GK: Nathan Coe – 6
Couldn’t be blamed for either of the first two goals, as they came from the spot, but positioning for third was questionable. Looked shaky coming out for crosses at times, although did make a couple of regulation saves.
RB: Jason Geria – 5.5
A mixed night for the right-back. Conceded the opening penalty for a foul on Naumoff, and was booked later in the first half after deliberately impeding Ibini on the counter. On the flip side, looked dangerous going forward again, and made multiple tackles, including one which began the move for Victory’s first goal.
CB: Nick Ansell (1 goal) – 7
Scored a barnstorming header late in the game which looked the winner. Down back, he was solid throughout, keeping Janko quiet for most of the game, until his withdrawal. Smeltz caused some more issues but nonetheless another quality game from the young central defender.
CB: Adrian Leijer – 6.5
Showed his quality in what was a heated game, often timing his tackles to perfection, was good in the air, and caught out only for Smeltz’s second, equalising goal. Was a leader on the pitch, acting as a cool head on multiple occasions.
LB: Scott Galloway – 6.5
Tough game for the young fullback; he ran all day, but nothing really seemed to come off for him. Very solid defensive game once again though, as he seems to be growing with each passing game.
CM: Carl Valeri – 6.5
Not the midfield enforcer’s best game, made a couple of errors here and there, and struggled to contain Antonis when he was introduced. Before that point, looked fairly solid.
CM: Mark Milligan – 7.5
A sterling game from the Victory captain. Looked determined in his return game from suspension for elbowing the aforementioned Antonis, making a number of perfectly timed tackles and well weighted passes. Lead from the front whenever the game got heated up and was one of the best for either side on the pitch.
AM: Gui Finkler (1 goal, 1 assist) – 8
Another virtuoso performance from the Brazilian, getting on the end of a wonderful move for the second goal, whilst toying with Sydney throughout. A cheeky back heel flick to himself early in the second half was a standout moment. “Conceded” the second penalty, when Sebastian Ryall kicked his back foot and took a dive, which referee Strebre Delovski somehow viewed as a foul. Put in a stunning ball for Ansell’s header, before being withdrawn late on.
LW: Fahid Ben Khalfallah – 6.5
Not the best of games from the charismatic Tunisian, who always ran hard, and looked dangerous when on the ball, but just couldn’t get it to translate into a final product, with the final ball just evading a target more often than not. Booked for dissent following the horrific decision to award the second penalty.
ST: Besart Berisha (1 assist) – 7
A strong game from the Albanian, who played the one-two with Barbarouses for the opening Victory goal. Made some dangerous runs throughout, and on another night might have had a goal.
✮ RW: Kosta Barbarouses (1 goal, 1 assist)- 9 ✮
Another man of the match performance from the Kiwi international – his second in a row. His work for the opening goal was nothing short of sublime; he turned his man, played a ball to Berisha who returned it to him, before sumptuously finishing with the outside of his boot. Brilliantly found Finkler for the second goal, and was dangerous until he was substituted late on in the game. A superb performance.
***
Votes
3. Kosta Barbarouses
2. Gui Finkler
1. Mark Milligan
TCF Melbourne Medal Running Tally:
85.5 – Aaron Mooy (Melbourne City)
60.5 – Fahid Ben Khalfallah (Melbourne Victory)
55 – Kosta Barbarouses (Melbourne Victory)
47 – Besart Berisha (Melbourne Victory)
45.5 – Damien Duff (Melbourne City)
38 – Leigh Broxham (Melbourne Victory)
37 – Connor Chapman (Melbourne City)
29.5 – Jacob Melling (Melbourne City)
23.5 – Mark Milligan (Melbourne Victory)
22.5 – Nathan Coe (Melbourne Victory)
22.5 – Paddy Kisnorbo (Melbourne City)
22.5 – Carl Valeri (Melbourne Victory)
20 – David Williams (Melbourne City)
18 – Archie Thompson (Melbourne Victory)
16 – Robert Koren (Melbourne City)
15,5 – Gui Finkler (Melbourne Victory)
15.5 – Daniel Georgievski (Melbourne Victory)
15.5 – Adrian Leijer (Melbourne Victory)
15.5 – Dylan Murnane (Melbourne Victory)
15 – David Villa (Melbourne City)
14.5 – Mate Dugandzic (Melbourne City)
13.5 – Erik Paartalu (Melbourne City)
8 – Matthieu Delpierre (Melbourne Victory)
8 – Jason Geria (Melbourne Victory)
8 – Andrew Redmayne (Melbourne City)
7 – Nick Ansell (Melbourne Victory)
7 – Safuwan Baharudin (Melbourne City)