Archie Thompson. Photo / Getty Images
Melbourne Victory's short-term gain could become long-term pain after star striker Archie Thompson scored a vital goal then limped off with a hamstring injury in his side's 2-0 win over Perth Glory on Saturday night.
The Victory's win at AAMI Park came at a potentially massive cost, with both Thompson
and fullback Matthew Kemp injured as their side grabbed an important three points to maintain their push for a finals spot.
Kemp appeared to injure a groin midway through the first half and was substituted.
Then catastrophe struck for Thompson he scored the Victory's classy first goal in first half stoppage time.
The Socceroos striker, only seven matches into a comeback from a serious knee injury, interpassed with Robbie Kruse before Kruse's superb backheel sent Thompson in on goal.
Thompson finished well, but in leaping over advancing Glory keeper Tando Velaphi his hamstring gave way, leaving Victory with serious issues if his injury does prove to be long-term.
Perth's defeat, sealed with Victory substitute Rodrigo Vargas' 63rd minute header, sent their season spiralling into further ruin.
The Glory sit bottom of the table, with just one win in their past 16 matches and nothing to show for a promising start to the season which had many tipping them as championship hopes.
The Glory looked more menacing for much of the first half, with the busy Scott Neville creating havoc down the right.
Neville had the best chance for his side in the 38th minute when he forced the first of two good Michael Petkovic saves for the match.
Thompson then gave his side a halftime lead in the dying seconds of stoppage time, before the Victory upped the second half tempo and deservedly put a mortgage on three points through Vargas.
His header from a Carlos Hernandez corner squeezed in with a deflection off Glory defender Todd Howarth's head.
Three minutes later Glory substitute Mile Sterjovski forced another good Petkovic save - the closest the visitors came to a second half goal.
- AAP
