VICTORY defender Roddy Vargas went from hero to zero in seconds after scoring one goal against Adelaide United and then giving another away to end the grand final rematch in a 1-1 draw.
Vargas looked to have won it for Melbourne, in a match that threatened to explode late in the second half. Just a minute after scoring, Vargas was caught out for a clear hand ball in the box; allowing Travis Dodd to equalise from the spot.
Travis Dodd, the man who equalised for Adelaide, said after the match: "It's always good to get on the score sheet. It was an important game for us. We really needed to win. We had chances at the end but overall it was a pretty decent performance.
"Every game is tough. We have a big rivalry against Melbourne. Unfortunately we couldn't get a result, but it'll do."
Adelaide United had two open chances to steal the win in injury time. The best of them was through Nathan Burns, who should have scored off his head with an open shot, only to hit the cross bar.
After a quiet 20 minutes after the break, the match sprang back to life with Kevin Muscat up to his old tricks. Muscat was lucky to escape a second yellow card for a challenge on Cassio but the incident seemed to bring back the pressure cooker-like atmosphere so familiar in Adelaide and Melbourne matches. Following the incident Muscat exchanged heated words with Aurelio Vidmar on the sideline.
Like the first half, only a handful of chances presented themselves to each side. Richie Alagich again had his chances from outside the box but it wasn’t until Vargas’ 79 minute goal that the game opened up.
Vargas was still celebrating when the Reds surged back to hit back on the counter. Vargas’ right arm was caught by a cross from Diego and referee Peter Green did not hesitate in awarding the penalty with Travis Dodd easily dispatching the successful conversion.
Grant Brebner also found himself in the thick of the action and clashed with both Ang Costanzo and Robbie Bajic; only for it to result in him picking up a yellow card.
While the match will be remembered for its intensity, neither keeper was really tested. Aurelio Vidmar will be relieved to have earned at least one point after the Roddy Vargas goal, but Ernie Merrick will certainly begin to wonder what he needs to do for his team to revive last season’s form.
Within the first half's first 30 minutes, neither side had managed to create any clear-cut scoring opportunities.
Both sides missed key players, with Adelaide’s Bruce Djite and Melbourne’s Archie Thompson and Leigh Broxham the most notable absentees. As a result Paul Agostino for Adelaide and Leandro Love for the visitors have been handed their first starting spots of the season.
The match was played at a high tempo – typical of Adelaide vs Melbourne matches in the league’s first two seasons despite the fact that Adelaide’s line-up barely resembled the one that faced Melbourne in season two’s grand final. The first half was largely a midfield battle led by Kevin Muscat for Melbourne and Jonas Salley and Ang Costanzo for the Reds.
Muscat’s involvement was significant – the Melbourne skipper had been at his antagonistic best, tussling with Costanzo, Salley, Valkanis and Nathan Burns throughout the half. He also picked up a yellow card, perhaps unfairly, after tussling with Paul Agostino who was sprinting toward toward goal.
Adelaide took a fairly early blow after their skipper Valkanis looked to twist his knee after just 23 minutes. Valkanis was replaced by Diego, and Travis Dodd took the captain’s armband.
The first real chance of the match came through the Reds’ Richie Alagich after a long half hour; who hit a powerful volley from outside the box after a cross from Cassio was deflected by Victory’s defence. Just a minute later, Melbourne had a chance of their own after Adrian Caceres danced through Adelaide defence only to drag his low shot wide.
Paul Agostino, in his starting debut, then had his opportunity with a turn and shoot. Unfortunately for the former Socceroo however, he couldn’t generate the power or accuracy to trouble Michael Theoklitos.
In the final stages of the half, Melbourne were lucky to survive a handful of chances as Aurelio Vidmar’s side pushed hard to snatch a final-gasp first-half goal. Cassio, who had come to Adelaide with a formidable reputation for free kicks, was on target with just a minute to go but Theoklitos was equal to the task.
Referee: Peter Green
Crowd: 12,231
FourFourTwo says:
We’re totally supportive of all the league’s imports, but are we ever going to see the flashy pizzazz that we’ve been promised from the likes of Carlos Hernandez and Cassio? We’ll continue to wait with bated breath. The match was competitive for sure, but it was also fairly ‘vanilla’ to begin with. And whether you love him or hate him, it was thanks to good ol’ Muscat that the pulses got going.
Travis Dodd, the man who equalised for Adelaide, said after the match: "It's always good to get on the score sheet. It was an important game for us. We really needed to win. We had chances at the end but overall it was a pretty decent performance.
"Every game is tough. We have a big rivalry against Melbourne. Unfortunately we couldn't get a result, but it'll do."
Adelaide United had two open chances to steal the win in injury time. The best of them was through Nathan Burns, who should have scored off his head with an open shot, only to hit the cross bar.
After a quiet 20 minutes after the break, the match sprang back to life with Kevin Muscat up to his old tricks. Muscat was lucky to escape a second yellow card for a challenge on Cassio but the incident seemed to bring back the pressure cooker-like atmosphere so familiar in Adelaide and Melbourne matches. Following the incident Muscat exchanged heated words with Aurelio Vidmar on the sideline.
Like the first half, only a handful of chances presented themselves to each side. Richie Alagich again had his chances from outside the box but it wasn’t until Vargas’ 79 minute goal that the game opened up.
Vargas was still celebrating when the Reds surged back to hit back on the counter. Vargas’ right arm was caught by a cross from Diego and referee Peter Green did not hesitate in awarding the penalty with Travis Dodd easily dispatching the successful conversion.
Grant Brebner also found himself in the thick of the action and clashed with both Ang Costanzo and Robbie Bajic; only for it to result in him picking up a yellow card.
While the match will be remembered for its intensity, neither keeper was really tested. Aurelio Vidmar will be relieved to have earned at least one point after the Roddy Vargas goal, but Ernie Merrick will certainly begin to wonder what he needs to do for his team to revive last season’s form.
Within the first half's first 30 minutes, neither side had managed to create any clear-cut scoring opportunities.
Both sides missed key players, with Adelaide’s Bruce Djite and Melbourne’s Archie Thompson and Leigh Broxham the most notable absentees. As a result Paul Agostino for Adelaide and Leandro Love for the visitors have been handed their first starting spots of the season.
The match was played at a high tempo – typical of Adelaide vs Melbourne matches in the league’s first two seasons despite the fact that Adelaide’s line-up barely resembled the one that faced Melbourne in season two’s grand final. The first half was largely a midfield battle led by Kevin Muscat for Melbourne and Jonas Salley and Ang Costanzo for the Reds.
Muscat’s involvement was significant – the Melbourne skipper had been at his antagonistic best, tussling with Costanzo, Salley, Valkanis and Nathan Burns throughout the half. He also picked up a yellow card, perhaps unfairly, after tussling with Paul Agostino who was sprinting toward toward goal.
Adelaide took a fairly early blow after their skipper Valkanis looked to twist his knee after just 23 minutes. Valkanis was replaced by Diego, and Travis Dodd took the captain’s armband.
The first real chance of the match came through the Reds’ Richie Alagich after a long half hour; who hit a powerful volley from outside the box after a cross from Cassio was deflected by Victory’s defence. Just a minute later, Melbourne had a chance of their own after Adrian Caceres danced through Adelaide defence only to drag his low shot wide.
Paul Agostino, in his starting debut, then had his opportunity with a turn and shoot. Unfortunately for the former Socceroo however, he couldn’t generate the power or accuracy to trouble Michael Theoklitos.
In the final stages of the half, Melbourne were lucky to survive a handful of chances as Aurelio Vidmar’s side pushed hard to snatch a final-gasp first-half goal. Cassio, who had come to Adelaide with a formidable reputation for free kicks, was on target with just a minute to go but Theoklitos was equal to the task.
Referee: Peter Green
Crowd: 12,231
FourFourTwo says:
We’re totally supportive of all the league’s imports, but are we ever going to see the flashy pizzazz that we’ve been promised from the likes of Carlos Hernandez and Cassio? We’ll continue to wait with bated breath. The match was competitive for sure, but it was also fairly ‘vanilla’ to begin with. And whether you love him or hate him, it was thanks to good ol’ Muscat that the pulses got going.
Related Articles
Bayern's plan to fast-track teen star Irankunda into first team squad
Fresh talent flock to ambitious A-League outfit's pro pathway
