Santos and Juan Mata continue to pose genuine trouble for A-League opponents. (Scott Barbour/AAP PHOTOS)
A Juan Mata masterclass and two goals to Brazilian livewire Santos have steered Melbourne Victory to a 4-0 thumping of fierce rivals Sydney FC.
Victory, on a two-game losing run, were completely dominant with 18 shots to nine but had three goals chalked off at AAMI Park before seizing control on the scoreboard.
Eight days after a contentious VAR intervention denied Victory a match-winning goal in their loss to Adelaide, Jason Davidson had back-post headers ruled out by VAR for offside and handball respectively in the 13th and 48th minutes.
But Mata notched three assists as Santos struck in the 53rd and 64th minutes, with Keegan Jelacic and Lachlan Jackson scoring in the 79th and 82nd minutes to deliver three points.
Victory are seventh, five points off leaders Auckland and two points behind fourth-placed Sydney.
Juan Mata has THREE assists in the Big Blue and it’s 𝟒-𝟎 @gomvfc 🤯🔥
What a time for Lachie Jackson to get his first Victory goal – and what a celebration!
Stream #MVCvSYD live and exclusive NOW on Paramount+ AEDT 📺 pic.twitter.com/Gy1qZ7iLBY
— Isuzu UTE A-League (@aleaguemen) January 26, 2026
Santos rounded Harrison Devenish-Meares in the 10th minute but was offside.
Three minutes later, a Mata corner was flicked on by Sebastian Esposito, with Davidson burying it at the back post – but after a lengthy VAR review it was also ruled offside.
Sydney nearly scored against the run of play in the 38th minute but Jack Warshawsky closed down Pat Wood.
Victory striker Nikos Vergos was arguably lucky to only receive a yellow card in first-half injury time for a high elbow to Alex Grant, who had to be substituted with concussion, for Jordan Courtney-Perkins
Three minutes into the second half, Davidson was incensed after he’d climbed over Paul Okon-Engstler to turn home a Mata corner but it was chalked off.
But Victory finally broke through when Mata released Santos, who charged forward then beautifully dinked the ball into the top corner.
Santos ripped his shirt off then held it up to the Sydney travelling fans, who threw bottles at the Brazilian.
Victory doubled their lead when Mata found Vergos, who flicked the ball on for Santos to beat two defenders and score.
Sydney thought they had responded in the 67th minute when Piero Quispe took a short corner and the ball went through Joel King’s legs before the Peruvian sent it in to Victor Campuzano to score.
But it was chalked off as players cannot touch a corner twice without another player touching it.
Victory punished Sydney 12 minutes later with a wonderful goal, with Davidson picking out Mata, who cut back for Jelacic to fire a rocket into the top corner.
Then, the 37-year-old maestro picked out Jackson to complete the rout with a bullet header.
Victory travel to face Central Coast next Sunday while Sydney will hope to bounce back in their home derby against the Wanderers on Saturday.
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