“They might not win the Premiership – but they may yet win the title,” said Paramount+ commentator Simon Hill as the final whistle blew on a wet night at AAMI Park, with Melbourne Victory claiming a 3-1 win over Wellington Phoenix.
The result is Victory’s 200th Isuzu UTE A-League win; Tony Popovic’s side become just the second side to achieve that figure in the league’s history (Sydney FC: 215).
KEEPUP followed along LIVE to bring you all the goals, highlights, up to date scores and biggest talking points from Melbourne Victory v Wellington Phoenix on Friday night.
THE FRIDAY AGENDA
MELBOURNE VICTORY 3-1 WELLINGTON PHOENIX
MATCH REPORT: VICTORY’S ‘SIMPLY SCINTILLATING FOOTBALL’ TOO GOOD FOR ‘NIX
REACTION
Rojas: what home ground advantage would mean to Victory come finals time
Friday night’s win over Wellington confirmed Victory will end the season as part of an all-Victorian trio occupying the top three spots on the Isuzu UTE A-League table, alongside Melbourne City and Western United.
Where they end up in the top three is still to be decided, but what is a guarantee for Tony Popovic’s side is kicking off the post-season in Melbourne.
Victory’s 3-1 win over the ‘Nix was the club’s 200th win in A-League Men’s history. It was also Victory’s 14th game without defeat, with that club-record run rolling on as last season’s wooden spooners charge toward the finals with a surge of momentum.
Victory can finish as high as first and as low as third.
- Should Victory finish first or second, they will sit out the first week of finals, whilst third plays sixth and fourth plays fifth. They would then play one of the two victorious sides from week one over a two-legged semifinal.
- Should Victory finish third, they will be guaranteed to play each of their finals fixtures in Melbourne. Topple the sixth-placed finishers in week one, and Victory would progress to play either Western or City in the semifinals. Win through to the grand final, and Victory will be either the away side against City/Western, or the home side against any team from fourth to sixth that manages to join them on the biggest stage.
Victory forward Marco Rojas says he can’t wait to return to Victoria to play in front of the home fans after his side’s final regular season fixture against Sydney FC in Kogarah.
“I don’t have to say too much,” Rojas told Paramount+, summarising his excitement ahead of the finals. “The atmosphere (here) is always electric, it always feels special for me to play here and the boys, too.
“I can’t wait to come back for the next game here in Melbourne, and just enjoy being in that part of the season.”
Paramount+ analyst Mark Milligan knows exactly what it means to play in big A-League Men’s finals for Victory. The former club captain expressed the importance of playing at home in the post-season as the stakes rise.
“It’s massive,” Milligan said. “Finals are a nervy time as it is with added stresses and pressures, to be at home especially in that first week I think is a massive advantage.
“To play at home first week will be a massive confidence boost.”
FULL-TIME: MELBOURNE VICTORY 3-1 WELLINGTON PHOENIX
“They might not win the Premiership, but they may yet win the title,” said Paramount+ commentator Simon Hill as the final whistle blew on a wet night in Melbourne, with Victory claiming a 3-1 win over Wellington.
The result is Victory’s 200th Isuzu UTE A-League win; Tony Popovic’s side become just the second side to achieve that figure in the league’s history (Sydney FC: 215).
79′: GOAL! Rojas puts Victory in command (3-1)
“That is simply scintillating football from Melbourne Victory,” said Paramount+ co-commentator Daniel McBreen as Jason Davidson put the ball on a plate for Rojas to supply the finish to a brilliant Victory move.
66′: GOAL! Chaos unfolds at AAMI Park (2-1)
Jake Brimmer puts Victory back in front from the spot after an lengthy delay, with a D’Agostino goal wiped off the scoresheet and two incidents reviewed by VAR in a truly chaotic five-minute spell at AAMI Park.
D’Agostino put the ball in the back of the net in the 62nd minute. Referee Evans was then called over to the pitch-side monitor to assess two incidents:
- A potential foul from Rai Marchan on Ben Old in the build up
- A potential handball in the box from Wellington defender Louis Fenton
Marchan’s challenge on Old was likely to be called a foul from Evans on review, but the Fenton handball happened earlier in the build-up to D’Agostino’s goal, meaning the initial goal was ruled out, and a penalty was given to the hosts.
Brimmer put the ball on the spot for the hosts, sending Sail the wrong way and finding the back of the net as Victory took the lead at long last.
46′: SECOND HALF (1-1)
It’s set up for a brilliant finish at AAMI Park with Victory and Phoenix locked level as they emerge from the sheds.
HALF-TIME: VICTORY 1-1 PHOENIX
An action-packed first half comes to an end, with both sides level at 1-1. D’Agostino opened the scoring early doors and dominated proceedings until a pair of penalties presented to the ‘Nix in quick time.
The first was wasted by Piscopo but Sandoval made no mistake with the second to draw the visitors level.
25′: PENALTY… AGAIN! Sandoval scores the equaliser (1-1)
Two penalties in the space of minutes for Wellington, with Piscopo involved in the thick of the action. It was Leigh Broxham giving away the second spot kick, leaving a raised elbow on Piscopo as he looked to clear the ball from danger.
Referee Shaun Evans ventured to the pitch-side monitor to review the incident, returning to the pitch to point to the spot once again. This time it was Gael Sandoval stepping forward to take, who found the bottom-left corner to draw the ‘Nix level.
20′: PENALTY SAVED! Piscopo denied (1-0)
A Josh Brillante handball just inside the penalty area gave Wellington an opportunity from the spot, which Reno Piscopo stepped forward to take. Victory keeper Ivan Kelava gestured to his right as Piscopo shot on goal – and that’s exactly where the ball travelled.
Kelava pulled off a strong save to deny the ‘Nix an equaliser.
14′: Brimmer free-kick stings the palms of Sail (1-0)
A handball off Jake Brimmer’s strike on goal by Scott Wootton gave the home side the dead ball just outside the penalty area.
Brimmer stepped forward to take the resulting free-kick, and struck it on target; Wellington keeper Oli Sail went to his right, but as the ball sailed centrally he got two strong palms on it and repelled the danger.
3′: GOAL! D’Agostino gets Victory off to a flyer (1-0)
Nick D’Agostino scores goal number nine for the campaign, getting on the end of a neat through pass from Marco Rojas into the box to find the bottom-left corner.
In the lead-up to this fixture, the Victory striker made his intentions clear: continue his scoring form to cement his place in the Socceroos squad. He’s put his words into action early at AAMI Park tonight.
1′: KICK-OFF (0-0)
We’re underway at a rain-soaked AAMI Park! Torrential conditions could play a significant role in the outcome of this fixture between two sides hoping to end the season in the top four.
TEAM NEWS
PRE-MATCH
Wellington Phoenix are back in Australia to face Melbourne Victory on Friday night, after a two-game homecoming which produced one loss and one win, keeping Ufuk Talay’s side entrenched in the top six.
Victory’s weekend slip-up against Brisbane Roar means Tony Popovic’s side no longer have the chance to jump Western United and Melbourne City into top spot in the A-League Men’s standings with a win over the ‘Nix at AAMI Park.
But, the 0-0 Roar draw did extend Victory’s club-record unbeaten streak to 13, a positive to take for the third-placed side still in the hunt for the Premiership by the end of the regular season.
This is the second league meeting between these two sides in 2021-22, with the ‘Nix edging the first encounter 1-0 thanks to Reno Piscopo’s solitary strike.
KEY STAT
The ‘Nix have won their last two games against Victory and will be looking to log a third straight win in this fixture for the very first time.
