Melbourne Victory coach Tony Popovic has hailed his club's resilience after a stunning 3-2 upset of A-League Men leaders Melbourne City in a dramatic derby free of the fan violence that marred their previous encounter.
Former City hero Bruno Fornaroli gave Victory a second-half lead at AAMI Park on Saturday night and Popovic's side clung to a much-needed result despite being out-muscled in general play.
City finished with 19 shots to Victory's six and had 68 per cent of possession but could not find a late equaliser in an enthralling battle.
The shock result was just Victory's second win in nine matches since a pitch invasion led to December's derby being called off, and lifted them off the foot of the table.
"We've been through a lot this year for various reasons ... but we were strong as a club tonight," Popovic said.
"Strong as a club in the stands, strong as a club on the field and strong as a club in terms of our leaders, from the chairman all the way down.
"It was a very good night for football and a good night for Melbourne Victory."
Victory's French defender Damien Da Silva provided an early spark and marked his home debut with a headed opener from a corner in the seventh minute.
It was cancelled out before the break by the first of Socceroos striker Mathew Leckie's two goals for City.
Fornaroli, who led City to their first trophy just over six years ago, restored Victory's advantage in the opening minute of the second half.
The Uruguayan-born Socceroo was initially denied by a brilliant Thomas Glover save when he turned Ben Folami's cross towards goal.
But Fornaroli recovered quickest to nod home the rebound and celebrated wildly with Victory's active supporters behind the northern goal.
Victory captain Josh Brillante found the net in the 77th minute with a deflected shot from outside the box but Leckie scored again just three minutes later to set up a tight finish.
"We're at different ends of the table but we didn't put on the performance of a team that's lacking any belief or confidence," Popovic said.
"I knew that was the case before the game."
City coach Rado Vidosic said his side threw everything bar the kitchen sink at Victory.
"I was looking behind the bench, looking for the sink, but I couldn't find it," Vidosic said.
"We played the game the way we want to play. We controlled the game, I think we had 68 per cent of the ball.
"I think we had 20-something shots but some of the key moments did not go our way.
"We unfortunately conceded three goals which is probably the only thing that concerns me a little bit."
After ugly scenes at the December derby, there was no obvious crowd trouble on Saturday night.
Victory's active supporters taunted Glover throughout the night with songs referencing the incident that left the City goalkeeper with concussion and lacerations to the head in the previous encounter, when he was struck by a fan wielding a metal bucket.
