Former Chelsea and Manchester United star continues renaissance in Australia with audacious goal

Juan Mata is proving he’s still got it with a brace in the Melbourne Derby, including an outrageous long range goal.

The Spaniard moved to A-League giants Melbourne Victory from Western Sydney Warriors last September and has started 15 league matches for the Victory.

Mata, though, has struggled for goalscoring form having scored just once before their short trip across the city to take on Melbourne City FC.

Mata did, though, havenine assists to his name, and further proved that age is but a number as he struck either side of half time in a 3-1 win at AAMI Park.

That doesn’t Mata

Mata bagged the Victory’s first of the game midway through the first half, only for Max Caputo to level the clash on the half hour mark.

The creative star scored his and his side’s second on the hour mark before Clarismario Santos confirmed the third points for Arthur Diles’ men late on, a goal that was assisted by Mata.

The win saw the Victory move five points clear of their Melbourne rivals and close the gap to Newcastle Jets at the top of the table to six points, though the Jets do have a game in hand.

It was Mata’s first goal of the day, however, that caught the eye.

As the Victory forwards pressed the Melbourne City FC backline, the ball fell kindly to Mata.

Rather than take a touch from 40 yards out, the 37-year-old deftly lobbed goalkeeper Patrick Beach, the City FC shotstopper stood well off his line.

And Mata’s second wasn’t half bad either as the ex-Spain international rifled past Beach with his wand of a left foot from 20 yards.

A-League Antics

Mata’s stunning brace came on the same day goalkeeper Josh Oluwayemi scored an awful own goal.

The ex-Tottenham goalkeeper was the centre of a comical moment as Auckland FC romped to a 5-0 win over Wellington Phoenix.

Oluwayemi misjudged an 80-yard clearance from Jake Girdwood-Reich midway through the first half.

The 24-year-old, who was stood 25 yards from his goal-line, lost the flight of the ball and as he attempted to back pedal, he headed Girdwood-Reich’s long ball into an empty net.

@aleaguemen

The bizarre own goal opened the floodgates as Jesse Randall – twice – Guillermo May and Lachlan Brook all worked their way onto the scoresheet in a five-star showing.

Worse was still to come as a despondent Phoenix head coach Giancarlo Italiano tended his resignation at full time.

“To lose 5-0 at home with the season still to play for is unacceptable, I take full responsibility,” Italiano, who took over as head coach in 2023.

“I’ve told the club, I’ve tendered my resignation. I think it’s easier for someone to come in with new energy and refocus the group.”