Melbourne Victory

A soccer match between rivals Melbourne Victory and Melbourne City in the Australian A-League was abandoned after fans stormed the pitch.

According to ESPN's Joey Lynch, fans planned on jointly walking out of the game in the 20th minute in protest of the Australian Professional Leagues' (APL) decision to sell the hosting rights of the men's and women's grand finals to Sydney for the next three years. Things took a turn when fans started throwing lit flares onto the field.

City goalkeeper Tom Glover reportedly had a flare land near him on the field and attempted to throw it back into the stands toward Victory supporters. Glover's actions "led to a host of fans storming onto the pitch," per Lynch.

In the ensuing fracas, Glover was hit in the head by a bucket filled with sand, which was needed to extinguish the flares on the field. He had blood coming out of his head as his teammates tried to remove him from the melee. Club officials said afterward that he received stitches and is believed to have suffered a concussion.

As players and coaches left the field while the invasion continued, fans attacked the goals and sponsor boards before being ushered off the pitch by members of Victoria Police's Public Order Response Team. According to Victoria Police, 150 to 200 Victory fans stormed the field. No arrests have been made amid an ongoing investigation.

"The Melbourne Victory fans who stormed the pitch, resulting in the assault of a player, a referee and a member of match day broadcast staff, should be subjected to the strongest possible sanctions," a statement from players union Professional Footballers Australia said. "We acknowledge the courage of players, club staff and referees who came to the aid of each other in circumstances that no one should ever be exposed to."

In addition to Glover, referee Alex King was also hit by the bucket, which caused a gash in his head. The game's referee coach was pushed into a fence during the chaos, and a camera operator appeared to be hit by one of the flares thrown onto the field.

Victory released a statement condemning the actions of the fans who stormed the pitch.

"The club would like to formally apologise to Tom Glover, match official Alex King and the camera operator as well as all players, officials and those who witnessed the appalling behaviour," the club stated.

This marks the first time that an A-Leagues match had to be abandoned because of violence.

Jim Magilton's Melbourne Victory were hopeful that they would wrap up the 2011-12 Hyundai A-League Season on a winning note against the Perth Glory at nib Stadium.

However, they were massacred, 4-2. Carlos Hernandez scored in the 22nd minute, and Mark Milligan added a second in the third injury time, but Perth's attack—more specifically, Shane Smeltz—was too much. Smeltz scored all four goals against the porous Melbourne defense.

With this, the Melbourne Victory finish the 2011-12 Hyundai A-League season 5-10-11 (26 points).

Carlos Hernandez, who had a sensational year in what has been an otherwise sorry season for the Victory, is a player the club would love to have back.

"You don't want to lose talented footballers," Magilton said after training at AAMI Park on Friday morning, according to Luke Buttigieg for melbournevictory.com.au.

"That will be discussed at board level in the next week and will see what lies ahead."

Meanwhile, the Victory's offseason schedule is being put together. Olympiacos will grace Etihad Stadium on Saturday, May 19 at 7:30pm (closed roof) following the completion of the Greek Superleague in April.

A huge crowd is expected at Etihad Stadium, with Olympiacos’ first visit to Australia since 1978 sure to raise excitement levels among Melbourne’s enormous Greek community.

Olympiacos has committed to bringing a full strength squad that will include five current Greek internationals who will feature in the national team during the upcoming Euros in June.

Among the Greek internationals to feature in the Olympiacos line up will be exciting right back Vasilios Torosidis, left back Jose Holebas, central defender Avram Papadopulos, defensive midfielder Yiannis Maniatis and Greek attacking prodigy Yiannis Fetfatzidis.

The View from the Victory adjourns for the season and will resume near the beginning of the 2012-13 Hyundai A-League season.

With all hopes for the playoffs already done and dusted, Jim Magilton's Melbourne Victory looked to finish the year strong as they hosted the Wellington Phoenix on Friday at AAMI Park.

One of the new signings for the Victory was Adama Traore, who signed a two-year deal with the club after a spell with Gold Coast United.

 “I’m excited to be moving to Melbourne Victory and look forward to taking the next step in my football career,” Traore said. “I’m very grateful to everyone at Gold Coast United and have made some good friends through some tough times, but I felt this opportunity was the right move for me.”

As for Magilton, he has elected to start Tando Velaphi in goal for Melbourne in place of the embattle Ante Covic.

"It's the law of the jungle and any club that wants to remain successful, there has to be an underbelly of ability coming through or talent coming through or quality coming through," Magilton told melbournevictory.com.au.

In addition, Tom Pondeljak was released by the Victory after 78 appearances for Melbourne.

Wellington had already qualified for the postseason and were looking to build some momentum heading into the finals series.

However, the Phoenix would be reduced to ashes as Melbourne played the type of football that was lacking from them all year in a 3-0 pasting on Wellington.

Carlos Hernandez scored in the 11th minute for Melbourne, Isaka Cernak made it 2-0 in the 58th minute and James Jeggo sealed the deal in the 89th minute of play.

The Melbourne Victory end the 2011-12 season next weekend when they take on Perth Glory at nib Stadium in Perth, WA. Kickoff is scheduled for Mar. 24 at 6:30 p.m. and will be televised by Fox Sports 1.

View from the Victory, Volume 21: Sydney FC punches Melbourne out of postseason

For Jim Magilton's Melbourne Victory, it was clear that this season was not going to be one for the fans to remember. With rival Melbourne Heart closing in on punching their ticket to the postseason, Victory needed a result against Sydney FC in order to have a puncher's chance at remaining in the hunt.

"It's our job and it's important that we recognise that we can't lose focus, it's impossible for us to lose focus because of the season we've had," Magilton told Ronny Lerner of melbournevictory.com.au.

"It's important that we send out the right signals, it's important for our fans, it's important for everyone connected with the football club that we're focused on our jobs and we go out there and we're fully committed."

James Jeggo is a rookie with a huge upside to him. He believed that the club still had plenty to play for in spite of what has obviously developed into a rebuilding year.

"As far as we are concerned the season isn't over as yet," Jeggo told Jonathan Healy  of melbournevictory.com.au." Everyone has still got something to play for, so we are back here today working hard and looking forward to the weekend."

"We have had two draws against them (Sydney FC) this season so it is a big chance to go out and get on top."

Unfortunately, the hopes for Melbourne died at the hands of their rival, as Sydney won 1-0 thanks to Karol Kisel's penalty conversion in the 33rd minute.

With the result, Melbourne fall to 5-9-11 (26 points) and will definitely be playing for pride in the closing weeks of the season.

Up next for the Victory is a match with Wellington Phoenix at AAMI Park. Kickoff is scheduled for Mar. 16 at 8:00 p.m. ET and will be televised by Fox Sports 1.

It has been a rough year for football in Australia. Despite the continuing success of the Socceroos, the domestic league has been lagging and with it, the Melbourne Victory, who continue to struggle to find results.

Earlier last week, news broke out that Gold Coast United were stripped of their license to compete after owner Clive Palmer breached FFA rules. As a result, there are now two football bodies that are active in Australia, one trying to force the other to tap out, to quote a played piece of MMA terminology.

That is not to say Melbourne Victory, who compete in the A-League under the auspices of the Football Federation Australia (FFA), have issues of their own. This is a club that is one bad result away from disaster, and it could have averted such a fate this past weekend against the Newcastle Jets.

"Have to win. Obviously we're running out of games and we need to win tomorrow. Importance of the game is such that we need to rise to the occasion and I'm confident we can," Victory manager Jim Magilton told Ben Sutton of melbournevictory.com.au.

"I'm absolutely confident that we can still get there, obviously we've got to win games and it's important that we go into the game knowing we can the game."

Stubborn overconfidence is just that: stubborn. And it led Melbourne to an embarrassing 3-1 defeat to Newcastle at AAMI Park.

Harry Kewell continued his hot streak with a 24th-minute penalty conversion, but Melbourne is all but eliminated from the A-League finals picture with three matches left to go.

Turmoil in the club. Turmoil outside the club. The turmoil between the competing football bodies in Australia parallels the misery in the Melbourne Victory camp: dubious management and decision-making and an inability to significantly reach out to the grassroots game in the manner of the suddenly more successful rival known as Melbourne Heart.

The Victory will need to play for pride from now on as the plans for next year need to be put into play. This has been a disappointing campaign, to say the least.

Up next for the Victory is a match with Sydney FC at the Sydney Football Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for Saturday, March 10 at 7:45 p.m. AEST and will be televised by Fox Sports 1.

Barring divine intervention of the highest order, Jim Magilton's Melbourne Victory are essentially playing for pride. That was especially the case when Melbourne took on Gold Coast United Saturday at Skilled Park.

"I think I'm going to have to put a bit of pressure on our lads but we've got to start winning games. On the back of a pretty good second half performance at Brisbane, albeit we didn't get the result we went there, but build on that and hopefully take the game to what is a pretty confident Gold Coast side judging from the other night," Magilton told the press.

As if things were not bad enough, it was announced this past week that team captain Adrian Leijer would have to go through arthroscopic left hip surgery and would be out for the remainder of the season.

Archie Thompson, who has done all he can to help Melbourne's cause, believes Melbourne still have a puncher's chance to qualify for the Finals Series in the A-League.

"You find that when players are up against it, they find something special. We are not going to Gold Coast thinking it is going to be an easy game. They gave it to Heart last week. It's going to be difficult still, I think we are confident we can go and get three points," Thompson told Bren O'Brien of melbournevictory.com.au.

In the end, Thompson proved to be overconfident. Despite a 57th-minute goal from Carlos Hernandez, Melbourne Victory settled for yet another draw, 1-1 with Gold Coast United.

Up next for the Victory is a match with Newcastle Jets on March 3 at AAMI Park. Kickoff is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. AEST and will be televised locally by Fox Sports 1.

In the eyes of the Melbourne Victory, normalcy is dropping matches left and right. Of course, the Blue and White Brigade do not like this level of normalcy, but what can those supporters really do?

 The fact of the matter is, Melbourne is simply playing terrible football and may not make the Finals Series in the A-League without godly intervention of the highest order. Indeed, any hopes for intervention ahead of Saturday's contest with the Brisbane Roar were shot down post-haste.

 "It's easy for me, because I've been around players all my life," 42-year-old manager Jim Magilton told Marco Monteverde of the Melbourne Herald Sun.

 "I'd heard the bits and pieces being thrown about regarding Harry, but I've been very comfortable with the hype (surrounding Kewell)."

 As for the rest of the team, they came to Suncorp Stadium with a time-to-put-up mentality.

"We beat the league leaders so if it was good enough to beat them, I'd like to think that if we can replicate it we can give ourselves every chance,'' Magilton told Paul Purcell of The Age. ''There are very few games left so we need to know the importance of each game. This is the most important one because it's the next one.''

 A back-and-forth encounter at Suncorp saw the Roar win a 3-2 slugfest over the Victory. Kewell recorded a brace in the ninth and 50th minutes of play, but the penalty issues regarding Melbourne came to bite them in the rear. Henrique's conversion in the 39th minute became the eventual winner.

 Besart Berisha also recorded braces for Brisbane in the first and 32nd minutes.

 Melbourne is now 5-7-10 (25 points) and will need to win out to have a shot at making the postseason.

 Up next for the Melbourne Victory is a match with Gold Coast United at Skilled Park. Kickoff is scheduled for Feb. 25 at 6:45 p.m. AEST.

There was a sense of urgency this past week from Jim Magilton, heading into the weekend match with the league-leading Central Coast Mariners at AAMI Park.

Sitting outside of the playoffs, Melbourne needed to get a win, or else their hopes at finals football were all but extinguished. Midfielder Grant Brebner was sidelined due to a groin injury. Nagging issues with the groin made the possibility of a return to action doubtful.

Still, the manager was hopeful of a recovery.

"[Brebner]'s done excellently to get himself through that and get himself to play," Magilton told The Australian. "So, we'll see him tomorrow and then we'll make that assessment."

One new face in the crowd was Spanish international Ubay Luzardo, who signed on a loan deal. Combined with youth product Jimmy Jeggo, Luzardo made an impact on the pitch almost immediately, as Melbourne upset the Mariners, 2-1.

Carlos Hernandez opened the scoring in the 16th minute, but it was international marquee player Harry Kewell that delivered the game-winner in the 51st minute to give the Victory a rare victory. Magilton discussed the win with James Ranson of MelbourneVictory.com.au.

It's the way I want to play. Ubay (Luzardo) came in and was very solid, it was a good debut for him. Jimmy (Jeggo) is someone I've always liked since I've been at the club, we were composed tonight. A lot of it is how I want to play.

We went a goal behind and we showed great character. Again building on last week, we needed a lift, we passed the ball well, the ball lands at Carlos at the end of the box, and it's a magnificent strike.

Melbourne remain seventh in the A-League standings, however, and will need to win out a majority of their remaining matches to remain in contention for a playoff spot.

Up next for Melbourne Victory is a match with Brisbane Roar at Suncorp Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for Feb. 18 at 6:45 p.m. ET.

If Jim Magillton's Melbourne Victory do not make the Hyundai A-League Finals Series, the inability to hold on to leads will be the main reason.

All season, Melbourne have proven to be inept at maintaining the advantage in critical matches. Wednesday night's match against Gold Coast United was just another example of the issues surrounding the club's lack of defense.

A second-half goal from Harry Kewell was not enough as they gave away an equalizer in the third minute of second-half stoppage time consigned the Victory to a 1-1 draw.

"That was unacceptable. It's disgusting," a visibly upset Kewell told The Australian afterwards. "It happens week in week out. It's just disgusting. I am sure the riot act will be read in the dressing room."

Up next for Melbourne was one final meeting with in-city rivals Melbourne Heart.

"Both teams are not in good form, we're not getting the results we need, and this game's just bigger than three points," said Heart's Clint Bolton to Guy Hand of the Sydney Morning Herald. "This derby, it's the biggest atmosphere in the A-League at the moment.

"If you get on top in the big games, it's like a final. You win a final, it just gives you that massive boost."

Unfortunately, for either side, it felt more like a draw. As in, a scoreless draw.

"I'm pleased. When you're down to 10 men and your back's against the wall, we showed grit, determination, all the characteristics you need," Magilton told Matt Windley of the Melbourne Herald Sun. "They dug in for one another, they showed a great togetherness to dig out a result.

"So, they're positives for me, they're real positives, and we need to just build on this, we need to carry this through. I think it's the first clean sheet in (14 games) so that was great."

Up next for Victory is a match with the Central Coast Mariners. Kickoff at AAMI Park is scheduled for Feb. 10 at 8 p.m. AEST and will be televised by Fox Sports 1.