Kruse scored twice as Victory defeated Perth Glory 3-0 at Clipsal Stadium.

The former Brisbane youngster helped Victory break the game open midway through the first half with impressive goals on 28 and 33 minutes.

Melbourne continued the momentum from the Kruse goals and dominated the second half with Nathan Elasi also making an impression with an impressive strike in the 72nd minute to complete the win.

As well as Kruse and Elasi, Victory had Evan Berger and Nick Ward from their senior squad who put in encouraging displays. Glory, meanwhile, gave Eugene Dadi, Scott Bulloch, Andrija Jukic, Howard Fondyke and 'keeper Aleks Vrteski a run.

Both teams had plenty of opportunities in the first 22 minutes with Perth's Bulloch, and Melbourne's Berger and Elasi all shooting wide. Victory captain Aziz Behich then had a superb opportunity when he was one-on-one with Vrteski, but his strike was well saved.

The blown chances came to an end soon after when Kruse had a five-minute purple patch. His first goal arrived when he took control of a scrap in the box and put the ball past Vrteski.

His second was then a classy strike on his left boot that gave Vrteski no chance. He had a third opportunity just before half-time but elected to pass instead of shooting.

Perth had their first real chance on goal in the second half through Fondyke, but his powerful strike from long range was wonderfully saved by Melbourne 'keeper Mitch Langerak.

It was all Melbourne from there with Elasi having one solid strike saved by Perth's replacement goalkeeper Alex Pearson, but Elasi then gave him no chance of stopping his next shot in the 72nd minute.

Victory kept pushing with Kruger sending a couple more shots wide and then Berger making great contact only for Pearson to push it just over the crossbar.