Melbourne Victory has defeated Gold Coast United 3-2 at AAMI Park on Sunday to win their first home game of the season.

Victory went into the encounter and made three changes after their draw with Perth. Matthew Kemp, Tommy Pondeljak and Danny Allsopp drop out for Harry Kewell, Diogo Ferreira and Marco Rojas. Gold Coast made two changes with Josh Brillante and Dylan Macallister making way for new signing Jonas Salley and Ben Halloran.

Melbourne Victory pushed into the box inside the first minute and Archie Thompson was pulled down by Paul Beekmans. Kewell stepped up and buried the penalty into the side netting. It was Kewell's first goal for Victory.

On 14 minutes Carlos Hernandez whipped in a wide free-kick but Glen Moss was there to make a slow save at the near post.

Three minutes later Hernandez again shot at Moss but his shot was shanked wide.

On 20 minutes Jonas Salley created the first chance for the visitors. He hit the post with a first time shot after Rodrigo Vargas cleared Mitch Bevan's free-kick.

Two minutes later and Victory had another penalty after Marco Rojas was fouled by Salley. Hernandez stepped up this time and although Moss chose the right way it was 2-0.

On 33 minutes Victory was down to ten-men when Rodrigo Vargas was sent off for a dangerous challenge on Golgol Mebrahtu.

Six minutes later Hernandez's brilliant long ball was taken by Thompson and the Victory forward's attempted chip was saved brilliantly by the fingertips by Glen Moss.

On 41 minutes Victory was on the counter with Thompson but as he crosses to Kewell, Kewell couldn't get a shot away. Kewell passed off to Rojas but Moss read it well and intercepted.

One minute later Gold Coast was straight up the other end but Maceo Rigters strike was smashed into Dylan Macallister.

As the first-half went into stoppage time Mebrahtu's free-kick was headed over by Salley.

Immediately the visitors put the pressure back on with Mebrahtu being fouled by Diogo Ferriera. First-half substitute Dylan Macallister slotted it home even though Covic chose the right side. 2-1 at half-time.

Three minutes into the second-half Thompson put a header over after a Hernandez free-kick.

Gold Coast was on the counter again with Ben Halloran who got past Fabio who fell over and crossed low to an unmarked Peter Jungschlager who equalised.

Harry Kewell then volleyed an ambitious effort into the side netting on 54 minutes. Kewell was later substituted on 60 minutes.

On 64 minutes Rigters was too strong for Ferreira then shot on the turn. But Covic was down quickly to save.

Rigters then tested Covic with a powerful strike but it travelled fast and wide one minute later.

On 75 minutes Victory had a chance to snatch it on the counter with Thompson who played in Celeski. Celeski's strike was then saved by Moss' foot and flicked onto the woodwork.

Gold Coast started to lose their shape and Victory started to put the pressure on. On 79 minutes Thompson was played through by Hernandez and as Moss pushed him wide Thompson chipped to the far post where Hernandez out jumped the Gold Coast defender to make it 3-2.

In Stoppage time Gold Coast had a chance to equalise as Dylan Macallister's header was flicked on by Kristian Rees onto the base of the post.

Immediately up the other end Hernandez found Thompson whose strike hit the post. Thompson's follow-up then was blocked by Macallister who tracked back.

Melbourne Victory moves to third on the table with Gold Coast staying at the foot of the table. Victory travel to Newcastle next on Saturday with Gold Coast travelling to Perth to play the Glory on Saturday night.