Jake Brimmer scores late brace as Melbourne Victory stun Perth Glory

Updated: May 17, 2023, 05:10 am

Jake Brimmer was the hero against his former club as Melbourne Victory completed a dramatic late turnaround to defeat Perth Glory 2-1 and kickstart their A-League season.

Victory looked set to pay for a wasteful performance in front of goal when Bruno Fornaroli headed home for the visitors in the 62nd minute. But Brimmer, who missed two earlier chances, snared two goals in five minutes to snatch all three points.

Victory had the better of the chances but in front of 7,018 fans were frequently denied by brilliant Glory goalkeeper Tando Velaphi, who replaced regular custodian Liam Reddy.

Victory almost broke the deadlock in the 19th minute when Marco Rojas fired a shot straight at Velaphi and they should have scored three minutes later when Brandon Lauton dragged a shot wide off the back of a clever Robbie Kruse backheel.

Velaphi was again called into action in the 29th minute, denying a hard shot from Brimmer at his near post.

Jake Brimmer scored twice to turn the game on its head.
Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

Two minutes later Glory skipper Neil Kilkenny slipped a clever ball through to Fornaroli, whose first-time shot was well-denied by Victory custodian Maxime Crocombe.

Then in the 34th minute Kruse, who was everywhere in his first start since Jan. 24, 2020, was unlucky to have a superb instinctive shot denied by Velaphi.

Brimmer missed another chance in the 55th minute when he got on the end of a brilliant Butterfield through-ball only to hit a tame shot straight at Velaphi.

Seven minutes later, Victory were made to rue their plethora of missed chances. Kilkenny fed the ball to Carlo Armiento, whose floating cross to the back post was comfortably headed home by an inexplicably unmarked Fornaroli.

Then, with just four minutes remaining in regulation time, Traore whipped a scintillating cross for Brimmer who rose highest to head home against his former club.

Then, in the final minute of normal time, youngster Joshua Rawlins handballed Brimmer's corner kick and referee Shaun Evans pointed to the spot. Brimmer made no mistake, drilling it past Velaphi to secure Victory's first three points of the season.