Victory win, and finally score!

A double salvo from Austrian international Richard Kitzbichler has guided the Melbourne Victory to their first win in over a month, as the Melburnians recorded a 3-2 win over cellar-dwellers the New Zealand Knights in front of a disappointing crowd at the North Harbour Stadium last night.

The Victory had to do it tough, coming from behind in a morale-boosting win for the boys from Olympic Park.

The hosts made two changes to their side, with Jeremy Christie and John Tambouras coming into the side, replacing Simon Yeo and the undisciplined Danny Hay.

Melbourne made 3 changes with the most notable being Qantas Socceroo Archie Thompson who returned to the starting lineup, as did utility Carl Recchia, and goalkeeper Michael Theolitkos came into the side for his first game since round three. Ommitted were Ricky Diaco, Mark Byrnes and Eugene Gelakovic.

After not scoring in over seven hours entering the match, the Victory must have been wondering when the needed goal would come, as they blew several guilt-edged chances early, with Kitzbichler being denied by the linesman early on.

Numerous chances continued to go begging, as the Victory were desperately in search of their first goal in November. Finally, the Victory's goal came when after a successful run, Archie Thompson was fouled in the penalty box, and the visitors were awarded a penalty.

Melbourne skipper Kevin Muscat stepped up and duly buried the ball past Knights keeper Danny Milosevic for his fifth goal of the season, a remarkable effort for a defender. After 439 minutes of agony, Melbourne had finally scored.

But Melbourne's joy was shortlived, as the hosts hit back immediately through Jeremy Christie. Danny Allsopp fouled Christie, around 30 yards from goal, with Christie blasting the ball towards the goal. The ball took a wicked deflection off the arm of Melbourne's whizkid Vince Lia and trickled into the back of the net, to draw the Knights level.

The Knights gained confidence after their equalizer and surged forward with intent and after a mix-up in the penalty area between keeper Theolitkos and Kevin Muscat, New Zealand attacker Sean Devine was downed in the penalty box.

Devine stepped up and powered the ball into the left hand corner of the net, with a powerful strike which gave the Knights the lead. It was crisis time for the Victory - 7 hours without a goal had been enough torture, but a loss to New Zealand would test the loyalties of any Melbourne fan.

But just as it looked like the hosts would take a lead into the half-time break, a brilliant one two from Kitzbichler and the much maligned Danny Allsopp saw the Victory draw level.

Kitzbichler ran onto the pass from Allsopp, and the Austrian finished with aplomb, sliding it past Knights keeper Danny Milosevic.

In the early part of the second half the Knights were in full control, with Simon Yeo going close on two occasions, whilst goalscorer Sean Devine was also denied.

Despite Allsopp missing what looked like an easy goal, the Victory were to take all three points, with Kitzbichler racing onto a pass from Archie Thompson, and burying the ball past a diving Milosevic.

After five matches without a win, the Melbourne camp were breathing a sigh of relief whilst the New Zealand Knights were once more wondering what they have to do to win their second game.

In the after match media conference, Knights manager John Adshead was pleased with his players effort, especially the performance of young striker Jeremy Brockie.

"I honestly think [Jeremy] Brockie was the most effective player on the park. He was probably the youngest player on the field as well."

"He gets given different jobs, and what I think sometimes are difficult jobs. We talk to him about not overdoing it, listening and doing the simple things. He expands on all that, he does things for his age that are beginning to get quite exceptional. He's never stopped taking a step up and that's a little bit frightening."

"You're gutted again, we haven't won a game, we haven't got a point but you've got to look at it realistically and say 'there was something there, we're building.' It was a different side, it was a set up we introduced last week and they've improved on it."

Victory manager Ernie Merrick praised his senior players, with this statement.

"I thought Archie [Thompson] and Richard Kitzbichler were absolutely outstanding in the whole game and caused heaps of problems for that defence. Archie got the penalty for us, he set up Richard's goal and he had just an outstanding game."

"I think he's a very entertaining, very exciting footballer who was fully committed to play today despite a back injury. He's normally quicker than that, can you believe that, but I don't think he was pulling the trigger on his shots but he was certainly setting everyone up."

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