Friday Night’s second fixture takes us to the west where Perth Glory host Kevin Muscat’s Melbourne Victory at NIB Stadium. Join us from kick-off at 9.45pm AEDT.
This fixture is an intriguing one because it has the potential to completely derail either side’s seasons.
Muscat’s men face a mammoth task. It is never easy to come out of Perth with all three points, andit makes the task even harder when you’ve conceded 13 goals in the last three fixtures.
The Victory has slumped to demoralising consecutive 5-0 defeats against weaker opposition.
Muscat is under major pressure, with talks doing the round this week about a potential sacking if fortunes don’t change for the former A-League hardman.
Changes are expected with Tom Rogic and Gui Finkler set to be promoted into the starting XI in place of Kosta Barbarouses, who injured himself during training this week, and James Troisi who may lose his place due to poor form.
Adrian Leijer finds himself suspended once again, so Chilean marquee Pablo Contreras will regain his place in the starting XI, while exciting youngster Adame Traore will return after serving his suspension. Dylan Murnane makes way for his return.
The issue with Victory since Muscat took charge hasn’t been their lack of talent, because they have a great roster.
Inconsistency, dire efforts, bad team choices, and their lack of game-plan execution have all been the killers for the navy blue and white.
Their off-field troubles with the board and supporters haven’t helped their cause either, and everything seems to being going against the supposed ‘biggest club in the country’ at the moment.
The Glory welcome back Brandon O’Neill, Ryan Edwards and the enigmatic Adrian Zahra to the starting squad but while they will be without the likes of Jack Clisby, Matthew Davies, and Isevka Cernak.
Perth have had such an inconsistent season – in the last three fixtures they have experienced all three options of results, so you really don’t know which Perth side will be showing up.
Prediction
While Perth have been inconsistent, I think they will be too strong at home, especially against this demoralized Victory side.
Perth in a tight late 2-1 win – though if Victory are to come away with anything from the west Rogic and Finkler will need to up the ante, along with some great leadership and effort by the defensive line.
Zee
Roar Guru
FT Perth Glory 1 Melbourne Victory 1 After a barrage of shots late one, this match ends in a 1-1 draw.
Zee
Roar Guru
`83 MV Substitution Nabbout OFF Pain ON
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Roar Guru
`81 Nabbout with a powerful shot on goal, Vuko saves well PG 1 MV 1
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Roar Guru
`72 Nathan Coe makes three consecutive saves Clisby, Smeltz and Marinkovic ... still at deadlock PG 1 MV 1
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Roar Guru
`74 MV Subs Rogic OFF Makarounas ON
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Roar Guru
`71 Michael Thwaite produces a decent shot on goal, but its saved calmly by Coe PG 1 MV 1
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Roar Guru
`69 Foul, after foul, after foul has resulted into the most erratic man Mr Jacob Burns to be shown a yellow PG 1 MV 1
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Roar Guru
`67 MV Substitution Gui Finkler OFF James Troisi ON
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Roar Guru
`66 Michael Thwaite has been shown a yellow card PG - 1 MV - 1
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Roar Guru
`61 The referee's assistant has flagged Andrew Nabbout as he is caught offside. PG 1 MV 1
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Roar Guru
`55 Gui Finkler has his right footed shot blocked superbly by the Glory defense. This game has really opened up PG 1 MV 1
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Roar Guru
`53 Ahh opportunity missed by McGarry, right from inside the box PG 1 MV 1
Red wire-Blue wire
Guest
Lucky the 4th official made him change his socks eh?
Zee
Roar Guru
`50 GOAAALLL Perth Glory Equalize, thanks to their man, Sernas. Game on. PG 1 MV 1
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Roar Guru
`47 Perth Glory very ill disciplined here, Burns + Marinkovic with successful fouls PG 0 MV 1
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Roar Guru
`46 Smeltz awarded a yellow card, odd one that PG - 0 MV - 1
Zee
Roar Guru
`46 KGJ blows his whistle, second half underway. PG -0 MV - 1
Red wire-Blue wire
Guest
Why was Smeltz booked? Disgraceful...
langou
Roar Guru
Terrible effort by the Glory. If this is what a full strength Glory side looks like then I say stick to playing the kids.
Zee
Roar Guru
Rogic, an absolute joy to watch. Shame the rest of the MV players can't keep up with his silky feet