Melbourne Victory won the second Big Blue of the Isuzu Ute A-League Season 4-0 against Sydney FC at AAMI Park on Monday evening.
Clerismario Santos netted a double, his first for Victory, before Keegan Jelacic added a third and Lachlan Jackson completed the rout with his first Melbourne Victory goal.
Spanish superstar Juan Mata pulled the strings with three assists.
VAR had intervened twice to deny Jason Davidson headers, one for offside and one for a handball, while Santos himself had been trapped offside in the first half.
But those setbacks were quickly forgotten during the second-half goal avalanche, sparked by a sweet strike from Santos in the 53rd minute.
VAR reviews were required to chalk off Jason Davidson’s first-half header for offside and a second half header which went in off the Victory defender’s arm.
But there would be no denying Santos on the opening goal as he seized on Juan Mata’s pass, cut past Rhyan Grant at the top of the area and fired past the dive of Sydney FC goalkeeper Harrison Devenish-Meares. Santos added his second 11 minutes later with a half-field dash and placed finish.
Sydney had to wait until the last minute of the first half for a first clear-cut chance, as a bustling Pat Wood run and shot from the left side of the penalty area drew a sharp save out of Victory goalkeeper Jack Warshawsky. Brief hopes of a comeback in the second half were ended when Victor Campuzano had a goal disallowed for offside when the score was 0-2.
Keegan Jelacic finished after a Juan Mata cutback to make it 3-0 in the 79th minute before Lahclan Jackson headed in a Mata corner for 4-0.
Sydney FC were out-shot 18 to eight by Melbourne Victory with the home side putting nine on target to Sydney’s three.
Sydney FC’s concerns will stretch into Sydney Derby week as Alex Grant was substituted out after a head knock. Leaping against Nikos Vergos, who was yellow-carded for the challenge, Grant was assessed and substituted.
Victory moved into 7th on the table with 20 points, one behind sixth-placed Brisbane Roar and two behind fourth-placed Sydney FC. Next up for Victory is a trip to Gosford to play the Central Coast Mariners on Sunday.
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
WHAT THEY SAID
“It was probably our most complete performance” Juan Mata said on Paramount+ after the match.
Melbourne Victory coach Arthur Diles speaks to Paramount+.
Sydney FC coach Ufuk Talay speaks to Paramount+.
