Despite the A-League season finding itself on the backburner due to the Asian Cup break, the Corner Flag is celebrating the ten and five year anniversaries of Melbourne Victory and Melbourne Heart/City respectively with a range of top ten/fives for each club.
In this instalment, we take a look at the stunning long bombs, pieces of team brilliance, or last minute gasps that are remembered in Melbourne Victory’s goalscoring folklore.
10: Marcos Flores v Wellington, 2012-13
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This sublime goal was poetry in motion. Taking the ball from midfield, Flores worked the ball elegantly with Gui Finkler, playing a double one-two, before finishing expertly with the outside of the foot into the bottom left corner. The ultimate ‘Ange Postecoglou’ type goal.
9: Nick Ward v Sydney FC, 2008-09
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A moment of brilliance from Ward, right when it was needed. Seconds after coming onto the pitch, he took the ball, cut in from the right and fired a shot into the top corner to level the game. One of the best long shots in the club’s history. Ney Fabiano’s winner minutes later sent the fans into raptures.
8: Andrew Nabbout v Sydney FC, 2009-10
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This really should include two goals. A relative unknown to most fans at the time, young Nabbout was brought off the bench against massive rivals Sydney with Victory chasing the game at 2-0 down. What happened next is Victory folklore.
7: Danny Allsopp v Central Coast, 2006-07
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The final goal in an entertaining 3-3 draw, Allsopp turned and hit left footed volley sumptuously. A stunning strike, seemingly out of nowhere with his weaker foot. The goal was made all the more impressive by the fact that Victory were down to 9 men and facing defeat before this moment of brilliance with just three minutes to play.
6: Marco Rojas v Newcastle Jets, 2012-13
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In a highly entertaining game that ended in a 3-2 win to Melbourne, it was Rojas’ volley that was the decisive goal. Following a run from Finkler, the ball fell to Flores who had his pass intercepted as far as Rojas, who flicked, turned, and volleyed home past a helpless Mark Birighitti in goal for Newcastle. A sublime strike. His first goal of that game wasn’t a bad one, either.