A second half diving header from PSV bound striker Archie Thompson was enough to give Melbourne Victory an away win against the Queensland Roar. The loss for the home side all but dashes any hope of a finals appearance in the inaugural A-League season.
In what proved to be an open attacking affair, both teams came out of the blocks firing. In the first minute slalomed his way down the right, and his cross was almost fumbled into his own net by Michael Theoklitos.
Both teams started with attacking formations and the space gave the attackers plenty of room to maneuver. But it took until the quarter hour for a goal to be threatened. Michael Baird, who was to have a dismal night in front of goal, had his shot blocked. The ball fell to Remo Buess who unleashed a Swiss rocket, which missed the post by inches.
In the 23rd minute Theoklitos received a regular backpass, but he could only manage to clear it to the advancing Baird. With only the keeper to beat Baird honed in on goal. He tried to push it pass the advancing Theoklitos, but the Victory keeper stuck out his leg to deny the Roar.
Seven minutes later and Alex Brosque mad his first real contribution. A fabulous run down the left was followed by a pinpoint cross to Brazilian striker Reinaldo. He headed down towards goal, but Theoklitos did enough to keep it out.
Five minutes before half-time and a free kick just outside the Roar box had Kristian Sarkies' name written all over it. The Young Socceroo didn't disappoint as his lovely curling free kick was somehow kept out of the top corner by the flying Thomas Willis.
The half was to end at a frantic pace, but with plenty of youth out on show, inexperience told as neither side could conjure up goal scoring opportunities.
If the first half was full of running and mazy dribbling, the start of the second half was anything but. Only a bullet like shot from Victory midfielder Michael Ferrante kept the crowd on their toes in the opening ten minutes.
In the 58th minute the Victory won a controversial corner, which was protested in vain by the Roar players. Perhaps still thinking about that decision the Roar defence left Daniel Piorkowski unmarked, but his shot hit the post.
The Roar failed to clear, and the ensuing cross was heading into the path of Archie Thompson by Daniel Allsopp. The Socceroo striker dived to the ball and powered it into the goal. The Roar defence was made to pay heavily for the lack of concentration.
The Roar risked everything to get back into the game. Only a few minutes after the goal and it almost paid off as Michael Baird found himself with another one on one with Theoklitos. But this time the marauding Belgian defender Geoffrey Claeys got back in time the thwart the Roar striker.
What followed was an onslaught on the Victory goal by the Roar. But for all their attacking they couldn't trouble Theoklitos. It was only Queensland's pillar in defence, Josh McCloughan, who could muster any real shot on goal, and even his effort feel wide.
Melbourne had some trouble keeping back the tidal wave of Roar attackers, however they almost clinched the Victory in the final ten minutes. Firstly second half substitute Vince Lia put Archie Thompson into space. But his shot was blocked by the Roar defence. Then another spectacular free kick from Sarkies was saved once again by Willis.
In the dying minutes the Roar could have salvaged a point. Jonathan Richter found himself with space down the right. He picked out Reinaldo who was free in the box. But somehow the Brazilian managed to completely miss the ball and hand the Victory the three points.
The crowd also got to see one last moment of inspiration from Archie Thompson before jetting off to Holland, as he bamboozled the Roar defence with his sultry skills.
The loss for Queensland means they are now six points from fourth, with only three games remaining. It will take a minor miracle for them to somehow sneak into the finals. While Melbourne Victory are still in the hunt only three points away from Central Coast in fourth.