22 Dec 2013

Heart gift wrap Victory derby win

7:21 am on 22 December 2013

Melbourne Victory have climbed to third on the A-League football table after a 3-1 derby victory over 10-man Melbourne Heart at AAMI Park.

Mitch Nichols' brace and a James Troisi goal sealed the result for Victory before a Nicholas Kalmar header softened the scoreline.

But a studs-up lunge from Patrick Kisnorbo on Connor Pain in the 20th minute earned a red card that transformed a potentially tight contest into a Victory walkover.

It's an early Christmas present for the Wellington Phoenix, who are only above the Heart on goal difference on the bottom of the ladder.

The Phoenix play at the Heart two days after Christmas.