Melbourne Victory's Archie Thompson scores his second goal against Sydney FC. Picture: George Salpigtidis Source: News Corp Australia

Sydney FC's Shane Smeltz, centre right, with the equaliser in the second half. Picture: George Salpigtidis Source: News Corp Australia

Sydney FC's Marc Janko tonight. Picture: George Salpigtidis Source: News Corp Australia

The 36-year-old rolled back the years, scoring either side of a Marc Janko goal to give Victory a 2-1 half-time lead in Melbourne.

Shane Smeltz’s second-half brace gave Graham Arnold’s side a chance to become the first team to beat Victory this season.

But the man who started scoring for Victory 10 seasons ago found the net again to take his team’s unbeaten streak to 10 matches. While Victory stay unbeaten, the gives league leaders Perth Glory space at the top of the ladder.

This was a different sort of Victory performance to the ones that have put them among the A-League’s pacesetters.

For long periods, Kevin Muscat’s side were under the cosh as Sydney’s intimidating set of strikers imposed themselves on the contest.

Despite that, Victory had the lead on 12 minutes, as Fahid Ben Khalfallah passed three Sydney FC players before finding Besart Berisha at the back post.

While his shot was straight at Vedran Janjetovic, Thompson found the net on a second rebound attempt.

Five minutes later, Janko had the Sky Blues back on terms.

Smeltz’s first-time flick gave the Austrian, who was borderline offside, a one-on-one chance he neatly dispatched past Nathan Coe at the back post.

Bernie Ibini’s mazy run and neat through-ball then gave Alex Brosque a chance to put Sydney ahead but the captain struck the near post.

Ibini rasped Coe’s gloves with Sydney well on top, but the Sky Blues were undone by an injury-time sucker punch from Thompson.

The veteran striker received the ball from Kiwi winger Kosta Barbarouses, striking home across Janjetovic to the back post. The lead only lasted to the 51st minute, when Smeltz rose to head home a fine corner from teenager Alex Gersbach.

Another Victory defensive lapse allowed Smeltz to find space at the top of the box and finish neatly past Coe on 76 minutes. But this was Thompson’s night, and the pacy striker made no mistake when sent through by Berisha with 11 minutes left.

Former Victory man Seb Ryall could have snatched a late winner with one minute to go but Coe saved exceptionally well low to his right.

Muscat said he wasn’t looking forward to watching the highlights of his team’s defending.

“When we sit back and watch that again, we’ll be even more disappointed,” he said.

Arnold said it was the best his team had played all season.

“Two [points] thrown away,” he said.

“We’re down on troops at the moment … it was a big step forward for us.”

AAP