Football: Barbarouses travels 24000km for goal

Kosta Barbarouses of the Victory controls the ball during the FFA Cup Final match between Melbourne Victory and Perth Glory at AAMI Park. Photo / Getty Images.

He had just gotten off a 12,000-kilometre flight from Muscat, but Kosta Barbarouses was still Muscat's hero.

Less than a day after withdrawing from New Zealand's friendly with Oman in the Middle Eastern capital, the Melbourne Victory striker came off the bench to deliver the go-ahead goal for coach Kevin Muscat in his side's 4-2 win over Sydney FC.

"I think the New Zealand coach won't be too happy," Sydney FC coach Arnold quipped post-match. "But I expected him to come on and do something."

While Barbarouses had initially been ruled out of the All Whites clash due to injury, Victory coach Kevin Muscat insist his key attacker was only passed fit after he arrived in Sydney on game day.

The 25-year-old was introduced after halftime and had an immediate impact, firing wide minutes upon resumption in the second half.

But it was his poacher's goal in the 68th minute, when he took advantage of a deflected Gui Finkler shot to fire past Vedran Janjetovic, that broke a 2-2 deadlock and gave him team the ascendancy.

"Unfortunately Kosta travelling so soon after the (FFA Cup) final last week, he pulled up really sore in the first session that he had there, so he wasn't available," Muscat explained post-game.

"We flew him back this morning, had a look at him, and medically he was passed fit. But I just didn't think it was wise to risk him for any longer than that."

The victory lifts Melbourne to third spot on the competition table, one point behind ladder leaders Sydney with a game in hand.

However, Saturday's win will be the brightest feather in Muscat's cap, given it was Sydney's first loss of the season.

"We didn't come here to make a statement. We come here to perform and on the night, I thought we were exceptional," he said.

"There was a lot of talk during the week. Fortunately enough for us, we've built a culture where we leave our talking for the park." Melbourne next host Central Coast on Thursday.

-AAP