Victory too strong for Newcastle in four goal drubbing | OneFootball

Melbourne Victory have gotten back in the winners column following an emphatic 4-0 win over the Newcastle Jets at AAMI Park.

In a season which has been incredibly even in the opening month, the three points came at a premium for the Victory, and having gone without a win in their past three league fixtures, the result does get the train back on track.

The home side looked the more threatening of the sides to break the deadlock, and having spurned chances early, the Victory would find the net inside the opening 20 minutes from the penalty spot.

After James McGarry made slight contact inside the box on Nani, referee Ben Abraham saw enough to award a penalty. Jake Brimmer converted from the spot in what would be the Victory’s first goal since the opening round of the season.

The Jets would miss their chances to equalise in the minutes that followed, Joshua Sotirio having three chances within a minute of each other but couldn’t find the net. Reno Piscopo would also go close.

They looked to have been chances gone begging after Chris Ikonomidis scored from inside six yards on the stroke of halftime, though Abraham would disallow the goal believing the winger used his arm to control the ball in the lead up to the shot.

Taking a 1-0 lead into the break, the Victory would waste little time to kill the game off in the second half scoring twice inside the opening 10 minutes.

Ikonomidis would double the home side’s advantage in the 50th minute, set up by Rai Marchan. The winger would find space inside the box and finish from a difficult angle into the top left corner.

Four minutes later Nicholas D’Agostino broke his goalless run having been teed up perfectly by Jake Brimmer, he’d fire from the centre of the box to put the game beyond doubt.

The Victory would cruise thereafter with the finish line in sight, the Victory would add a fourth goal in the final minutes. Jets defender Mark Natta conceded a penalty with a handball, and the Victory’s newest signing Bruno Fornaroli stepped up to the plate and scored from the spot having been subbed into the game 15 minutes prior.

The 4-0 victory ends the run of three games without a win in one of the more dominant displays of the season.

Key Takeaways

Victory end goalless drought

Having gone goalless in their past three fixtures, the Victory finally broke their duck and registered a goal for the first time since their season opener over Sydney FC.

Having registered 50 shots on goal without finding the net coming into their clash with the Jets, 29 of which came against the Brisbane Roar last weekend, the Victory were creating plenty of chances for little reward with majority of their shots failing to hit the target.

But they’d turned their fortunes around against the Jets with more than 50 per cent of their shots finding the target.

While Brimmer scored from the penalty spot, Ikonomidis and D’Agostino scored through open play, both goals coming off the back off clever passing and high pressing. Having taken just one point from their last three games, the Victory finally got reward for effort.

The Vuck train back on track

Having gone winless in their past three fixtures, the Victory picked up crucial three points against the Jets.

Having come into the game sitting outside of the top-six, the win ensures they didn’t lose further touch.

Though they have played good football this season, the club have struggled to get the points for the efforts. Tonight they’d make up for it putting in one of the more lop-sided performances from a side in the competition this season.

Fornaroli receives a warm welcome

He was the star man for crosstown rivals, but Bruno Fornaroli received a warm reception when he entered the field for his first appearance for the Victory in the 75th minute.

Having been the villain of the Victory faithful during his time at Melbourne City, there seems to be no lingering hard feelings for the 35-year-old.

When his side were awarded a penalty in the closing moments of the game, he stepped up and converted from the spot to etch his name amongst the goal scorers in his first game for his new side.

With his name ringing around AAMI Park following the goal it appears the veteran has quickly made himself a cult hero. Having scored now 83 goals in 143 A-League Men appearances, the Victory will be hoping he has plenty more left in the tank.

Final Score

Melbourne Victory 4 (Brimmer 16′ Ikonomidis 50′ D’Agostino 54′ Fornaroli 89′)

Newcastle Jets  0

Image Source: A-League Men – Twitter