Melbourne vs Sydney: Game of the year?

It started badly. A strike in the 30th second from Shannon Cole; another one from Brendan Gan three minutes later. Sydney 2-0 up.

But that just set the stage for one of the greatest comebacks in Melbourne’s history. Sydney may feel robbed, but Melbourne absolutely deserved the three points.

The turning point? This, undoubtedly:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTsb4315GVU[/youtube]

Melbourne played with an intensity we rarely see. For once, Merrick’s substitutions had the desired impact, as the fresh legs of Ney Fabiano, Matthew Kemp and Nick Ward tore Sydney apart. Ward’s goal will deservedly go down in MVFC history as one of our finest, but Fabiano had a bigger impact. Here is a striker who can run at players, cross the ball and hold it. Three weeks in a row, he has come off the bench and scored. The only question is whether to keep him as an impact substitute, or give him a start.

While it’s hard to feel anything but euphoric about the game, two things bothered me: Melbourne’s habit of dropping intensity and giving up possession far too easily when it takes the lead; and Kevin Muscat, who just about made me have a heart attack with his antics in front of the Melbourne goal.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhqhE_7eT0k[/youtube]

Queensland Roar won its game against Wellington Phoenix, meaning we’re still in third place. In fact, all the top 4 sides won their matches, so the standings remain exactly as they were last week. With back-to-back matches against Queensland Roar and Adelaide United coming up, it’s well and truly make-or-break time.