Follow all the action from the Isuzu UTE A-League on Sunday as Melbourne Victory welcome Wellington Phoenix to AAMI Park in the first leg of their Semi-Final.
Following Central Coast Mariners’ 2-1 away win against Sydney FC in the first leg of their Semi-Final clash on Friday night, attention now turns to AAMI Park where both teams will be looking to gain the upper hand ahead of the return fixture at Sky Stadium.
Today’s match-up promises to be a thriller as Melbourne Victory, fresh from that incredible penalty shoot-out win over rivals City, welcome Giancarlo Italiano’s Wellington Phoenix side to their home ground.
BUY TICKETS TO MELBOURNE VICTORY v WELLINGTON PHOENIX!
Will the ‘Nix be able to hit the ground running after two weeks off? Who will come out on top in the battle between two of the league’s best goalkeepers? And what banger will Melbourne Victory’s viral violinist hit the crowd with before kick off?!
It’s all kicking off at 4pm (AEST) live from AAMI Park but if you can’t be there in person then you can watch it all unfold LIVE on Paramount+ and 10 Bold!
Click here to watch the Isuzu UTE A-League LIVE on Paramount+!
MATCHDAY AGENDA
4:00pm (AEST): Melbourne Victory vs Wellington Phoenix – AAMI Park
The Phoenix have not beaten Victory at AAMI Park since 2017, and haven’t won any of their last 20 appearances at the venue against all opposition.
Victory, meanwhile, have won six of their last seven Finals Series games at AAMI Park – including last weekend’s thrilling Elimination Final win over Melbourne City decided by a penalty shoot-out, with Izzo emerging the hero on a career night in goal.
Today’s Semi-Final presents Italiano with the chance to mastermind Wellington’s first Finals Series win since 2012, when the ‘Nix beat Sydney FC 3-2 in a home Elimination Final. The club has gone winless in six post-season games since.
MATCH PREVIEW: ‘Crucial’ stat that could be key in a ‘clash of styles’ in Semi-Final blockbuster
CHIEF TALK: ‘If I had the answer, I’d be coaching Champions League!’
Victory will be without star midfielder Zinédine Machach for both games against Wellington after his Elimination Final red card. Machach was offered a two-game ban by Football Australia’s independent Match Review Panel, ruling him out for the two-legged affair.
Should Victory progress to the Grand Final, Machach would be eligible to face either Central Coast or Sydney FC in the decider.
Head-to-head this season
Round 4: Melbourne Victory 1-1 Wellington Phoenix
Victory played host to Wellington in Round 4 and the two sides shared the spoils in the first of three regular season meetings between the two sides this season.
Olyroos midfielder Ryan Teague scored his first A-Leagues goal in a dream start to his maiden Victory campaign as the hosts opened the scoring at AAMI Park – but the ‘Nix struck back before half-time when Damien Da Silva bundled Kosta Barbarouses’ cross over his own goal line.
The points were then shared in a 1-1 draw… despite the fact Wellington didn’t actually manage a single shot on target in the match!
Round 13: Wellington Phoenix 1-1 Melbourne Victory
Victory travelled across the ditch to take on the ‘Nix in Round 13 and just like their Round 4 encounter, the game ended 1-1 with the points shared at Sky Stadium.
Phoenix defender Tim Payne was sent off late in the first half and Victory looked set to take all three points when they took the lead through Connor Chapman’s third league goal – but the 10-man hosts fought back, with captain Alex Rufer scoring a late penalty to level the score.
Round 24: Wellington Phoenix 1-0 Melbourne Victory
The Phoenix welcomed Victory back to Sky Stadium in Round 24 and 95 minutes elapsed without either team breaking the deadlock, before late drama sealed the hosts all three points.
A stoppage-time free-kick delivered into a dangerous area by Oskar van Hattum was met by Finn Surman, and deflected off Roderick Miranda on its way past Paul Izzo as Wellington snatched all three points and sparked special scenes in the ‘Cake Tin’.
