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Portuguese centre-back Miranda was handed the armband after Kosh Brillante was ruled out, with a hamstring niggle, after a fitness test on Saturday morning.<\/p>\n
Popovic was optimistic Brillante would be available for next Sunday’s clash with Brisbane Roar but less confident on Wednesday’s FFA Cup play-off against Perth Glory.<\/p>\n
Victory took the lead when\u00a0Jake Brimmer whipped in a lovely corner to the near post and Miranda rose highest to beat United goalkeeper Jamie Young with a well-placed header.<\/p>\n
Seven minutes later, Diamanti took on Jason Davidson and went down in the area after the Victory defender appeared to catch him with his back leg.<\/p>\n
But no penalty was forthcoming and Victory held on.<\/p>\n
“From where I was, you can see the way that Diamanti beat him and the defender turns his back with these legs out,” United coach John Aloisi said.<\/p>\n
“All I can say is that Diamanti and the players around him were adamant it was a penalty.<\/p>\n
“But I’m not here to talk about whether it was a penalty or not a penalty. We have to live with the decision and sometimes they’ll go for you, sometimes against you.”<\/p>\n
Aloisi felt United didn’t deserve to lose the game but expected improvement to come, and enjoyed his ALM return – bar the result.<\/p>\n
“I’ll be honest, with you, I hate losing,\u201d he said. \u201cSo I didn’t enjoy that bit at all. I can tell you now it’s still burning me inside. I’m probably putting on a brave face.<\/p>\n
“That’s part of football: you have your ups and downs.”<\/p>\n