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The Original Rivalry

Panorama of Hindmarsh Stadium from the away end during an Original Rivalry match in 2016
Teams	Adelaide United Melbourne Victory
First meeting	7 May 2005 OFC Club Championship United 0–0 Victory
Latest meeting	21 September 2024 Australia Cup Victory 1–0 United
Next meeting	18 January 2025 A-League Men United v Victory
Stadiums	Hindmarsh Stadium Melbourne Rectangular Stadium
Statistics
Meetings total	73
Most wins	Melbourne Victory (33)
Top scorer	Archie Thompson: 13 goals
All-time record	Adelaide United: 24 Drawn: 16 Melbourne Victory: 33
Largest victory	Victory 6–0 United (18 February 2007)
Longest win streak	Melbourne Victory: 10 (12 September 2008 – 29 October 2010)
Longest unbeaten streak	Melbourne Victory: 10 (12 September 2008 – 29 October 2010)
Current win streak	Melbourne Victory: 3 (30 December 2023 – present)
Current unbeaten streak	Melbourne Victory: 6 (14 January 2023 – present)
Adelaide UnitedMelbourne Victory

The Original Rivalry is a rivalry between South Australian-based club Adelaide United and Victorian-based club Melbourne Victory. It is also referred to as 'The Original Derby'.

History

Early matches

The two teams first met in a 2005 Australian Club World Championship Qualifying Tournament match on 7 May 2005 with Adelaide progressing to the next round of qualifying, winning a penalty shootout after the match remained 0–0 after extra time. The teams met again in a friendly match on 26 June 2005 in Bendigo, with the teams finishing 0–0 at full time.

Beginning of rivalry

However, a proper rivalry between the two teams did not begin until 2010, when Adelaide United were defeated twice in an A-League Grand Final both in 2007 and 2009. During the 2008–09 season, they both finished on the top of the ladder equal on both points and the goal difference. The rivalry between both sets of fans remains very strong, since the majority of the matches get an attendance of at least over 12,500.

Another event that helped start the rivalry was in the 2006-07 season on the field included at the time Adelaide coach John Kosmina and Melbourne Victory Captain Kevin Muscat. The ball rolled out near the Adelaide technical area, Kosmina went to pick up the ball, only to be pushed to the ground by Muscat also trying to retrieve the ball himself. Kosmina responded by getting to his feet and grabbing the Victory captain by the throat. It’s an incident that has set the tone for what has followed in this fiery fixture.

Cup knockouts and title deciders

Adelaide and Melbourne have met twice in an A-League Grand Final, there have also been Original Rivalry games in the FFA Cup which have significantly contributed to one of the two clubs winning a trophy. These include:

• Melbourne Victory 6–0 Adelaide United (18 February 2007) The Grand Final match of the 2006–07 league campaign, with both Adelaide and Melbourne to reach their first A-League Finals trophy. The game had most goals and largest victory in an A-League Grand Final with Archie Thompson scoring five goals and Kristian Sarkies scoring the sixth goal in the third minute of stoppage time.

• Melbourne Victory 1–0 Adelaide United (28 February 2009) The Grand Final match of the 2008–09 league campaign, with Adelaide and Melbourne facing each other at Telstra Dome again since the 2007 A-League Grand Final. The final result was a 1–0 scoreline with Tom Pondeljak scoring the goal in the 60th minute.

• Melbourne Victory 3–1 Adelaide United (22 September 2015) The FFA Cup Quarter-Finals match to face Hume City next round. After seven minutes, Osama Malik had slid in to Fahid Ben Khalfallah who had given Victory a free kick. Guilherme Finkler opened the scoring after ten minutes via the free-kick. Kosta Barbarouses scored the second just before the half-time whistle. Adelaide had earned a penalty as Daniel Georgievski had fouled Craig Goodwin. Marcelo Carrusca the penalty taker had successfully converted spot-kick as Lawrence Thomas dived correctly. Besart Berisha had also scored his penalty with ten minutes to go, booking them to the cup semi-final against Hume City.

• Adelaide United 3–0 Melbourne Victory (23 August 2017) The FFA Cup Round of 16 match to face Heidelberg United next round. No goals were scored in the first half until Johan Absalonsen scored the opener in the 53rd. Ten minutes later, a penalty was awarded via a handball by Rhys Williams. The penalty was successfully converted by George Blackwood sending Melbourne Victory goalkeeper Lawrence Thomas the wrong way. Nathan Konstandopoulos in the final minute of regular time scored his first FFA Cup goal. After, stoppage time was up. The Reds moved on in the quarter-finals to face Heidelberg United in Melbourne.

Results

Adelaide United vs. Melbourne Victory

Melbourne Victory vs. Adelaide United

Statistics

As of 21 September 2024

Players who played for both clubs

Despite the rivalry between the clubs, 13 players have played for Adelaide United and Melbourne Victory since 2005. The first player to have played for both clubs was Matthew Kemp who joined Adelaide United in 2005 and Melbourne Victory in 2007 Statistics are sourced from ALeagueStats.com and updated as of 27 June 2021.

Adelaide United, then Melbourne Victory

Melbourne Victory, then Adelaide United

Honours

As of 8 February 2022

Highest attendances

• Melbourne 6–0 Adelaide; 55,436 (18 February 2007); Telstra Dome
• Melbourne 1–0 Adelaide; 53,273 (28 February 2009); Telstra Dome
• Melbourne 2–1 Adelaide; 47,413 (4 February 2007); Telstra Dome
• Adelaide 1–1 Melbourne; 33,126 (17 October 2014); Adelaide Oval
• Melbourne 0–1 Adelaide; 32,368 (15 October 2006); Telstra Dome

See also

• Sports rivalry

References

1. Greco, John (18 April 2019). "What is the Original Rivalry?". A-League. Football Australia.
2. "What is the Original Rivalry?". A-Leagues. 18 April 2019. Retrieved 17 July 2024.
3. "Live Match Update – Adelaide Utd v Melbourne Victory". A-League.com.au. Football Federation Australia. Archived from the original on 12 July 2005. Retrieved 28 August 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
4. Windon, Jacob (19 April 2019). "Original Rivalry: Adelaide United v Melbourne Victory, by the numbers". My Football. Football Federation Australia.
5. Unwin, Dominic (7 December 2018). "Five of the best Original Rivalry clashes". My Football. Football Federation Australia.
6. Staff, KEEPUP (18 April 2019). "What is the Original Rivalry?". A-Leagues. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
7. "Melbourne Victory v Adelaide United". FFA Cup. Retrieved 22 September 2015.
8. Filosi, Gianluca (23 August 2017). "Reds topple Victory to make FFA Cup quarters". A-League.
9. Wood, Mike Meehall (4 November 2023). "Irankunda sent off as Original Rivalry kicks off big time with two reds, two goals and a heap of controversy". The Roar. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
10. "Player Statistics". ALeagueStats.com. Retrieved 29 May 2021.

• Adelaide United FC
• Melbourne Victory FC
• Soccer rivalries in Australia