FULL TIME: Melbourne 3 Sydney 1
Victory takes the points on Australia Day! Impressive display from the Melbourne side, although Sydney fired up towards the end of the game, after they pegged one back. The Sky Blues ended up with nine men after Calvano and Fabio both received two yellows. Victory could have played better in the final third, but after scoring three goals, you can't really say there was that much to criticise.
That's all from AAMI Park, but certainly not all from Melbourne Park - just over the road, the women's final of the Australian Open is about to get under way. We'll be covering all the action there as well.
90th minute + 4 - Melbourne 3 Sydney 1
Bru with a great chance. Del Piero had the ball stolen off him and the ball ended up with Bru, whose shot sailed above the head of the Sydney keeper.
90th minute + 2 - Melbourne 3 Sydney 1
ANOTHER yellow card to Sydney. Fabio gets his second for the match, and is sent off. Sydney down to nine men.
Referee has signalled four minutes of additional time.
90th minute + 1 - Melbourne 3 Sydney 1
YELLOW CARD to Del Piero. He protests, saying it was his first foul. But he can't change the referee's mind.
90th minute - Melbourne 3 Sydney 1
Nabbout has a great chance for Victory, after a Bru ball saw him with a shot in the box. He held on to the ball under fire as three or four defenders converged on him, but his shot was straight into a pair of Sydney legs.
88TH minute - Melbourne 3 Sydney 1
Abbas brings Rojas down and Victory has the free, almost directly in front of goal. In the mean time they make a final change, with Bru replacing Celeski.
87th minute - Melbourne 3 Sydney 1
Very sloppy defending from Melbourne Victory sees Del Piero with the ball. Ferreira brings him down and now Sydney has a free forcing a brilliant save from Coe! Rhyan Grant headed the ball, it was on target, but Coe saved the day.
85th minute - Melbourne 3 Sydney 1
As Victory holds a two-goal advantage, you couldn't really call it a tense final five minutes - yet. But Sydney has found something, and they are pressing to score another.
83rd minute - Melbourne 3 Sydney 1
Free kick to Sydney FC as they move into attack. Del Piero was the one who was fouled and he had stern words with the ref, wanting to see someone carded. Referee again unmoved.
82nd minute - Melbourne 3 Sydney 1
Real chance there for Victory, as they outnumbered the Sydney defence going forward. Victory fans were screaming for handball in the box after the ball was crossed in, but the referee was unmoved.
81st minute - Melbourne 3 Sydney 1
Ferreira picks up a yellow for a foul on Fabio. He tries apologising and running off, but can't escape the card.
79th minute - Melbourne 3 Sydney 1
Whew - things have really hotted up as Sydney, despite being down to ten men, has pegged one back and look to be playing with a bit of spark now. Just over ten minutes left...can they conjure something? The momentum has certainly swung back. Unbelievably, it is a far more even contest now.
76th minute - Melbourne 3 Sydney 1
DOUBLE SUBSTITUTION for Melbourne. Archie Thompson comes off, replaced by Andrew Nabbout. And on debut, Stella comes on for Flores.
74th minute - Melbourne 3 Sydney 0
There's been a substitution for Sydney, Yau is on the park, Culina is off.
75th minute - Melbourne 3 Sydney 1
GOAL SYDNEY!
Griffiths is the scorer - a good finish from a fairly tight angle. Coe was at full stretch but it wasn't enough. The Sky Blues have pegged one back!!
72nd minute - Melbourne 3 Sydney 0
ROJAS! Another deflection, but the Victory cans don't care. An unconvincing clearance from the Sydney defence, and Marco Rojas cleaned it up. The crowd called for him to shoot, and he did. The deflection was off Adam Griffiths. All falling apart for Sydney FC now.
71st minute - Melbourne 2 Sydney 0
It's hard to keep up here, things have stepped up a notch and Victory are peppering the goals. No further luck for the Melbourne side yet, an a ten-man Sydney side is struggling to keep up.
69th minute - Melbourne 2 Sydney 0
SUBSTITUTION for Sydney - Adam Griffiths is on for the Sky Blues. Blake Powell makes way.
GOAL!!!!!
68th minute - Melbourne 2 Sydney 0
Beautiful goal by Archie Thompson! Celeski played him in through heavy traffic and Thompson turned and fired it in from point-blank range. Crowd goes nuts, Archie goes nuts...it's 2-0!
67th minute - Melbourne 1 Sydney 0
Best chance of the game for Sydney FC, and it came to Joel Griffiths on a very tight angle. The shot went wide.
65th minute - Melbourne 1 Sydney 0
Fabio crashes into Marco Rojas and is lucky to get away with just a foul. Victory play the ball forward but it comes to nothing.
62nd minute - Melbourne 1 Sydney 0
It's all happening here - Billy Celeski is being given a yellow card for an earlier challenge on Del Piero but the ball is now in Victory's attacking half as the referee played advantage.
Victory win a free kick but the rebound goes Sydney's way. The free kick was awarded against Rhyan Grant, who is already on a yellow.
60th minute - Melbourne 1 Sydney 0
Broxham has gone down and after consultation with his linesman the referee has given Calvano a yellow card - his second - and Tiago Calvano is sent off! The replay shows an arm to the face of Broxham. Will be tough for the Sky Blues to come back from this.
58th minute - Melbourne 1 Sydney 0
YELLOW CARD: to Fabio, who brought down his former teammate Archie Thompson.
57th minute - Melbourne 1 Sydney 0
Rojas breaks down the left-hand side and Rhyan Grant brings him down. Right in front of the North Terrace, too. They certainly wanted a free kick but the corner was awarded instead.
UPDATE: In the 52nd minute, Rhyan Grant was given a yellow card for a challenge on Broxham.
55th minute - Melbourne 1 Sydney 0
Archie Thompson goes for what would have been a miraculous headed goal. Ball sails well over the crossbar though.
53rd minute - Melbourne 1 Sydney 0
Victory wins a free on the edge of the area and Del Piero is not happy about it, having a very long chat with the referee! Joel Griffiths is similarly unimpressed, as he has been with much of the referee's work so far tonight. Rojas takes the free kick into a congested box but Sydney break away with the ball.
52nd minute - Melbourne 1 Sydney 0
Del Piero takes the free kick, and a Sydney header is well saved by Coe, who sends it out to Rojas on the break!
50th minute - Melbourne 1 Sydney 0
Broxham is taken down close to the halfway line, and Traore takes the free, but it was a questionable passage of play by the Victory, and now Sydney have one a free kick on the edge of their attacking area, and Nick Ansell has a yellow card.
49th minute - Melbourne 1 Sydney 0
Free kick was taken by Del piero, but really went to no one. It rolled out for a goal kick.
48th minute - Melbourne 1 Sydney 0
YELLOW CARD - to Mark Milligan for a foul on Del Piero. Could be a dangerous free kick, about halfway into Sydney's attacking half, though ADP is too far out to score.
Melbourne 1 Sydney 0
Second half under way here. No half-time substitutions, and it has been confirmed the the goal in the first half has been put down officially as an own goal, rather than as a goal to Rojas.
Also, the Brett Emerton injury is stemming from back problems - that is what forced his substitution in the first half.
An update to earlier news from Michael Lynch:
Melbourne Victory is in talks with English soccer giants Liverpool over a match later this year.
Victory chairman Anthony Di Pietro said that Liverpool commercial executive, Sales Director Olly Dale, was in the crowd for the Victory-Sydney game as part of an evaluation, said Di Pietro, not to scout players, as had been reported
Lou Sticca, who has promoted Victory games against the likes of Celtic, is involved in the negotiations.
"We have come together and hopefully we can consecrate a major deal for something very special to take place this year", Di Pietro said at a pre-match function.
Afterwards Dale said that discussions were at an early stage and that to talk of a match having been sealed was premature. Liverpool considers a number of proposals in the offseason, he said.
Neverthless, the fact that Di Pietro spoke so openly in a public forum, and the involvement in the discussions of Lou Sticca, whose Tribal Football company has promoted a number of major games in Australia, suggests Victory is confident of clinching an agreement — perhaps at the MCG.
David Gallop, the CEO of the FFA, was in the crowd at the Victrory pre-game function and heard Di Pietro's speech.
The other English super club, Manchester United, is touring Australia in July when it will play in Sydney against an FFA All Star side.
HALF TIME: Melbourne 1 Sydney 0
It's the Victory who will take the lead into the break, and Sydney is a bit lucky that it isn't a bigger one against them. The Melbourne side look to have the better of the Sky Blues, particularly in general play and it has been some solid defending and keeping from the Sydney side to keep to score to 1-0. Added to which, in the second part of that first half, Victory's play in the final third was not as threatening as at the start of the game.
Joel Griffiths looked ready to fire early for the Sky Blues, but the fact that Sydney couldn't keep hold of the ball for much of that half meant he never really had a chance to get into it.
Del Piero took some nice free kicks and a little bit of the play going forward but he was often bogged down by Victory players and was not given much space to do anything.
For the Victory, Thompson made some nice runs towards goal, and Rojas looked threatening as well, though some attention from the Sydney defence kept him a little quieter than usual. Flores has had some good chances and Traore's defensive work has been brilliant.
The crowd is fired up at AAMI Park. Should be an exciting second half.
46th minute - Melbourne 1 Sydney 0
Referee signals two minutes of additional time.
45th minute - Melbourne 1 Sydney 0
Victory looked to be in some trouble as Abbas had Ferreira well and truly beaten on a nice run down the wing. But Ferreira did well to stick with Abbas and Coe cleaned up the spillage.
42nd minute - Melbourne 1 Sydney 0
Thompson on the break sends the ball wide but some good defending from Grant sees it out for a corner. The ball is played back and Flores has a ripping shot which was always going wide. They are threatnening, the Victory, but they just can't finish.
40th minute - Melbourne 1 Sydney 0
Five minutes to go until the break and Victory have the upper hand, although things seem to be falling apart in the front third as Sydney gets men back to defend. In general play the Victory look very much the better side, but after that first goal they seem unable to capitalise.
39th minute - Melbourne 1 Sydney 0
YELLOW CARD - to Calvano for a challenge on Rojas, who lost a boot in the process.
38th minute - Melbourne 1 Sydney 0
Traore again has stolen the ball - he seems to do it with such ease, it is very nice to watch - and Flores ends up with the ball. His shot is on target but the keeper deals with it easily. Would have had to have been an amazing strike to score from there.
36th minute - Melbourne 1 Sydney 0
Sydney take it forward once more and the play results in a Del Piero shot which is sent wide. Bronx cheer from the crowd, and Del Piero scrubs his hands down his face in frustration.
35th minute - Melbourne 1 Sydney 0
Another corner to Sydney, again taken by Del Piero. It was another good ball in but the referee has spotted a free to Victory, who take the ball immediately up to the halfway line.
33rd minute - Melbourne 1 Sydney 0
Ball went out off Leijer for a corner and Del Piero takes the corner. It was a good one, and Coe was forced to dive to punch the ball clear. It fell to McFlynn who was pretty much in the clear, but his shot was well wide.
32nd minute - Melbourne 1 Sydney 0
Victory press forward again after Traore pickpocketed Abbas in Sydney's attacking half. Again Victory looked dangerous, but again the Sydney defence managed to keep them out.
30th minute - Melbourne 1 Sydney 0
Sorry for the delay, but confirming a substitution here for Sydney FC- Powell on for Emerton, who was taken off as a precaution because of a hamstring. Muscle spasms seem to be the cause.
29th minute - Melbourne 1 Sydney 0
Rojas takes the free but curls it straight to Janjetovic, who takes it well.
28th minute - Melbourne 1 Sydney 0
Broxham has had a long range shot and only an excellent save from the Sydney keeper has kept that out. Victory take the corner but the ball spills out - though Flores has gone down and Victory will take the free kick on the wing.
26th minute - Melbourne 1 Sydney 0
Del Piero had the ball just on the edge of the box but was swamped by Victory players. Flores then sent a long ball to Thompson who nearly set up Victory's second. The navy blue side look ominous.
24th minute - Melbourne 1 Sydney 0
GOAL MELBOURNE!!! It's a deflection, but Rojas claims it. Brett Emerton hasn't been replaced yet and Victory took the ball right down that gap. Technically an own goal here to Seb Ryall, but Rojas' shot was a good one from a fair distance out.
22nd minute - Melbourne 0 Sydney 0
Brett Emerton in some injury trouble here - and with very very VERY little discussion, Brett Emerton is coming off!
21st minute - Melbourne 0 Sydney 0
The game is starting to even out a little, but Victory still seem to be finding space far too easily as they go forward. Rojas had a great opportunity - the keeper was beaten - but his shot curled wide.
18th minute - Melbourne 0 Sydney 0
Rojas taken down on the wing by Abbas, and the Kiwi looks to be in a bit of pain. He gets up and plays on though.
17th minute - Melbourne 0 Sydney 0
Brett Emerton sends a lovely little pass through to Culina, who was making a neat little run into the box, but he is offside. Could have been dangerous for Victory though.
15th minute - Melbourne 0 Sydney 0
Fabio and Broxham are on the recieving end of a stern word from the referee - no cards, despite a little fiery exchange between the two.
13th minute - Melbourne 0 Sydney 0
Del Piero free kick! Ansell was the offender, right on the edge of the box. Victory wall looks nervous. The shot was on target, curling beautifully over the Victory defence, but Coe made a fairly easy save
12th minute - Melbourne 0 Sydney 0
Victory pushing the Sydney defence - Grant made what must surely have been a very good goal-saving tackle on Marco Rojas, who was pretty much on his own right in front of goal. Traore gets the rebound but his shot goes wide.
11th minute - Melbourne 0 Sydney 0
Beautiful play by Melbourne there - Flores won the ball and took it to the edge of the area, where after some neat passing the ball ended up with Broxham who has only ever scored once for the Victory. It remained that way as his shot rolled wide.
9th minute - Melbourne 0 Sydney 0
Joel Griffiths is seriously unhappy with the referee after giving away another free - and undoubtedly after a mini-spray by Griffiths, the ref knows all about it. Victory takes a free on the wing but it doesn't amount to anything.
7th minute - Melbourne 0 Sydney 0
Corner for the Victory is cleared easily by Sydney, who end up taking the ball forward, but again, the Sky Blues can't seem to hold onto the ball in attack.
6th minute - Melbourne 0 Sydney 0
Thompson wins the ball in the box and gets around his defender, but he misses his chance and the ball is cleared for a corner.
5th minute - Melbourne 0 Sydney 0
Victory's defence is looking cool under pressure, and Sydney can't seem to keep the ball in its half for long.
4th minute - Melbourne 0 Sydney 0
Milligan sends a long ball to Thompson who controls it beautifully. The Victory share the ball around just outside the area but a Sydney head sends the ball clear.
2nd minute Melbourne 0 Sydney 0
Joel Griffiths gives away a free on the edge of the Melbourne box. Milligan was the recipient of the free. Pretty even here so far, end-to-end stuff.
Players have taken their places on the field, the crowd is chanting, the referees are in position...here we go! Kick-off!
Players are out on the field now and the crowd is standing for the national anthem. The stands are absolutely packed and the atmosphere is fantastic.
Very close now to kick off at AAMI Park. The last time these two sides met, it was up in Sydney and the Victory snatched...well, victory, coming from 2-0 down to run away with the game 3-2. This time around, Sydney is coming off a 7-1 drubbing of Wellington, while Melbourne had a 1-0 win in Perth last week. Who will take the points tonight?
Some news from Michael Lynch:
Melbourne Victory is in talks with English soccer giants Liverpool over a match later this year.
Victory chairman Anthony Di Pietro said that Liverpool commercial executive, Sales Director Olly Dale, was in the crowd for the Victory-Sydney game as part of an evaluation, said Di Pietro, not to scout players, as had been reported.
Lou Sticca, who has promoted Victory games against the likes of Celtic, is involved in the negotiations.
"We have come together and hopefully we can consecrate a major deal for something very special to take place this year", Di Pietro said at a pre-match function.
About half an hour away from kickoff in the Big Blue at AAMI Park, and the teams are in.
Lining up for the Victory: Traore, Milligan, Broxham, Flores, Thompson, Rojas, Ferreira, Celeski, Leijer (c), Ansell, Coe (gk). And on the bench: Nabbout, Stella, Bru, Velaphi (gk)
And for Sydney FC: Ryall, Fabio, Culina, Emerton, Del Piero, Calvano, McFlynn (c), Janjetovic (gk), Abbas, Grant, J. Griffiths. And on the bench: A. Griffiths, Powell, Yau, Nash (gk)
The game is a sellout, the fans are piling in, and it's shaping up to be a huge one.
