Melbourne Victory 2-0 Perth Glory: Excellent crowd see Melbourne victorious

Photos (Top to Bottom): Melbourne Victory's Thailand international Surat Sukhat started at right-fullback as Victory reverted to a back-four system; Rodrigo Vargas came on as a substitute for Matthew Kemp and scored Victory's second goal; Victory coach Ernie Merrick has serious injury concerns; Matthew Kemp went off injured after just 34 minutes [PlessPix]

Melbourne Victory 2-0 Perth Glory

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Melbourne Victory beat bottom-side Perth Glory 2-0 at AAMI Park in Melbourne yesterday afternoon, but it came at a huge cost.

Matthew Kemp went off with a knee injury after 34 minutes, while Archie Thompson tore a hamstring after scoring the opening goal in stoppage time at the end of the first half.

And, Carlos Hernandez was replaced by Tommy Pondeljak with 3 minutes remaining after he twisted an ankle.

Victory coach Ernie Merrick will be on tenterhooks as the extent of the injuries to three of his star players is determined this week.

Adriano Pellegrino almost gave the cellar-dwellers the lead in the 19th minute, but his low strike hit the outside of Michael Petkovic’s right-hand post.

The fourth official indicated three minutes of stoppage time, but it was at the 48 minutes and 14 seconds mark that Thompson scored the opening goal. Kevin Muscat released Thompson down the left and he passed inside to Robbie Kruse, whose back-heeler put Thompson clean through and he easily beat Tando Velaphi from inside the box.

As Thompson ran to the fans to celebrate, he suddenly grimaced and clutched the back of his leg. He was replaced at the interval by Brazilian Ricardinho.

Hernandez forced a fine save from Velaphi in the 51st minute. His first touch from Kruse’s pass was poor, but he regained control, cut inside and unleashed a shot that almost dipped under the bar.

Four minutes later, a Hernandez free-kick from the right was nodded just wide by Adrian Leijer.

In the 63rd minute, a near-post corner from the left by Hernandez was headed home by substitute Rodrigo Vargas to make it 2-0.

Perth were pressing strongly for a goal, however, and it was clear that the Victory had somehow lost their sparkle. This was evident in the 65th minute when they cleared their lines and, instead of mounting the usual quick counter-attack, Hernandez was the lone man up front and he was surrounded by five Perth players.

Petkovic was Victory’s saviour in the 68th minute when he blocked a Mile Sterjovski effort with his left leg when a goal seemed likely.

Hernandez still posed a threat, however, and, a minute later, he shot narrowly wide of the far left-hand post.

Perth’s frustration was evident when captain Jacob Burns was shown a yellow card 15 minutes from the end. He has now collected 9 yellow cars and one red this season.

The win put Victory in 5th place on the A-League ladder, displacing Wellington Phoenix, who had won earlier in the day against the Newcastle Jets.

The Glory stay in last place, a point adrift of second-last Sydney FC.

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Melbourne Victory: Petkovic - Sukha, Muscat, Leijer, Kemp (Vargas 34) - Ferreira, Brebner, Angulo - Kruse, Hernandez (Pondeljak 87), Thompson (Ricardinho 46) (Sub not used: Mattei)

Booked: Brebner

Goals: Thompson 45+4, Vargas 63

Perth Glory: Velaphi - Risdon (Howarth 49), Harnwell, Mitchell, Coyne - Neville, Pellegrino, Burns (Fondyke 82), McGarry - Skorich (Sterjovski 66), Fowler (Sub not used: Pearson)

Booked: Burns

Att: 12,164

Ref: M Breeze