Melbourne Victory secured a decisive 3-1 victory over Melbourne City in the latest Melbourne Derby held at AAMI Park on Saturday night. Juan Mata was the standout performer, scoring two goals and providing an assist to help his team retain the derby bragging rights.
Key Moments of the Match
The match began with Victory rising quickly to the challenge. An early chance fell to Charles Nduka, who made a strong run but faced tough opposition. Nishan Velupillay delivered a cross that led to an initial scramble in front of goal, with Nduka eventually shooting on target, only for goalkeeper Patrick Beach to make a crucial save.
- 21st Minute: Juan Mata scored a stunning goal from 40 yards out, chipping the ball over Beach.
- 32nd Minute: Max Caputo equalized for City, heading in a cross from Marcus Younis.
- 65th Minute: Mata added his second with a powerful strike from the edge of the box.
- 89th Minute: Santos sealed the victory with a well-placed shot, assisted by Mata.
Match Statistics
| Team | Goals | Yellow Cards |
|---|---|---|
| Melbourne City | 1 | 1 |
| Melbourne Victory | 3 | 1 |
Team Line-ups
Melbourne City XI
- GK: Patrick Beach
- DF: Harrison Delbridge, Ryan Teague, Nathaniel Atkinson, Daniel Arzani
- MF: Aziz Behich (C), Max Caputo, Marcus Younis
- FW: Germán Ferreyra, Medin Memeti
Melbourne Victory XI
- GK: Jack Warshawsky
- DF: Jason Davidson, Roderick Miranda (C), Sebastian Esposito
- MF: Denis Genreau, Jordi Valadon, Nishan Velupillay
- FW: Juan Mata, Keegan Jelacic, Charles Nduka
This victory further strengthens Mata’s significance in the squad as Melbourne Victory looks forward to continuing their good form in the Isuzu UTE A-League. The next fixture, featuring special entertainment, is set for the following Friday at AAMI Park.
