Own goal gives Victory third straight Big Blue triumph

A Matt Jurman own goal gifted Melbourne Victory a 1-0 win over Sydney FC and fourth place in the A-League after a tense Big Blue battle at Etihad Stadium on Tuesday night.

Melbourne Victory players celebrate scoring against Sydney FC. (Getty) Source: Getty Images

Melbourne dominated the majority of the encounter, but had to wait until the 79th minute to open up the Sky Blues defence when a Jesse Makarounas cross was deflected into his own net by Sydney defender Jurman.

The record, third consecutive Big Blue win moves Victory into equal fourth place on the A-League ladder, level with Sydney, on 27 points.

Victory made a blistering start and just a minute in Besart Berisha was played through by Guilherme Finkler, but the Albanian striker couldn't beat Vedran Janjetovic from inside the box.

Finkler was then fortunate to stay on the pitch when his studs-up challenge on Matt Simon was sanctioned with a yellow card midway through the first half.

While Melbourne continued to dominate posession they were unable to create any other openings before the break. 

Sydney's first genuine shot on goal came in the 44th minute when Chris Naumoff's long-range effort forced Danny Vukovic into a difficult save.

Victory pushed hard to break the deadlock in the second half and while Berisha did find the net in the 75th minute, it was correctly ruled out for offside.

Despite Sydney's stern resistance the home side did makde the breakthrough three minutes later. 

Kosta Barbarouses combined with substitute Makarounas on the edge of the box and his cross was deflected past Janjetovic at the near post by Jurman.

The goal sparked the Sky Blues into life and Andrew Hoole had Vukovic at full stretch with a curling effort from the edge of the box.

But they failed to trouble Vukovic any further as Victory held on for a precious three points against their rivals.