9:05pm: 55.23 - MHE 2 (Engelaar 9" Dugandzic 15") MV 0
Now a bit of initiative from Victory...Thompson plays a one-two with Finkler down the left...Finkler gets level with the penalty area...but Wielaert comes over to shut him down. Ball out for a goal kick after Finkler got the last touch.
9:02pm: 52.45 - MHE 2 (Engelaar 9" Dugandzic 15") MV 0
Heart clear the corner, then a second ball in is knocked away by Germano.
Victory still seems to be caught in two minds, between protecting their already poor goal difference in the top six race, and trying to manufacture a way back into this match.
9:01pm: 51.45 - MHE 2 (Engelaar 9" Dugandzic 15") MV 0
Broxham attempts a long shot from 20m outside the area but it's deflected straight away, out for a corner.
8:59pm: 49.30 - MHE 2 (Engelaar 9" Dugandzic 15") MV 0
Victory has collapsed its formation intoa 4-4-1 of sorts.
Gallway-Traore-Broxham-Geria across the back.
Troisi-Finkler-Milligan-Thompson across the middle.
And Rogic the most advanced man. With Troisi and Thompson to attack down their respective flanks when in possession.
8:58pm: 48.15 - MHE 2 (Engelaar 9" Dugandzic 15") MV 0
Finkler with the free kick from the left touchline...headed by Thompson but straight at Redmayne! Who fumbles his first grab at it but dives on the spill to claim the ball!
8:57pm: 46.45 - MHE 2 (Engelaar 9" Dugandzic 15") MV 0
Williams takes a long shot but it's charged down by a desperate Leigh Broxham.
Victory counter through Troisi and Hoffman gets a yellow for fouling him on the wing.
8:56pm: 46.45 - MHE 2 (Engelaar 9" Dugandzic 15") MV 0
Rogic showed his skill to round Wielaert but ran straight into a three-on-one.
8:55pm: KICK-OFF - MHE 2 (Engelaar 9" Dugandzic 15") MV 0
Second half kicks off with Victory attacking the Swan St End and Heart the Yarra End.
So will there be a twist or will Heart's march back towards the top six continue?
8:40pm: HALF TIME - MHE 2 (Engelaar 9" Dugandzic 15") MV 0
Cheers from the Heart fans, boos from the Victory fans.
Quite a first half...and Heart are poised to keep the revival going.
8:38pm: 45+1" - MHE 2 (Engelaar 9" Dugandzic 15") MV 0
Now the cards are coming.
Traore and Williams collided shoulder to shoulder on the left touch line.
There was a bit of afters where Traore appeared to kick out at Williams!
After a long deliberation...Delovski gives Traore a yellow! And Dugandzic one either dissent or the widespread push and shove that broke out.
8:37pm: 44.00 - MHE 2 (Engelaar 9" Dugandzic 15") MV 0
Here is the live league table.
1. Brisbane Roar 41 (+17)
2. *Western Sydney Wanderers 34 (+6)
3. Adelaide United 30 (+9)
4. Melbourne Victory 30 (-4)
5. Central Coast Mariners 30 (-5)
6. Sydney FC 28 (-2)
7. Wellington Phoenix 26 (-3)
8. Melbourne Heart 24 (-4)
9. *Newcastle Jets 23 (-7)
10. Perth Glory 21 (-7)
8:35pm: 43.45 - MHE 2 (Engelaar 9" Dugandzic 15") MV 0
So there goes any hope of a Victory comeback right? Heart up a man now have a chance to really repair the goal difference as the top six hunt continues.
8:34pm: 42.45 - MHE 2 (Engelaar 9" Dugandzic 15") MV 0
Engelaar puts his free kick into the wall.
8:34pm: 42.00 - MHE 2 (Engelaar 9" Dugandzic 15") MV 0
Straight red for Ansell!
Heart sent a long ball forward for Williams to chase...Ansell might have had a hold of Williams as Thomas came out of the area...then Thomas bowled over Ansell but also deflected the ball away!
The red card must have been for Ansell's hold on Williams as they chased the ball.
Free kick to Heart 5m from the top of the area!
8:30pm: 38.45 - MHE 2 (Engelaar 9" Dugandzic 15") MV 0
Murdocca is caught in possession by Milligan but before Victory can break with a three-on-two the ball rolls long to Redmayne...in winning the ball Milligan also hit it too long to chase down.
8:29pm: 37.30 - MHE 2 (Engelaar 9" Dugandzic 15") MV 0
Kisnorbo comes up into his attacking half to pressure Troisi...he's got a handful of shirt and eventually knocks Troisi over.
And the yellow card comes out from Delovski.
That was a bit overzealous from Kisnorbo...now he has to walk the tight rope.
8:27pm: 36.00 - MHE 2 (Engelaar 9" Dugandzic 15") MV 0
Redmayne takes a back-pass and runs it out to the left side of this penalty area...then takes an airswing and falls over!
Rogic sweeps on the loose ball but he's on too tight an angle to shoot...his cross into the area is cleared.
8:26pm: 34.45 - MHE 2 (Engelaar 9" Dugandzic 15") MV 0
Dugandzic chasing the ball down the right...Geria his marker loses his boot!
Geria still did well to clear the ball even with only one shoe on!
8:24pm: 32.30 - MHE 2 (Engelaar 9" Dugandzic 15") MV 0
Archie Thompson with a cross from the right...to the back post where Milligan has to volley it backwards to keep it in the field of play...into the six yard area but no Victory shirts to attack the ball...put out for a corner by Germano.
8:22pm: 30.30 - MHE 2 (Engelaar 9" Dugandzic 15") MV 0
Troisi intercepts a pass and runs direct at the Heart goal from the left flank...he shoots from the top left corner of the area...high and wide.
8:21pm: 29.45 - MHE 2 (Engelaar 9" Dugandzic 15") MV 0
Ramsay is knocked over but it's advantage to Heart...cross comes from Dugandzic on the right but it sails through the penalty area.
Ramsay does not need the physio but is standing on the pitch close to the Heart banch as play re-starts.
8:19pm: 27.15 - MHE 2 (Engelaar 9" Dugandzic 15") MV 0
Rogic is fouled yet again...Delovski calls over Germano and the first yellow of the night comes out.
Heart did well to make it to 27 minutes. Germano can't hide his anger though and makes a diving signal with his hands.
8:17pm: 26.00 - MHE 2 (Engelaar 9" Dugandzic 15") MV 0
Finkler corner...headed by Ansell! It slides across the face and out...too high for good measure.
8:17pm: 25.15 - MHE 2 (Engelaar 9" Dugandzic 15") MV 0
Rogic running with the ball across the face of goal 10m from the edge of the area...Wielaert brings him down this time.
Finkler is still in shooting range...Heart send over three players to form a wall.
It's in a central-right position...Finkler chips it instead and Hoffman reads the ball best to put it behind for a corner.
8:15pm: 23.30 - MHE 2 (Engelaar 9" Dugandzic 15") MV 0
Heart attacking down the left again...Ramsay with a cross into the area but Victory scramble it clear.
It feels like another goal is coming...Victory with no answers at the moment!
8:14pm: 22.30 - MHE 2 (Engelaar 9" Dugandzic 15") MV 0
Engelaar found Dugandzic running down the right with a long pass, but Dugandzic lost his feet just as he was about to send in another cross.
Victory clears but Heart retains possession.
8:13pm: 21.30 - MHE 2 (Engelaar 9" Dugandzic 15") MV 0
Finkler clips Kisnorbo's heels as the Heart defender runs out of his back half...still no cards though.
8:11pm: 20.00 - MHE 2 (Engelaar 9" Dugandzic 15") MV 0
Victory trying to consolidate possession but all the attacks are going through Rogic...he's fould again in midfield.
8:08pm: 15.30 - MHE 2 (Engelaar 9" Dugandzic 15") MV 0
GOAL!
Dugandzic scores with a cross...he hardly meant it!
Dugandzic caught Geria in possession on the right...then ran to the right edge of the penalty area to swing in a cross...a desperate Geria slid to challenge the cross...the ball looped it perfectly over a marooned Lawrence Thomas and into the net!
Dugandzic could only laugh, he was almost too embarrassed to celebrate!
What a start from Heart. Now totally in control.
8:06pm: 14.30 - MHE 1 (Engelaar 9") MV 0
That opening goal has totally changed the game.
Heart barely touched the ball in the first four minutes, now it's Heart with all the possession.
And they are looking a lot more purposeful .
Hoffman sends a high cross from right to left where Ramsay tries an ambitious volley from an impossible angle...and puts it into the side netting.
8:04pm: 13.00 - MHE 1 (Engelaar 9") MV 0
Garuccio now with an ambitious run up from left back...the passage of play ends with Heart winning a corner on the left.
Thomas comes out to claim on the edge of the six yard area...then dropped it as he went to ground!
Victory scramble it clear...out for a throw.
8:03pm: 11.00 - MHE 1 (Engelaar 9") MV 0
Victory suddenly look rattled...Milligan fouls Germano in midfield.
Heart played it quickly out to a loose Ramsay again but on this occasion referee Delovski insists on stopping play!
8:02pm: 9.00 - MHE 1 (Engelaar 9") MV 0
GOAL!
Engelaar knocks in the opener at the back post after a great flick header from Williams!
A poor pass out from Thomas gifted the ball straight back to Heart and Ramsay made a good run down the left to receive an outlet pass...Ramsay swung in a cross to the near (left) post where Williams flicked on the ball...not goal-bound but it took Thomas out of the equation...leaving Engelaar to knock in a volley at the back post!
The stadium erupts! Heart in front!
8:00pm: 8.00 - MHE 0 MV 0
First touch for Thomas as he receives and clears a back-pass. It's a big situation to be thrust into but Thomas did make his debut in an Etihad Stadium Melbourne-Brisbane game after a red card for Ante Covic...he's no stranger to being thrown into the big occasion.
Heart with a free kick from wide on the right...floated ball in is nodded down by Engelaar but without any power.
Heart win possession stright back...through ball for Williams who blazes high over the bar from the right edge of the penalty area.
7:57pm: 5.30 - MHE 0 MV 0
Heart able to retain possession for the first time...now Victory's turn for a foul, and it's Rogic giving one back on Germano.
7:56pm: 4.00 - MHE 0 MV 0
Germano now with a clumsy challenge on Broxham. That's four fouls in four minutes and Strebre Delovski is already calling over Heart captain Robbie Wielaert for a chat.
7:55pm: 3.30 - MHE 0 MV 0
Rogic grappled in midfield...another foul. One-a-minute and Heart might find more than a few of their players in the book.
The free kick is played quickly and knocked out for a Victory throw.
7:54pm: 2.00 - MHE 0 MV 0
Finkler shoots right-footed over the wall...but it's not to the corner, low and central and Redmayne is able to dive down to make the save!
First shot on goal for the game.
7:53pm: 1.00 - MHE 0 MV 0
Victory control possesion for the first minute...Rogic decides to go direct and run at Kisnorbo...Wielaert gives him a little push from behind, free kick!
Victory line up a set piece 5m from the top of the area in a central right position.
7:50pm: KICK-OFF - HEART 0 VICTORY 0
Victory kick-off to start the Melbourne Derby!
7:49pm: Both teams are out on the ground. Handshakes and coin-toss taking place.
Victory will attack the Yarra End in the first half while Heart will attack the Swan St End.
7:48pm: Truth be told there are a lot of empty seats here at AAMI Park. The concourse looks busy enough but the number of empty seats is in the thousands. Hard to predict a number but something in the low rather than high 20-thousands.
7:47pm: Tonight's referee is Strebre Delovski with assistants Jonathan Barreiro and Nathan MacDonald.
Heart is in its home kit, red shirt with white stripes, red shorts and red socks.
Victory is in its away kit of white with a light blue V, white shorts and white socks with blue rings.
7:46pm: Central Coast won tonight's earlier match, 2-1 against Sydney FC.
Here is the live table at kick-off.
1. Brisbane Roar 41 (+17)
2. *Western Sydney Wanderers 34 (+6)
3. Adelaide United 30 (+9)
4. *Melbourne Victory 30 (-2)
5. Central Coast Mariners 30 (-5)
6. Sydney FC 28 (-2)
7. Wellington Phoenix 26 (-3)
8. *Newcastle Jets 23 (-7)
9. *Melbourne Heart 21 (-6)
10. Perth Glory 21 (-7)
*game in hand
7:37pm: Warm-ups are done, players back down the tunnel with kick-off not far away. Interestingly, Heart kept third 'keeper Marko Stevanja out on the ground longest warming up but there has been no word on a late change.
7:27pm: Both teams are out on the ground warming up. Victory's active fans have returned to the bay behind the goal at the Swan St End, while Yarraside has populated the Yarra End. The rest of the stadium is still only about half full.
7:24pm: Melbourne Victory has dropped Nathan Coe for NYL goalkeeper Lawrence Thomas. Tom Rogic is fit to start in spite of his scare with an ankle injury against Adelaide United last weekend.
MELBOURNE VICTORY
20. THOMAS Lawrence (gk), 3. TRAORE Adama, 4. ANSELL Nicholas, 5. MILLIGAN Mark (c), 6. BROXHAM Leigh, 7. FINKLER Guilherme, 10. THOMPSON Archie, 14. TROISI James, 21. ROGIC Tomas, 24. GALLOWAY Scott, 25. GERIA Jason.
Bench: 1. COE Nathan (gk), 9. BARBAROUSES Kosta, 11. PAIN Connor, 16. MAHAZI Rashid, 22. MAKAROUNAS Jesse.
7:22pm: Melbourne Heart welcomes Harry Kewell back to the bench, but there is still no place in teh squad for striker Michael Mifsud.
MELBOURNE HEART
1. REDMAYNE Andrew (gk), 3. WIELAERT Robbie, 4. ENGELAAR Orlando, 7. RAMSAY Iain, 8. MURDOCCA Massimo, 13. GERMANO Jonatan, 15. WILLIAMS David, 17. HOFFMAN Jason, 19. GARUCCIO Ben, 23. DUGANDZIC Mate, 24. KISNORBO Patrick.
Bench: 10. KEWELL Harry, 20. VELAPHI Tando (gk), 21. MAUK Stefan, 22. KALMAR Nicholas, 30. ARCHIBALD Ross.
7:20pm: Welcome to tonight's live coverage of the A-League Melbourne derby, Melbourne Heart v Melbourne Victory from AAMI Park.
Stay with our live coverage as we count down to kick-off at 7.45pm.
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