Nani stars as Victory beat Jets in ALM

Nani has taken centre stage as Melbourne Victory stylishly broke their A-League Men goal-scoring drought with a 4-0 win over Newcastle.

Recruit Bruno Fornaroli was the centre of attention ahead of Friday night’s match at AAMI Park.

But marquee Nani turned in comfortably his finest Victory performance, dazzling throughout and contentiously winning a penalty for Jake Brimmer to open the scoring in the 16th minute.

Chris Ikonomidis and Nick D’Agostino scored in the 50th and 54th minutes before Fornaroli opened his Victory account via a penalty in the 89th.

Victory, who had been goalless in three games, snatched the advantage when Rai Marchan launched a lovely cross-field ball and Nani took a slick touch then danced around James McGarry,

McGarry clipped the winger’s shin and Nani took a couple of steps before dramatically falling down late and grabbing his leg.

Brimmer’s penalty wriggled under Jets goalkeeper Michael Weier.

From there, Newcastle enjoyed a short dominance before Nani sliced a long-range shot onto the crossbar in the 39th minute.

Ikonomidis appeared to have doubled Victory’s lead when he coolly finished from close range in the second minute of extra time.

But after a quick VAR referral, it was chalked off for handball, with replays showing Ikonomidis had chested the ball down onto his arm before his foot.

Five minutes into the second half, Marchan lifted a lovely ball towards Ikonomidis, who took a right-footed touch then slammed the ball into the roof of the net.

Four minutes later, Brimmer delivered a sumptuous ball on the outside of his right boot for D’Agostino to lash home a first-time strike.

Newcastle’s Beka Mikeltadze goaled in the 67th minute but Trent Buhagiar was offside in the build-up.

Fornaroli replaced D’Agostino in the 75th minute and 14 minutes later got his goal when a VAR referral caught out Newcastle’s Mark Natta for a handball.

Ikonomidis was set to take the penalty but handed the ball to Fornaroli, who coolly slotted it and celebrated in front of his new fans.