View from the Victory, Volume 11: Hot Seat Becomes Even Hotter For Durakovic

Mehmet Durakovic's Melbourne Victory were riding on the heels of a breakthough 3-2 win over Gold Coast United at AAMI Park and needed to build on their result as they hit the road to face the Newcastle Jets at Ausgrid Stadium.

Intimidation has worked in Newcastle's favor against the Victory, as they have dominated at home against their Victorian rivals.

"It is a bit of an eerie place, a bit of a different place to go,"  Melbourne's Leigh Broxham told David Davutovic of the Melbourne Herald Sun. "We've had some good results there, too, but I guess it's not one of the better places we've had. So this week would be a good statement to back up a good result that we had last week."

Then again, Newcastle also are wary of Melbourne's ability to get results on the day.

"I think they're a very dangerous team no matter what, whether they're full of confidence or not full of confidence," Jets manager Gary van Egmond told the Herald Sun. "They've got players within their squad who are capable of turning a match at any given moment.

"Given time and space they can really punish you you have to take that away from them."

Melbourne swingman Harry Kewell has been able to settle down in his role with the Victory, saying earlier this past week that he felt right at home.

"It may sound stupid, or as if this guy is being a big-timer, but literally I walk out there and that's my home, it's where I feel natural and comfortable, besides my actual house with my family," said Kewell to Michael Lynch of the Sydney Morning Herald. "That is something where I can be in front of one person, 1000 people or 100,000 and it does not worry me. That becomes your reality.

"Yes, the other stuff … being the poster boy for the league, that's more the pressure. I think out there you can be natural, you can be doing what you are good at."

17,245 came out for Saturday's contest in the Hunter Valley, which saw Melbourne add more salt to its own wounds in the form of a 3-1 defeat.

Early on, a chance for Newcastle's Jeremy Brockie in the eighth minute sailed wide left. Fabio was cautioned in the ninth minute for a speculative challenge. A chance for Billy Celeski in the 12th minute was cleared.

Carlos Hernandez broke open the scoring in the 20th minute thanks to a delivery from both Harry Kewell and Marco Rojas. A chance in the 22nd minute missed Adrian Leijer. Labanot Haliti had a few looks on goal, but the Victory defense, led by goalkeeper and former Jets netminder Ante Covic, held their ground.

Rojas commited a foul inside the box in the 26th minute, forcing a penalty for Newcastle. It was the eighth penalty the Victory conceded this season. Ryan Griffiths converted from the spot to make it 1-1.

Tiago Calvano was cautioned for the Jets for a foul on Kewell in the 29th minute. Broxham earned a caution in the 36th minute for a challenge on Brockie. Very few opportunities materialized afterwards, with the halftime scoreline remaining 1-1.

Broxham must be a Nostradamus, because the second half confirmed his suspicions.

Haliti capitalized on a Brockie cross from the right side in the 47th minute to give the Jets a 2-1 lead. He was subsequently carded for excessive celebration. A minute later, Nikolai Topor-Stanley was forced to make a clearance on Archie Thompson.

Kewell tried his luck at a header in the 57th minute, but he did win a corner that was eventually cleared. Another shot in the 66th minute from Kewell hit the side netting, sailing wide right. Ruben Zadkovic was cautioned in the 81st minute for Newcastle.

A 79th minute challenge from Topor-Stanley on Thompson was not called, and a penalty opportunity for the Victory was denied.

The non-call by match referee Jared Gillett would prove to be the turning point of the contest at Ausgrid because minutes later, Ryan Griffiths closed the deal in the 87th minute, capitalizing on a turnover and rebound off the initial shot from Zadkovic.

This defeat is bad timing, with a team that is stronger than the Jets—at least on paper—coming to Etihad Stadium on Tuesday. The match may only be a friendly, but this defeat by Melbourne is falling right into the Los Angeles Galaxy's hands.

Kickoff between the Galaxy and Victory is scheduled for Dec. 6 at 7:30 p.m. AEST/12:30 a.m. PT/3:30 a.m. ET and will be televised locally by Fox Soccer Channel and Fox Sports 1.

Melbourne return to A-League action on Saturday, Dec. 10 when they face Adelaide United at Etihad. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:45 p.m. AEST.