Melbourne Victory beats Melbourne City 5-2 thanks to Besart Berisha hat-trick - ABC Online

Updated October 25, 2014 22:47:22

Melbourne Victory strikers old and new have combined for a stunning 5-2 A-League derby win over Melbourne City.

Besart Berisha's first Victory hat-trick was book-ended by goals from foundation striker Archie Thompson on Saturday night in a match to live long in the memory.

In a pulsating match, the Victory came from behind twice after first-half headers to Robbie Wielaert and Jason Hoffman.

But Kevin Muscat's men were not to be denied, producing a sparking attacking showing to romp home and to go to the top of the A-League ladder.

The scoreline did not flatter the Victory despite starting slower than their newly renamed rivals.

City's international attackers David Villa and Damien Duff looked sharp early but their imported defender brought the opening goal after 13 minutes.

From a free-kick on the right, Aaron Mooy flighted a ball over the gathered pack where Wielaert was able to head home without attention.

It took 10 minutes for the Victory to equalise from a move begun by the constantly dangerous Kosta Barbarouses.

The New Zealand international darted a ball through City's defence to Gui Finkler, whose pass across goal presented Thompson with an unmissable chance.

Offside questions were discarded three minutes later from another set-piece.

A well-worked corner from Duff allowed Hoffman to soar above the pack to head into an empty net.

City were worth their lead but could not take it to half-time.

On 45 minutes, the fleet-footed Barbarouses weaved a way into the heart of City's defence, with Berisha finding the net from a spoiled shot.

The goal made Berisha the quickest man to reach 50 A-League goals - and, just 20 seconds after the kick-off, he had his 51st.

The Albanian bamboozled as he cut in twice from the right flank, with a deflected shot wrongfooting Andrew Redmayne.

The Victory had a scoreboard ascendancy - and began to play like they deserved it.

A string of Victory attacks followed before Berisha doubled their lead from the penalty spot.

From a Victory corner, City attacker James Brown had a rush of blood to the head, rashly challenging Matthieu Delpierre from behind in the box.

Up stepped Berisha, who tucked his penalty just centimetres to the right of the diving Redmayne.

The Victory were not done, with Barbarouses conjuring Thompson's second with a miracle cross-field ball.

AAP

Topics: a-league, soccer, sport, melbourne-3000, vic, australia

First posted October 25, 2014 21:50:37