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Victory not dwelling on Cup loss ahead of Bulls reunion

3 minute read

Melbourne Victory lost to Macarthur in the Australia Cup final but won't dwell on it as they prepare to lock horns in the A-League Men.

Patrick Kisnorbo won't dwell on Melbourne Victory's Australia Cup final loss to Macarthur ahead of their A-League Men clash.

Instead, he wants them to replicate the electric half-hour that demolished Melbourne City to maintain their unbeaten start to the season.

Victory lost the Cup final to the Bulls 1-0 at AAMI Park but have started the season in good form, drawing with champions Central Coast before beating City 3-1.

"It was one of those one-off games and it happens, it's a final," Kisnorbo told AAP.

"And credit to them that they won it. But for us now it's just concentrating and seeing what we can do for Sunday.

"I learned more from us (than them).There were some great chances that we created, so we've just going to keep improving our game to get better."

Victory put the foot down against City and were up 3-0 with a classic Kisnorbo "go, go, go" high-octane start last Saturday.

"It's the way we want to play, and that's an identity that we want to have," he said.

"We need to keep replicating performances consistently like that. Not all of them are going to be like that, but for us we have a standard and we want to continue that standard that we have."

Kisnorbo's call to start Greek striker Nikos Vergos and fellow recruit Reno Piscopo ahead of Bruno Fornaroli and Daniel Arzani was vindicated against City.

He expected Vergos to improve after a goal and assist, while Piscopo assisted Vergos's goal and impressed.

"What I've said a lot is it takes time for foreign players," Kisnorbo said.

"And again, just because he (Vergos) scored, it doesn't mean he stops."

Young midfield duo Ryan Teague and Jordi Valadon were exceptional against City but a Macarthur midfield led by Luke Brattan and Jake Hollman poses a sterner test.

"Great test. Brattsy's obviously got a Socceroos cap. He's an experienced player," he said.

"So it'll be great competition for them, great learning, and they should thrive playing against players like that."

Victory will regain captain Roderick Miranda from suspension.

Incoming goalkeeper Mitch Langerak has finished up at Nagoya Grampus and will officially join Victory in January.

Kisnorbo was uncertain whether he would link up with Victory before then, expecting Langerak to need time off and stressed Jack Duncan was his current No.1 goalkeeper.

Sunday's game at AAMI Park is part of an extended weekend of action.

On Saturday, Wellington take on Auckland while Central Coast host struggling Perth and Western Sydney play Adelaide.

Western United and City face off on Monday night.

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