Carl Valeri – 6

Struggled to help Victory maintain possession for long periods throughout the game due to the high pressing intensity from City. However, once his team took the lead he led from the front to make sure they maintained a solid shape that was difficult to break down.

Leigh Broxham – 6.5

Although many Victory fans would have preferred to see Honda, Broxham was able to offer something for Kevin Muscat going both ways, with his defensive work rate particularly prevalent in the early stages.

Terry Antonis – 6

Put a bit too much back lift on a strike 10 minutes in to give Victory an early lead. Once again another player who probably missed Honda’s influence tonight as his performance wasn’t what we have come to expect this season.

James Troisi – 7

Looked determined to prove Graham Arnold wrong over his Asian Cup snub early on, finding a lot of space in between the lines and threatening to unlock City’s defence. Should have opened the scoring when he was one-on-one with Galekovic but his finish was poor.

Kosta Barbarouses – 6

It seemed as if the Kiwi was seriously missing his Japanese team mate in the opening period as he was unable to benefit from any service in behind the City back four. The first time that he was able to get in behind led to the opening goal, where he whipped in a peach of a cross to the back post for Toivonen to tap-in.

Ola Toivonen – 6.5

Seemed a bit off the pace at the start of the match, failing to make simple passes to his team mates and have an influence on the game. Started the second half strongly but didn’t have to do too much to simply tap in Barbarouses’ back-post cross just before the hour mark.

Subs:

Josh Hope – N/A

Came on too late to get a rating.