Melbourne Victory thrash 10-man Perth Glory 6-1 to go third

Updated: May 17, 2023, 05:53 am

Marco Rojas of the Victory is congratulated by team mates after scoring a goal during the round four A-League match between the Melbourne Victory and Wellington Phoenix at Etihad Stadium on October 31, 2016 in Melbourne, Australia.
Marco Rojas of the Victory is congratulated by team mates after scoring a goal during the round four A-League match between the Melbourne Victory and Wellington Phoenix at Etihad Stadium on October 31, 2016 in Melbourne, Australia.
Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

Marco Rojas of the Victory is congratulated by team mates after scoring a goal during the round four A-League match between the Melbourne Victory and Wellington Phoenix at Etihad Stadium on October 31, 2016 in Melbourne, Australia.
Marco Rojas of the Victory is congratulated by team mates after scoring a goal during the round four A-League match between the Melbourne Victory and Wellington Phoenix at Etihad Stadium on October 31, 2016 in Melbourne, Australia.
Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

Marco Rojas of the Victory is congratulated by team mates after scoring a goal during the round four A-League match between the Melbourne Victory and Wellington Phoenix at Etihad Stadium on October 31, 2016 in Melbourne, Australia.
Marco Rojas of the Victory is congratulated by team mates after scoring a goal during the round four A-League match between the Melbourne Victory and Wellington Phoenix at Etihad Stadium on October 31, 2016 in Melbourne, Australia.
Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

Melbourne Victory produced their finest performance of the A-League season to date, thrashing 10-man Wellington Phoenix 6-1 at Etihad Stadium.

Besart Berisha and Marco Rojas scored doubles either side of half-time, with Dylan Fox's dismissal after the break opening the floodgates for the home side.

Berisha twice scored from the penalty spot after sloppy Wellington defending, while Rojas surged onto loose balls to finish past Glen Moss.

The pair combined for an 82nd minute effort that secured Berisha's hat trick, and Mitch Austin cemented Wellington's embarrassment in added time in front of 20,113 at Etihad Stadium.

With Rojas, Kosta Barbarouses, Gui Finkler and Phoenix coach Ernie Merrick all turning out against their former employers, there was plenty of feeling on display.

Full-backs Daniel Georgievski and Jason Geria inspired Victory, the former involved in the two first-half penalties.

On 20 minutes, the Macedonia international flew into the box and was clumsily brought down by Roly Bonevacia as he collected Oliver Bozanic's pass.

Two minutes later Georgievski turned provider for Berisha. Fox's attempt to outmuscle the Albanian went awry, with his leg catching Berisha's stride.

On both occasions, Victory's striker struck confidently from the penalty spot, shooting to Moss' right.

Three points looked assured when Fox earned his second yellow card on 59 minutes for halting Berisha's run on goal.

But the Phoenix were awarded a penalty of their own when Alan Baro brought down Roy Krishna, who duly converted.

Their threat lasted just nine minutes, when Rojas timed his run into the box perfectly to gather Berisha's ball and lash home.

The winger was gifted his second, with Jacob Tratt's poor clearance allowing him to sidefoot into an empty net on 77 minutes.

After Berisha scored his 85th A-League goal -- bringing him within five of Archie Thompson's all-time record -- Austin took his turn to get on the scoresheet after more good work from Rojas.

The result adds to Wellington's woe, with Merrick's men stranded at the foot of the A-League table, without a point after four games.

Victory jumped to third place, wiping out their negative goal difference suffered in round two's Melbourne derby.