thompson created from wide and Flores had more to play to.

Better out the back
Maybe this had more to do with Adelaide’s style, selection and game, but the defence looked stronger with Milligan screening the back four. There was better passing and linking with the midfield to provide enough service forward. Franjic was solid, while it is clear the skipper needs every minute of game-time he gets. Foschini and Traore were attacking, as has been the trend over the couple of weeks.

Pragmatic
This was probably in reaction to the defeats, but the back four wasn’t above going compact and retreating territory. It was also possibly a reaction to the way Adelaide set-up with the quick front three of Ramsay, Neumann and Ferreira. But it worked and the team looked the better of the two. This pragmatic edge is also seen in the effective set-pieces, dropped on a dime by Finkler all night. It also shows Ange isn’t a one-trick pony in relating to tactics. It shows an ability to adapt to what he has to work with.

Oh Billy
This was possibly the silliest penalty I’ve seen conceded in a while. It was a clear and obvious penalty that set Victory immediately behind in the second half. He owes Mark Milligan a beer.

Adelaide United
Did their style help Victory? Adelaide aren’t a pressing team, rather relying on keeping tight in midfield, defence and supplying the quick counter-attacking ball. The trouble was the front three were ineffectual and Vidosic couldn’t get going, having to drop deep to receive the ball and link up. It also allowed Victory to play with more confidence and able to hang onto possession. Kosmina and co. will have to re-consider the way they set up and the players will need to execute better.

No Djite, van Dijk
I was surprised to hear neither of the target men would travel to Melbourne. Hindsight is a wonderful thing, I hear you say. But it has been clear in recent weeks, with Djite especially, a target forward would have applied the pressure on the Victory defence. Djite can run at defences, link with Vidosic and hold up the ball for the quick wingers, so why not even have him on the bench as an option?

Press not as threatening
In flashes, it looked like Adelaide were trying to force the turnover deep in their attack. It is easy to aim for that, another thing organising it to go for the full effect. Victory were able to play through Adelaide and kept in and around the Adelaide defence. How Adelaide approach and develop over the coming weeks will be something to watch for.

Held off Victory...for most parts
If not for what was a well-worked Victory set-piece and a brain-fade from Boogard, it was likely Adelaide could have walked away with a point. The centre defence was steady for most, but most of the trouble came wide for Watson and Bowles (who was lucky not to give away a penalty against Flores early on). 

Ineffectual attack
It was a disappointing effort from the staring front four. Their counter-attacking caught the Wanderers out last weekend, and did catch Victory behind their line. But that was far too rare to have any say on proceedings.