Outfought and out run; Western boss Aloisi blasts his team after morale sapping defeat
Michael Lynch: Victory dominated Western United as they eased to a 3-1 win that could have been far more had they taken their chances
Melbourne Victory has closed to within two points of pace-setting Auckland FC at the top of the A League Men table, comfortably disposing of hosts Western United in a 3-1 triumph at AAMI Park that could have been more had they been more clinical with their finishing.
While Victory boss Patrick Kisnorbo was understandably delighted with his team's performance, his Western counterpart John Aloisi was incandescent at how his side had failed to compete.
''We weren't good enough and didn't deserve it. We weren't good defensively and were giving the ball away in silly areas,'' the normally very composed Alosi said post-game.
''I am angry and upset ..the first thing is to match the fight. We didn't do that. We want effort (in the ) next game, we will demand it... You can always run and you can always fight.''
Victory took control right from the first whistle, dominated possession and had the lion's share of the early chances.
Kisnorbo's side signalled their intentions when they powered forward, Zinedine Machacha's run setting Daniel Arzani up for a shot before Nikos Vergos's effort was turned wide for a corner.
In a bright opening flurry Western was barely able to get on the ball as Victory took the initiative and their pressure was rewarded in the eighth minute when they took a deserved lead
Arzani picked the ball up on the left, cut inside and slipped a pass to Machach, who created space well for himself before lashing past Matt Sutton from the edge of the area.
Victory did not rest on their laurels and continued to create chances, Jordi Valadon finding a gap before firing a shot tipped away for another corner. Arzani then forced Sutton into another save when he was set up by some clever approach work by Machach.
Western finally started to get themselves into the game and Riku Danzuki's cross just failed to find a target, Jack Duncan gratefully clutching the ball before it reached a Western head.
It was perhaps a harbinger of what was to come as shortly after Western grabbed a leveller. Danzaki found Tate Russell, whose cross was only partially cleared, allowing Noah Botic to swivel, control, and then drive powerfully past Duncan.
Victory was undeterred and immediately got back into an attacking groove, Arzani's shot fizzing just past the post after a challenge from Kane Vidmar before Sutton came out bravely to smother at the feet of Valadon.
Arzani and Machach's interplay and Vergos' physicality continued to trouble the Western rearguard but the visitors could not add to their tally by the break, Vergos sending a header over from a Santos Rodrigues cross.
However, they continued where they left off and got their noses back in front shortly after the restart when Vergos struck, beating Sutton at his near post from a wide angle with a shot that went through the goalkeeper's legs.
The shot-stopper was almost embarrassed ten minutes later when he took too long to play from the back and was almost robbed by Rodrigues, whose tackle sent the ball just out of play away from the goal.
Victory got the third goal their attacking pressure merited with 22 minutes remaining after an error by United's young centre-back Kane Vidmar, whose attempt to head a long Victory ball back to his goalkeeper succeeded in finding only Bruno Fornaroli.
The Uruguayan, off the bench only a couple of minutes earlier, seized the opportunity with the aplomb he has shown during his long A-League career, controlling the ball and then flashing an angled shot past Sutton.
And that, as far as both teams were concerned, was that.
Victory moves on with confidence, Western has some soul-searching before its next game with Aloisi only exonerating his young players from criticism.