2016-02-13

Melbourne City and Victory share points in captivating 2-2 draw

Bruno Fornaroli’s double levelled by goals to Ben Khalfallah and Finkler

Victory denied a legitimate winner in goal-line controversy

10.47am GMT

We had eight or nine yellow cards; a red card; five goals, several of these from the very top draw, and four of these actually awarded.

Both sides enjoyed see-sawing momentum - City snatching a lead against the run of play with some sublime passing movements - with Fornaroli etching his name next to one of the A-League goals of the decade.

10.33am GMT

95 min: Not to be! Novillo hits it harmlessly wide, and that is full time.

It finishes points shared, and many in dark blue might feel aggrieved about that, but no fan will go home unhappy for what they’ve seen tonight - there’s been aggression, goals galore, and moments of real finesse.

10.30am GMT

94 min: Another flashpoint - Delpierre has gone into the book for a strong header; but it was two defender on one, and the Frenchman’s angry response to the whistle has earned him a booking.

City with perhaps the last meaningful chance from the dead ball? Ohh, what if this went in..

10.28am GMT

92 min: Mooy hoofs a clearance 50 yards, they’re dropping deep and putting the onus on Victory to unlock them, City.

Fornaroli with some great defensive work now, he’s won a freekick from FBK and milks it for every second.

10.26am GMT

89 min: Sorensen in no hurry to take a free kick, Victory forced to rebuild from the back.

5 extra minutes have been shown though - it’s as if the assistants are on to these types of wily tricks.

10.23am GMT

87 min: All Victory now, as a lovely passing passage finishes with a Finkler driven shot. Mahazi does well to pick out the Brazilian initially, who rolls an effort just wide of Sorensen’s post.

They need to keep the intensity high, here, Victory - there are two banks of white shirts forming with structured consistency.

10.20am GMT

85 min: Broxham makes way - Muscat is chasing this, a striker for a midfielder.

Retre saves a corner with a hurried clearance, you sense the hosts in white might just start to try and close up shop at the back.

10.19am GMT

83 min: Can Victory assert their one man advantage?

Mahazi beats Mooy to it, as Victory try to control the midfield. You’d warrant that van ‘t Schip would probably settle for the point about now.

10.15am GMT

79 min: Well - we knew it was coming; but with FBK and Garuccio avoiding the red mist, its Caceres - arguably one of the best players on the pitch over the last ten minutes - who gets his marching orders.

You have to feel for the young lad - he’s picked up almost as many red cards as he has appearances for City; he only just came back into the lineup from suspension.

10.13am GMT

77 min: So who will step up for the final fifteen minutes of this pulsating encounter?

A few tired legs creeping in now, with neither side consistently stringing decent passages.

10.11am GMT

74 min: Caceres and Fornaroli combine nicely, and the former Mariner drives in a firm shot. No problem for Vukovic, though.

Sorensen at the other end plays keepy-offy off Berisha. Not the best idea in tonight’s context, some might offer.

10.08am GMT

72 min: Caceres looks to get something going, as Fornaroli’s adds the nutmeg to his grab-bag of tricks tonight. City probing, but final delivery from Franjic is disappointing.

10.05am GMT

69 min: Some patient build up from Victory. They’re keen to try and re-cement their authority on this game. If you can, in fact ever re-cement anything. Once that stuff sticks, it sticks, no?

10.02am GMT

66 min: Garuccio with very heavy contact on Barbarouses, and the youngster very nearly tempts the referee into producing this inevitable red card.

Why not, this clash has had everything else.

10.00am GMT

65 min: First substitution - it’s debutant Alex Wilkinson coming off for Paulo Retre. He’s had a solid first hour in a City shirt, but perhaps short of full match fitness.

Malik drops back into defence.

9.59am GMT

62 min: Huge apologies to those attempting to join the coverage tonight; the message wonks in tech support are telling me richard.parkin.casual@theguardian.com is the best way to get in touch.

Not that we’ve had much of a break for tangental e-based distractions - there is just so much happening on the pitch right now.

9.56am GMT

60 min: FBK dodges going in the book there for another nasty hack.

Confirmation that we have had seven yellow cards thus far - and on any other night that should have been an eighth. Master Beath calls for calm, as he attempts to try and defuse the firecracker start to this second half.

9.54am GMT

57 min: Like David Beckham v Greece in extra time, I had a feeling of pure inevitability about Finkler there. He is just so unbelievably impressive from that sort of range.

I called on the Brazilian and his Tunisian counterpart to stand up, and both have been excellent thus far.

9.52am GMT

54 min: Oh no, oh no, oh no.

Finkler has slammed that freekick into the crossbar, and it’s bounced a good half-metre across the line, inside the goal!! The referee can only rely on his linesman, and you don’t want to say it, but the assistant has butchered this.

9.48am GMT

53 min: Berisha tries to turn through about six white shirts - and Chris Beath has given a freekick, right on the box, bang in front.

What are the odds - it is deadly Gui over it..

9.47am GMT

50 min: Fornaroli’s down with an ‘accidental’ elbow from Bozanic. We’ll give him the benefit of the doubt, but that must have tickled.

FBK draws an excellent save from Sorensen with a driven effort, just earlier. As Fornaroli goes to the sideline for treatment.

9.44am GMT

48 min: I was about to write ‘awful corner from Leigh Broxham’ when a delicate touch from Delpierre at the near post helped it on to Bozanic, who fluffed his shot in the way of Finkler, who fluffed his header/shouldered effort past Sorensen!

The Brazilian looks slightly sheepish - that’s an ear goal special, but he’s done enough.

9.43am GMT

47 min: This is ridiculous - Victory are level!

Well, that goal was as shabby as Fornaroli’s first was sublime.

9.41am GMT

45 min: Okay, The Beath is rested; the Brox is rested; I hope, you too, dear readers, are rested, because we’re back under way.

What can this next 45 wring out - anyone game to vote for pure dullness?

9.28am GMT

Pfffft! Chris Beath blows his whistle. He’s seen enough, and who can blame him wanting a wee breather.

A hatful of bookings, some real spite and feeling, and three sumptuous goals. That was some half of football.

9.24am GMT

45 min: Novillo has a mini-spat with Broxham, just for something different. It’s actually a relatively subdued crowd now, but possibly because they’re all spent from that frenetic first offering. Coaches begin to prepare their halftime oratory.

9.22am GMT

43 min: Fornaroli and Fitzgerald combine to almost sneak through the Victory defence. Before Victory respond, probing down the flanks.

In other news, Novillo’s having a blow-up on the touchline; right under the nose of Kevin Muscat. Have they not shown him the video of Muscat v Kosmina?? Brave boy.

9.19am GMT

41 min: Fornaroli harries Vukovic, a heart-in-mouth moment as the Uruguayan hunts his hattrick.

Would you believe that’s 17 goals for the season for Fornaroli, and 17 assists for Aaron Mooy.

9.17am GMT

38 min: Good piece of defending as Wilkinson intercepts a Barbarouses cross, following a sublime ball from Finkler to pick out the Kiwi speedster.

And now, finally, a slight lull in the tempo. Before Novillo also impedes Barbarouses.

9.14am GMT

36 min: If you got blackmailed into attending your six-year-old’s niece’s school musical, and you can only follow this in covert peaks at your phone, then kick yourself. You’re missing a belter.

9.13am GMT

33 min: Well, I’m going to hazard we’re not done here. This is breakneck stuff.

Novillo wants to try a free from about 35m out; and for seemingly the first time in about twenty minutes, the fans in the ground have a moment to sip water as the effort sails harmlessly by.

9.10am GMT

30 min: Well, sh*t me, if this isn’t getting ridiculous.

We’ve had a hold up for a minute as - would you believe it - someone’s let of a flare in the crowd; but scarcely before the cloud has cleared, it’s City back in front!

9.07am GMT

28 min: From City’s corner, Victory pick out a fast-moving Barbarouses who ends up one-on-one with the Great Dane, Sorensen.

A brilliant save from Sorensen - but only as far as FBK, who has curled a delectable 35m effort to loop back over the sprawled ‘keeper!

9.05am GMT

26 min: Once again, it was Aaron Mooy with the assist. A really well-disguised reverse ball to pick out Fornaroli who then finished with aplomb - a dinked finish over Vukovic, to end a move, he started with his initial elaborate footwork. Lovely from the Uruguayan.

Now it’s City with some pressure - Mooy whips in a corner, but it’s broken kindly for Victory.

9.03am GMT

23 min: Reach for whatever footballing cliche you want - something about ‘against the run of play’ springs to mind; but having spent a good twenty minutes getting pasted, Melbourne City have come up with the first decisive play.

Still waiting for a replay to help paint how exactly that unfolded, but we’re already embroiled in a new controversy with a very heavy shoulder challenge on Captain Broxham from the goalscorer.

9.00am GMT

21 min: Well, would you believe that - City have taken the lead!

An absolute treat from Fornaroli, a rabona in the build up, and the Uruguayan has finished a brilliant, flowing counterattack.

8.58am GMT

20 min: First goalmouth chance - Galloway with a fine cutback to pick out Finkler, and the Brazilian has Kanu-ed it from about eight yards out!

Scooped badly over, a real opening there with Victory still dominating early proceedings.

8.56am GMT

17 min: Now Kisnorbo’s clattered Berisha - and having called for the beleaguered man in the middle to ‘let things flow’, now our friends at Fox are calling for the whistleman to ‘slow things down and give the players a talking to’.

Who’d want to be a referee.

8.53am GMT

15 min: There’s definitely some niggle out there. Barbarouses leaves a foot in on Garuccio, and van ’t Schip leaps to his feet calling for a card - which Beath duly produces.

And now Kevin Muscat’s getting a talking to!

8.50am GMT

12 min: Barbarouses almost releases FBK with a great ball; Victory showing the lion’s share of intent early on.

And now it’s Caceres going into the book for a stomp on Leigh ‘the Brox’ Broxham.

8.48am GMT

10 min: Mooy lines up a freekick from just outside the Victory box, but the delivery is underwhelming. Caceres was crudely brought down in the build up, but City’s hugely impressive deadball deliverer fails to turn the screws.

8.47am GMT

8 min: And here’s the first for the ‘what have I missed’ files; Erik Paartalu, no longer at City. Who knew. Next I’ll find out Alvin Ceccoli isn’t still stomping the lines at Sydney FC..

8.44am GMT

6 min: Not trademark cool from Thomas Sorensen between the sticks, and suddenly it’s City with the water-bailers trying to keep the boat afloat early on.

Half a shout for a penalty - Chris Beath says no - but it’s brought the ‘away’ fans to life - they reckon their team, Victory, is firmly in control.

8.42am GMT

4 min: Who saw that coming - a yellow card for Ivan Franjic for an awful early tackle. He’s slid in two-footed through the back of FBK, and frankly, wasn’t even close there.

And the card’s out again! Garrucio follows his fellow fullback in the book - a yellow for pulling down the speedy Barbarouses.

8.40am GMT

2 min: Early flashes that Berisha is looking to buzz, and snap, and harry. As if you had any doubts of that. Victory pressuring the City back four high early on.

8.38am GMT

And we’re under way! City with possession, running right to left (but that’s extraneous info for you, dear onliners). Early free kick won by Kisnorbo who was fouled by an exuberant Oli Bozanic.

8.37am GMT

Kick off just moments away, as the players enter the playing arena.

For mine, I’m keen to see a real turn from Gui Finkler, here. His stats this season are well down on his usual excellence, and with the Brazilian’s Tunisian co-creator Fahid Ben Khalfallah also quiet lately, Victory fans could well do with one of these two firing tonight.

8.26am GMT

As always, please send your musings, quips, witticisms etc to richard.parkin.casual@guardian.co.uk or via twitter @rrjparkin. Ideally these should be at least loosely related to the game at hand, but I’ve always fancied my hand as an advice columnist, so try me. Incidentally, the ‘casual’ part of my guardian email address refers to my lax approach to grammar and punctuation, not my employment status, I assure you, so apologies in advance for tpyos and misspeellings like Mathieu Delpierre (sic) etc.

Who do you reckon is going to edge tonight – can Victory fire without the steel of Valeri in midfield; will Wilkinson slip seamlessly into the City back four; and can Van’t Schip’s men send a really strong message to the league tonight, and make it four consecutive derby wins at AAMI?

8.13am GMT

Hi all - Richard Parkin here. Great to be back in the A-League chair after a six-month ‘sabbatical’. I’ve been trying my hand as Grizzly Adams in the Tasmanian wilderness; not the best foxtel reception in the more remote corners of the island state, so bear (*boom boom*) with me if I’m not quite finger-on-the-pulse with the latest A-League insights/injokes. Is that kid still eating that watermelon? I’ll just have to rely on antiquated references to the golden age of Melbourne derbies then – Rutger Worm jokes, anyone?

This is the nineteenth installment (yep, read and weep you San Siro ultras) between these two ancient and battle-hardened foes; or by my maths, only the seventh league encounter since the Melbourne Heart-transplant and subsequent rebranding. The ledger stands Victory 8 v City 6 (with four draws) but it all depends heavily on who the ‘home’ team is.

Our team is in for tonight's massive #MelbDerby and @alexwilkinson84 will make his debut for us tonight! #together pic.twitter.com/fzmPkZBOi7

Here's our starting XI for the #MelbDerby at @AAMIPark tonight 7.30pm AEDT. FBK returns from suspension #MVFC pic.twitter.com/3vAAf7Y9n5

12.44am GMT

Richard Parkin will be here shortly, giving you just enough time to have a chuckle at David Squires’ latest cartoon which, admittedly, has nothing to do with tonight’s game:

Related: David Squires on ... the A-League's latest flare-up

Related: A-League matches will be shut down if flares lit, Victoria police warn

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