Melbourne Victory have recorded an impressive 4-1 win over the Western Sydney Wanderers in their Foxtel National Youth League encounter.
Melbourne Victory have recorded an impressive 4-1 win over the Western Sydney Wanderers in their Foxtel National Youth League encounter at Lakeside Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
The Victory were the dominant side throughout most of the match creating many opportunities despite at times overplaying their short passing game in the final third.
The Wanderers were forced to try and capitalise on passing turnovers by the Victory, however struggled to operate incisively on the counterattack for much of the contest as the hosts’ midfield and defence pressed aggressively to win the ball back.
James Jeggo eventually gave the Victory a well-deserved lead in the 40th minute after the Wanderers failed to clear a Victory corner, allowing him to control the loose ball and fire a half-volley on the swivel into the bottom left corner from just inside the 18-yard box.
Western Sydney made three changes at half-time and started the second half brighter in attack, however they were soon two behind as Jeggo added his second for the day with a neat spin and finish from close range to give the Victory some breathing space in the 56th minute.
The Victory’s two-goal cushion did not last for long as the Wanderers pulled one back in the 61st minute as a Martin Lo cross from the right flank was powered home by Lawrence Hanna with a header from about 10 yards.
The match started to open up for both sides in the ensuing minutes before the hosts scored a third in the 71st with Jeggo continuing his impressive performance by playing through Andrew Nabbout from midfield who was composed to score his one-on-one chance against Wanderers custodian Blake Tuxford by placing the ball into the bottom left corner.
Both sides continued to create half-chances in the second period with the Victory playing with variety in the front third, utilising both the flanks and passing through the middle while the Wanderers looked dangerous cutting inside and driving at the Victory goal.
The Victory rounded off the impressive result in the 80th minute as Francesco Stella headed home from a corner to make it 4-1.
The win for the Victory keeps them within striking distance of Sydney FC at the top of the National Youth League table while the Wanderers remain a point above Perth Glory at the foot of the table.
Melbourne Victory 4 (Jeggo 40, 56, Nabbout 71, Stella 80)
Western Sydney Wanderers 1 (Hanna 61)
HT: 1-0
Melbourne Victory: 1. Keegan Coulter (GK), 3. Milos Ridesic, 4. Nicholas Ansell (2. James Karvelis 16m), 5. Dylan Murnane, 6. James Jeggo, 8. Luc Jeggo (c) (7. Chris Cristaldo 62m), 9. Jesse Makarounas, 11. Gui Finkler (10. John Buceto 62m), 13. Andrew Nabbout, 16. Scott Galloway, 18. Francesco Stella
Western Sydney Wanderers: 2. Lawrence Hanna, 3. Brendan Hooper, 4. James Baldacchino (14. Jaushua Sotiro 45m), 5. Sean Symons, 6. Daniel Alessi (10. Yianni Perkatis 45m) 7. Matthew Stewart (13. Mark Cindric 45m), 8. Jake McGing, 9. Alusine Fofanah, 11. Nicholas Olsen, 15. Martin Lo, 20. Blake Tuxford (GK)
