By james art 
Watch highlights from the round three clash between Melbourne Victory and Macarthur Bulls in the Isuzu UTE A-League
A stunner from Reno Piscopo fired Melbourne Victory to their second win of the season as they beat the MacArthur Bulls 2-1 at AAMI Park.
Despite controlling the first half, Victory fell behind in the 51st minute with Bulls striker Valere Germain heading in a Marin Iakolis cross.
Introduced as a second-half substitute, Daniel Arzani leveled things up for the hosts, converting from the spot after MacArthur defender Walter Scott was penalized for handball.
Piscopo then stole the show just seven minutes later, scoring what would go down as one of the best goals of the 2024-25 Isuzu UTE A-League season to seal victory, bending the ball beyond Philippe Courteau and into the top angle of 30 meters outside.
Eyebrows were raised before kick-off with the news that Victoria striker Bruno Fornaroli had been left out of the squad for the match, with no word on the Uruguayan’s injury.
“It is intriguing that there is no Bruno Fornaroli on the bench. There is no injury as far as we know for last season’s top goalscorer,” Network 10 commentator Simon Hill said before Fornaroli was pictured sitting in the stands.
“Perhaps despite the warm weather, it seems to be in the cold at the moment of Victory.”
Looking to repeat their brilliant first-half performance in the Melbourne derby, Victory had plenty of early chances but MacArthur came closest to opening the scoring.
Taking the ball upfield, Jake Holman picked out Drew’s move from the Bulls right and the winger got back onto his left foot before curling a low shot inches wide of the far post.
Victory responded with a great chance of their own, midfielder Ryan Teague firing just wide of Courteau’s goal, but the Bulls looked happy to hit their opponents on the counter and the breakthrough came shortly after the break.
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Collecting the ball out wide from the left, winger Iakolis headed an inviting ball to the head of the ever-dangerous Germain, who fired a header into the far corner of Jack Duncan’s goal.
Victory responded in turn with Zinedine Machak frustrated after firing an excellent chance over the bar before firing into the side-netting and it would prove to be his final touch of the game as he was replaced by Arzani in the 61st minute .
Left out of the Australian Cup final against his old team MacArthur Bulls and keen to show his head coach why he should be in the team, Arzani soon got his chance.
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From a good corner in the box, Arzani’s cross found Jason Guerria and his header hit the outstretched arm of Bulls reserve Walter Scott, with referee Jack Morgan pinpointing the spot; stepped up Arzani to coolly send the blow.
Already brimming with confidence, Victory took the lead just seven minutes later thanks to an absolute stunner from winger Piscopo.
Collecting the ball in the middle of MacArthur’s half, Piscopo traveled into the Bulls box before unleashing an unstoppable effort from 30 metres, bending the ball beautifully beyond Philippe Courteau’s outstretched dive and into the top corner.
With the away side now eyeing victory in search of an equaliser, gaps began to open up at the back.
Brazil import Santos raced onto a loose ball from the Bulls backline but was unable to shoot over, while substitute Jing Riek then saw a late effort blocked by a last-ditch save from Holman.
Macarthur put a lot of late pressure on the hosts, but Victory held on for an impressive win, with the result lifting Kisnorbo’s side to second on the ladder.