Victory earned the three points courtesy of a re-taken Kevin Muscat penalty (pictured) but it was their first goal of the night that really had Merrick drooling.

Gold Coast went ahead through a Jason Culina penalty but the visitors hauled themselves level with a Hernandez strike that screamed past Gold Coast keeper Jess Van Strattan into the back of the net.

Merrick was pleased by the result, however he acknowledged that Gold Coast had the edge early in the second half.

"(It was) a very good first half with some great inter-passing, some really good goal scoring opportunities, and a fantastic strike by Carlos (Hernandez)" Merrick said.

"In the second half their tails were up, they had nothing to lose, we just couldn't grasp it"

The three points moved Victory up to third in the A-League table.