In this latest edition of Monday night A-League football the Melbourne Victory will take on the Wellington Phoenix at Etihad Stadium. Join us on The Roar from 7:50pm AEDT for all of the action.
After a disappointing start to the season, drawing with the Roar and convincingly losing the Melbourne Derby 4-1, Victory picked up their first win of the season last week against Adelaide United.
Despite more midweek derby disappointment losing to Melbourne City in the FFA Cup semifinals, Victory are slowly finding their feet this season with the returning Marcos Rojas looking particularly menacing.
The Wellington Phoenix on the other hand are still some way off finding their feet this season, yet to pick up a point nor score a goal so far.
Two narrow 1-0 losses to Melbourne City and Sydney FC plus a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Perth Glory may not have alarm bell ringings just yet but the Phoenix need to take flight sooner rather than later.
A maiden goal or even a win against the Victory could see them start to perform to the level they really should be.
Though Victory will be without Carl Valeri for this clash due to soreness, they welcome back James Troisi from injury and have promoted Stefan Nigro and Jai Ingham into their squad.
The Phoenix also have just the one new absentee with Tom Doyle dropping out of the squad through a hamstring injury with Ryan Lowry, Louis Fenton and Ben Litfin all promoted.
Prediction
Though neither side have really hit the ground running, I’m expecting a thrilling contest tonight with both giving it their all to find some form. While I expect the Phoenix to open their goal scoring account tonight, the Victory will prove too strong in the end to run out 3-1 winners.
So will the Victory make it back to back A-league wins or can the Phoenix pick up their first points of the season? Join us on The Roar from 7:50pm AEDT to find out as the Melbourne Victory host the Wellington Phoenix.
Spyros Antoniou
Roar Pro
Pete4- I think is time for a change, probably players lost faith in their coach from last year poor performance.
Spyros Antoniou
Roar Pro
Big confidence booster that wins for Melbourne Victory after the FFC disqualification. Also next week they play against Sydney FC a tough matchup. As far as the Phoenix 0 points in 4 games only score one game, I think if we combine the previous year with this one start is probably time for a change.
Stevo
Roar Rookie
Wot happened here?
pete4
Guest
This result heaps pressure on Ernie Merrick. Poor start to the season for the Nix yet to register a point
hog
Guest
There comes a time when questions have to be asked.
Joshua Thomas
Roar Guru
Fulltime The Victory make a ten men Phoenix pay. Melbourne Victory 6 Wellington Phoenix 1
Joshua Thomas
Roar Guru
90+3' Alarm bells for Victory with Rojas in some pain. Two goals and two assists to his name tonight. Melbourne Victory 6 Wellington Phoenix 1
hog
Guest
The Pheonix look pathetic an uninterested,
Joshua Thomas
Roar Guru
90+1' GOAL (Victory) Austin finishes strongly to the bottom left after a break. Melbourne Victory 6 Wellington Phoenix 1
Joshua Thomas
Roar Guru
90' Three minutes of injury time to come. Melbourne Victory 5 Wellington Phoenix 1
Joshua Thomas
Roar Guru
90' Nigro given time and space at the top of the box and his effort is deflected just wide of the right post. Melbourne Victory 5 Wellington Phoenix 1
Joshua Thomas
Roar Guru
88' Bonevacia only just wide of the right post with a shot from outside the box. Melbourne Victory 5 Wellington Phoenix 1
Midfielder
Guest
MV on fire
Joshua Thomas
Roar Guru
85' Donachie replaces Mahazi. Melbourne Victory 5 Wellington Phoenix 1
Joshua Thomas
Roar Guru
84' Austin almost found inside the box with Moss doing enough to intervene. Melbourne Victory 5 Wellington Phoenix 1
Joshua Thomas
Roar Guru
82'- GOAL (Victory) Berisha gets his hat-trick as he taps in from a Rojas cross who made a well timed run and unselfishly laid the ball off for his teammate. Melbourne Victory 5 Wellington Phoenix 1
Joshua Thomas
Roar Guru
81' Barbarouses replaced by Litfin with the official crowd at Etihad tonight a respectful 20,113. Melbourne Victory 4 Wellington Phoenix 1
Joshua Thomas
Roar Guru
80' Austin unable to cleanly find an unmarked Berisha inside the box as the Nix clear the threat for a corner. Melbourne Victory 4 Wellington Phoenix 1
Joshua Thomas
Roar Guru
79' Austin caught offside as he was played clear on goal. Melbourne Victory 4 Wellington Phoenix 1
Joshua Thomas
Roar Guru
78' Both Berisha and Rojas on hat-tricks, can either of them get it? Melbourne Victory 4 Wellington Phoenix 1