Melbourne Victory FC–Western United FC rivalry

The Melbourne Victory–Western United FC rivalry, also known as the Battle of the Bridge and the Westgate Derby, is a rivalry between Victorian clubs Melbourne Victory and Western United.

Melbourne Victory FC–Western United FC rivalry
Other namesWestgate Derby
Battle of the Bridge
LocationMelbourne
TeamsMelbourne Victory
Western United
First meetingMelbourne Victory 2–3 Western United
2019–20 A-League
(2 November 2019)
Latest meetingWestern United 0–1 Melbourne Victory
2021–22 A-League Men
(20 November 2021)
Next meetingWestern United v Melbourne Victory
2021–22 A-League Men
(26 December 2021)
StadiumsAAMI Park (Melbourne Victory)
GMHBA Stadium (Western United)
Statistics
Meetings total7
Most winsWestern United (4)
Top scorerBesart Berisha (4 goals)
All-time seriesMelbourne Victory: 2
Drawn: 1
Western United: 4
Largest victoryWestern United 1–6 Melbourne Victory
2020–21 A-League
(28 May 2021)

Despite the rivalry's short existence, it has garnered a reputation for producing talking points, controversy, tension, goals and drama.[1] In the team's first meeting, in November 2019 at Marvel Stadium, Western United won 3–2 despite going 2–0 down within the first 7 minutes. In February 2021 at Marvel Stadium, despite conceding the first goal of the match and despite being reduced to 10 men for the final half-hour of the match, Western United won 4–3, with Victor Sanchez scoring in the final minute of stoppage time.

Overall, Western United have won more games in the rivalry's history, having won four times with one draw. Western United's record win was a 3–1 victory in an A-League Men match at GMHBA Stadium on 8 December 2019, with the Victory's record win being a 6–1 victory in an A-League match at AAMI Park on 28 May 2021. Besart Berisha holds the mark for the most derby goals with four in all competitions.

Background

When Western United joined the A-League for the 2019–20 season as the competition's third Victorian club,[2] they formed a rivalry with the Melbourne Victory nicknamed the Westgate Derby[3] and the Battle of the Bridge[4]

Results

Melbourne Victory vs. Western United
Venue Date Competition Score Home goalscorers Away goalscorers Attendance
Marvel Stadium 2 November 2019 A-League 2–3 Toivonen 6', Dobras 7' Diamanti 16', Donachie 29' (o.g.), McDonald 51' 20,865
Bankwest Stadium 25 July 2020 A-League 1–2 Roux 83' Uskok 38', Burgess 57' 0 (BCD)
Marvel Stadium 27 February 2021 A-League 3–4 McManaman 21', Butterfield 62', Gestede 82' Sánchez 42', 90+5', Berisha 53', 58' 7,190

Western United vs. Melbourne Victory
Venue Date Competition Score Home goalscorers Away goalscorers Attendance
GMHBA Stadium 8 December 2019 A-League 3–1 Berisha 17', 43', Kone 24' Nabbout 14' 10,128
AAMI Park 30 January 2021 A-League 0–0 7,016
28 May 2021 A-League 1–6 Diamanti 45+2' Brimmer 12', Gestede 22', Kamsoba 33', 50', Folami 36', Butterfield 82' 0 (BCD)
GMHBA Stadium 20 November 2021 A-League Men 0–1 Miranda 75' 8,120

Fixture top scorers in the derby
Rank Scorer Club(s) Goals
1 Besart Berisha Western United 4
2 Alessandro Diamanti Western United 2
Elvis Kamsoba Melbourne Victory
Víctor Sánchez Western United

Statistics and records

As of 20 November 2021, there have been seven competitive first-class meetings between the two teams since the first league meeting in 2019, of which Western United have won four, Melbourne Victory with two and one draw. The most goals in one game were scored in was a 4–3 away win by Western United on 27 February 2021 and a 6–1 away win by Melbourne Victory on 28 May 2021. Western United have twice won in Victory's former home Docklands Stadium. Western United's record for goals scored against Melbourne Victory is 3 goals by Besart Berisha and 2 by Víctor Sánchez.

Summary of results
As of 20 November 2021
Competition[5] Matches played Victory wins Draws Western United wins Victory goals Western United goals
League 72141413
FFA Cup 000000

Players who played for both clubs
Connor Pain and Besart Berisha have played for both Melbourne Victory and Western United

Five players have played for both Melbourne Victory and Western United in senior football since 2019, with inaugural Western United squad members Besart Berisha and Connor Pain being the first players to have played for both Melbourne Victory and Western United.

Josh Cavallo and Thiel Iradukunda had previously played for Melbourne Victory's youth team before going on to represent Western United's senior team.

Dalibor Markovic was the first player to directly transfer between the two clubs when he signed for Western United from Melbourne Victory midway through the 2020–21 A-League season, while Brendan Hamill became the first player to transfer directly from Western United to Melbourne Victory when he joined the Victory in July 2021.

Name Pos Victory Western United
CareerAppsGoals CareerAppsGoals
Connor PainFW 2013–18675 2019–533
Besart BerishaFW 2014–1613786 2019–215026
Sebastian PasqualiMF 201640 2019–150
Dalibor MarkovicDF 2020–202140 2021–30
Brendan HamillDF 2021–10 2019–2021200

Highest attendances
  • Melbourne 2–3 Western; 20,865 (2 November 2019); Marvel Stadium
  • Western 3–1 Melbourne; 10,128 (8 December 2019); GMHBA Stadium
  • Western 0–1 Melbourne; 8,120 (20 November 2021); GMHBA Stadium
  • Melbourne 3–4 Western; 7,190 (27 February 2021); Marvel Stadium
  • Western 0–0 Melbourne; 7,016 (30 January 2021); AAMI Park

See also

References
  1. Comito, Matthew. "Rudan: United's erupting rivalry with Victory helping A-League become 'one of the best products in the world'". A-League. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  2. "FFA goes west with two clubs confirmed for A-League expansion". The World Game. Retrieved 14 December 2018.
  3. Green, Samuel. "Berisha leads United to Westgate Derby dominance". A-League. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  4. "Western United, Victory share spoils in action-packed 'Battle of the Bridge'". Football Nation Radio. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  5. "Melbourne Victory » Record against Western United FC". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
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