The A-League men’s grand final will be an original Melbourne derby for the first time in its 20-year history when Victory clash with City at AAMI Park on Saturday night.
Melbourne Victory upset Auckland FC in front of a sold-out crowd in New Zealand last weekend while Melbourne City were too good for fellow hometown rivals Western United to reach the grand final, creating the next chapter in a derby which has produced some historic soccer moments over the years.
The OG Melbourne derby: Melbourne Victory duo Lachlan Jackson and Roderick Miranda with Aziz Behich and Kai Trewin.Credit: Getty Images
With a championship on the line at AAMI Park on Saturday night, let’s take a look at the most memorable moments from when the two Melbourne sides have faced each other.
There’s plenty to talk about.
The Muscat misfire: January 22, 2011
Victory legend Kevin Muscat drew the ire of fans around the country and the world with his savage tackle on Melbourne Heart’s Adrian Zahra (as City were known then) when the Melbourne teams clashed in 2011.
The sides had each scored twice when Muscat launched himself at Zahra as the forward took a shot on goal. Muscat travelled through the 20-year-old’s knee, sending him flipping over his head onto his back.
The collision resulted in a straight red card for the Victory captain and an eight-week ban, while it ended Zahra’s season, with the Heart player needing knee surgery.
Muscat shouted at the referee as he left the field and Zahra lay on the ground clutching his leg.
“Wild, reckless,” commentator Paul Trimboli exclaimed. “He just flew into that tackle. He’s mistimed it horrendously … He’s gone way over the ball. That is dangerous from Muscat.”
Kevin Muscat was given a straight red card for the tackle on Heart’s Adrian Zahra.Credit: Fox Sports
Muscat was widely condemned, and the incident sparked talk about the Victory bruiser’s retirement. Muscat swiftly apologised.
“Firstly having had a sleepless night myself I felt it was important that I did front up and accept everything that is going to be coming my way in relation to bans … and also being criticised [over] my character, my performance [and] all that comes with it,” he said. “I’m going to have to sit here and accept full responsibility for it.”
Thompson at the death: December 22, 2012
The sides were set to leave their 2012 encounter at AAMI Park with an unsatisfying 1-1 score when Victory star Archie Thompson wrote his own page into the derby history books.
Marco Rojas, running at pace, threaded the ball through to the striker in the 92nd minute and Thompson seized the moment to slot an audacious lob just under the crossbar. Defender Aziz Behich booted the ball out of the goal, but it was in vain as the referee declared it had cleared the line.
The last-minute attack, which took place just minutes after Heart had snagged an equalising score, handed Victory a stunning 2-1 win.
Thompson stripped off the “high-vis” jersey Victory had donned that night and swung it around in celebration as the 26,000-strong crowd erupted.
The win put Victory in third place on the ladder and left Heart languishing third from bottom.
Cahill’s wonder goal: October 15, 2016
Tim Cahill put his stamp on the derby in front of more than 43,000 fans with a stunning volley 26 minutes into a bumper clash between City and Victory at Marvel Stadium in 2016.
Cahill, in his A-League debut following a stellar career playing for Australia and internationally, advanced as the ball bounced away from the centre circle towards the goal, more than 40 metres away.
“What a hit!” commentator Simon Hill roared as Cahill’s long-distance volley went into the top corner. “The Socceroos great announcing his arrival in some style.”
The 36-year-old celebrated by taking on his favourite boxing opponent: the corner flag.
Cahill’s miraculous goal paved the way for a scoring blitz from City, who went on to win 4-1 following goals from Bruno Fornaroli, Luke Brattan and Fernando Brandan.
Cahill would score against Victory again in their next clash in December, but this volley will always rank among the best goals in derby history.
The “darkest day” in Australian soccer: December 17, 2022
Hundreds of Victory’s active supporters stormed the field during the derby in 2022, in what has been dubbed the darkest moment in A-League history and left a cloud hanging over the club to this day.
The attack on City goalkeeper Tom Glover.Credit: Ten
Hooligans broke down the field barriers in the 22nd minute of play, running onto the pitch with lit flare and tearing at the goal net.
Players and officials were attacked, with one man throwing a bucket of sand at City keeper Tom Glover, cutting his head open, while others targeted referee Alex King. Scores of invaders were later banned for life and several were charged by police.
Fans from both clubs had been protesting the A-League’s decision to move the grand final to Sydney.
Melbourne Victory were fined more than $500,000 – the largest fine in A-League history – and continues to deal with the fallout with a suspended 10-point deduction hanging over them.
Play was abandoned on the night, but the game was completed months later, restarting from the 22nd minute and ending with City winning 2-1.
Izzo the hero: May 5, 2024
Victory and City were fighting for a place in the semi-finals last year when the game went to penalties (scores tied 1-1 at the end of extra time), before Victory keeper Paul Izzo emerged as the hero for the side in navy blue.
Izzo let one penalty in early before Victory equalled. Boos rang out from Victory fans as City made a second attempt but Izzo blocked the ball. Victory capitalised, taking the score to 2-1.
Izzo ultimately saved two more and then calmly converted his own penalty shot, sending his team to the semi-final against Wellington Phoenix after the 3-2 penalty win.
“Everything he touches turns to gold,” Commentator Simon Hill remarked.
Victory progressed to the grand final before losing to Central Coast Mariners, while Izzo’s heroics resulted earning call-ups to Socceroo squads and a move to Randers in Denmark.
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