Melbourne Victory shored up it’s grip on title favouritism, going top of the table after a strong 2-0 win over the in-form Wellington Phoenix in the ‘pre-Cup day’ clash at AAMI Park.
While the score line wasn’t as convincing as the derby day dismantling of Melbourne City last week – or Western Sydney Wanderers in Round One for that matter – the Victory once again put on a strong home showing to topple the Nix, who would’ve gone above the Victory had they taken the three points.
The most pleasing aspect of the result however would’ve been the injury depleted Victory’s first clean-sheet of the season, despite three of the back four making their first start of the season in defence.
It was a fantastic passage of football which saw the night’s first chance come to pass as Fahid Ben Khalfallah pulled off a skilful turn past Louis Fenton before sending a perfect cutback to Thompson who saw his goal bound shot blocked.
Wellington had the ball in the back of the net within three minutes as an offside Nathan Burns squared up for Alex Rodriguez to tap into an unguided net, but both sets of players knew the goal wouldn’t stand.
Kosta Barbarouses ensured the momentum would return the Victory’s way as he barnstormed his way into the box before narrowly firing wide from inside the area.
It was a frenetic start to the contest as the football flowed at both ends, with Carl Valeri even joining in on the party.
Alas the defensive midfielders poor effort from 20-yards was blazed over the crossbar, wasting some good work from Barbarouses on the wing.
The makeshift centre-back pairing of Mark Milligan and Leigh Broxham looked assured figures in the heart of defence, and it was the former who played a hand in the opening goal of the night.
Set-piece specialist Gui Finkler once again displayed his proficiency with the dead ball as he curled an effort from the left flank towards the far post, where Milligan was lurking.
The captain however missed the ball, but his run was enough to put off Glen Moss on his return to Victory, with the keeper wrong-footed as the ball hit the back of the net.
Burns went on the front-foot in the Phoenix’s hunt for an equaliser with the in-form winger flashing a wicked cross between defence and keeper, with the hosts fortunate not to see a free man at the far post.
The former Socceroo did it himself right on the stroke of half-time as he turned on the after burners down the left, only to see his low strike smothered brilliantly by Nathan Coe, who didn’t have a save to make until then.
Forward Jeremy Brockie was brought on at the half to spark some life into the listless Phoenix, and it was his corner that created the first meaningful chance of the half, but Sigmund couldn’t turn his header goal bound.
A double substitution saw the Victory inject some youthful exuberance into the side as Connor Pain and Jesse Makarounas both made their way onto the park.
It proved to be a coaching masterstroke by Kevin Muscat as speed demon Pain slotted home with his first touch on the park.
Officially recorded at 55 seconds from introduction to goal, the winger ghosted past Thompson on the left flank, with the veteran slipping in his junior, who placed his shot low past the hapless Moss.
With 15 minutes to play, Finkler got his chance to add a second free-kick to his tally, but his brilliant effort just fizzed past the left stick, much to Wellington’s relief.
Kosta Barbarouses should’ve wrapped up the result as he streamed unopposed on the right wing, but the winger lost his bearings, and a heavy touch saw the ball cleaned up by the Phoenix custodian.
With Coe desperate for a clean sheet, the Victory shot stopper palmed away a late Brockie effort in injury time.
In the end, Victory were happy to settle for the 2-0 result with their injury hit side, with a first clean sheet to boot.
Goal scorer Gui Finkler said on his free-kick, “I always try to hit the far post, and if it goes in, I’m happy. The first thought is to cross.”
***
Melbourne Victory 1 (Finkler 24’, Pain 67’) defeated Wellington Phoenix 0 at AAMI Park
Attendance: 23,827
Melbourne Victory: 1. Nathan COE, 5. Mark MILLIGAN (c), 6. Leigh BROXHAM, 7. Gui FINKLER (26. Jordan BROWN 89′), 9. Kosta BARBAROUSES, 10. Archie THOMPSON, 14. Fahid BEN KHALFALLAH (11. Connor PAIN 67’), 16. Rashid MAHAZI, 18. Dylan MURNANE, 21. Carl VALERI (22. Jesse MAKAROUNAS 67’), 24. Scott GALLOWAY
Unused Substitutes: 20. Lawrence THOMAS, 13. Andrew NABBOUT
Yellow Cards: Ben Khalfallah 18’
Red Cards: Nil
Wellington Phoenix: 1. Glen MOSS (GK), 2. Manny MUSCAT, 4. Roly BONEVACIA, 8. Alex RODRIGUEZ (11. Jeremy BROCKIE 45’), 9. Nathan BURNS, 10. Michael MCGLINCHEY, 13. Albert RIERA, 16. Louis FENTON (19. Thomas DOYLE 82’), 17. Vince LIA (21. Roy KRISHNA 75’), 18. Ben SIGMUND, 22. Andrew DURANTE (c)
Unused Substitutes: 20. Lewis ITALIANO (GK), 23. Matthew RIDENTON
Yellow Cards: Muscat 31’, Riera 47’, Fenton 80’, Durante 81’
Red Cards: Nil