With less than 50 days until the Hyundai A-League 2013-14 season, Football Federation Australia has been exploring some classic matches in the competition’s history.
With less than 50 days until the Hyundai A-League 2013-14 season, Football Federation Australia has been exploring some classic matches in the competition’s history.
One of the notable matches that most Melbourne Heart fans would remember was when the Red and White claimed the first ever Melbourne Derby. Read the full feature below:
The Melbourne Derby has quickly become one of the top fixtures on the football calendar.
It all started on October 8, 2010 when the Melbourne Victory visited the new boys of the competition, the Melbourne Heart.
It hadn-t been the best start to the season for the red and white side of Melbourne having only amassed eight points in as many games but as football tragics know all is forgotten when it comes to a derby.
The Victory wasn-t on top of the world either with 11 points heading into the the clash but knew a win over the Heart would get them back on track and show their new rivals who was Melbourne-s number one.
Over 25 thousand fans packed into the Heart-s AAMI Park to witness history and they weren-t disappointed as the two sides put on an entertaining match from the outset.
The homeside created the first chance of the match when Rutger Worm turned his defender inside out and had a clear shot at goal but drilled it straight at Victory keeper Michael Petkovic.
The Heart continued to attack and when Leigh Broxham was dispossessed by John Aloisi in the centre of the pitch the Heart were away.
Aloisi played the ball forward to Brazilian Alex Terra who crossed the ball perfectly back to Aloisi as the Socceroos hero headed home the first Melbourne derby goal on eight minutes.
A bit of quick thinking from Victory captain Kevin Muscat helped get the scores level at 1-1 after 37 minutes.
Muscat took a free kick out on right wing quickly to catch the Heart napping as Sooceroo-to-be Robbie Kruse latched onto the end of Muscat’s ball to put it past Clint Bolton as Kruse had his second goal of the season.
After heading into the break level at 1-1, the Heart gained a lead they would never relinquish as Worm put in a centimetre-perfect cross.
The Dutchman drifted in a ball from the left wing that Terra got onto the end of and gave his side a 2-1 advantage.
Both sides had their chances in the final third of the match but the scored remained at 2-1 as the Heart claimed their biggest win in their short history.
The Heart went on to finish their inaugural season in eighth position, six points out of the top six as the Victory finished fifth.
Having now played nine derbies the sides cannot be separated with three victories each, three draws and three losses.
The Melbourne derby is again set to be a showcase fixture of the upcoming 2013/14 Hyundai A-League season with the sides clashing in the opening round on October 12 at the Victory-s Etihad Stadium.
Melbourne Heart will host two Melbourne Derbies during the Hyundai A-League 2013-14 season and the best way to capture all the action is to grab a Melbourne Heart FC membership to guarantee your spot in the stands. Click here to Believe in the Red and White today
