Wellington Phoenix vs Melbourne Victory: A-League live scores, blog

Wellington Phoenix 2 Melbourne Victory 3 What a result for Melbourne Victory here this evening in Wellington. Staring down the barrel of defeat when they were two nil down at half time they managed to turn it around and in the end they were full value for the result. The opening exchanges between both sides were fairly even but eventually Victory started to go through the gears and the attacking players in their ranks were starting to get into the game and cause problems for Wellington. They should have went a goal up but for the wayward finishing of the normally prolific Besart Berisha when he miscued a shot with the outside of his boot when he only had Italiano in goal to beat. It proved to be one of those afternoons for Victory's leading marksman but as always he had a big say on how the game finished. Wellington scored against the run of play when Kaludjerovic scored a bullet of a header after a great cross by Galloway. He repeated the feat only two minutes later when he met another cross with his head looping the ball over Thomas from the edge of the box. It has to be said the goals were opportunistic rather than the nix dominating play but they would not have cared going into the sheds with a two goal lead. The worry for them would be if they could hold on as previous games have shown them to be very suspect at the back. Victory knew if the game stayed the same they would finish the round on the bottom of the ladder and this must have been the motivating factor for the way they started the second half. They came flying out of the blocks and George who otherwise had an outstanding game missed a glorious chance when he screwed his shot wide from six yards when the goal was beckoning. They didn't have to wait long for the goal they craved when Berisha followed up a spilled effort from Barbarouses to smash the ball home. The Kiwi was another player enjoying a fine game with his link up play proving effective throughout. The equaliser came 5 minutes later when Wellington failed to deal with the ball into the box and the ball eventually deflected off Paracki into the net. It was a nightmare start for Wellington to the second half but to their credit they battled hard to stem the tide. The game really opened up at 2-2 and sometimes resembled a basketball game such was the amount of turnovers and transition play shown by both teams who were both desperately trying to find a winner. Victory would have felt it wasn’t to be their day when Berisha spurned another great chance when Troisi pulled the ball back to him but he missed the target shooting over the open goal. Five minutes later Victory scored the goal their play deserved and Berisha who could have gone into hiding from the afternoon he was enduring showed brilliant character to keep going, he rolled Troisi in and the Socceroo made no mistake finishing under Italiano. Victory saw the remainder of the game out to collect a valuable three points and this result could prove to the catalyst to turn the season around for them. Wellington will be extremely disappointed to lose the game considering they went two goals up and it is very worrying times for them as they have conceded seven goals at home in their last two games. It’s back to the drawing board for them and they have a big task ahead to climb of the bottom of the ladder. The teams sitting in the top six will be looking over their shoulder because if Victory get their best players on the park they are a real force. No team will want to face the front four of Berisha,Gerorge ,Barbarouses and Troisi especially on the evidence of the football they produced at times today.

Full Time WP 2 MV 3 What a comeback from The Victory. This could be a big turning point for their season. Thanks for joining me on The Roar for what was a cracking game. Hope you enjoyed the coverage.

94' A long throw opportunity for Wellington to get the ball in the box but Victory clear the ball through Williams who has been immense. WP 2 MV 2

93' Free kick to Wellington out wide but Thomas collects the ball easily. 1 minute left. WP 2 MV 3

93' Victory seeing the game out here and have the ball stuck in the corner and not letting the home side out. WP 2 MV 3

90' 5 minutes added time Troisi with a big chance as he gets in from a throw in and has his shot saved at the near post. Terrible defending from the Nix. WP 2 MV 3

Sub Victory George OFF Ingham On

88' 2 minutes left and what character shown by Victory to get back in the game and they look likely to take the 3 points here. They have the ball deep in the wellington half keeping possession. WP 2 MV 3

87' Cant believe Wellington have thrown away a 2 goal lead.They have been far too open in the middle of the park and have had enough warning signs throughout the game. WP 2 MV 3

Goal !!! Victory !! Troisi And what a comeback that is from Victory. Berisha slides Troisi in and he puts it past the on rushing Italiano. WP 2 MV 3

84' Free kick out wide to Wellington, Mullen with a header straight at Thomas, decent chance that for Wellington. WP 2 MV 2

82' Vidosic with a chance for Wellington. Lovely play by Parkhouse who puts a ball across the near post. Vidosic loses his man and puts his strike past the near post. Surely we will have a winner here ?? Its end to end. WP 2 MV 2

81' Another chance for Victory and another chance for Berisha who seemed to hesitate. He seems to be stunned at the moment. WP 2 MV 2

80' What a chance !! Berisha has a nightmare. He misses an open goal from inside the six yard box. great work from Troisi in the build up. Should be 3-2 to Victory. WP 2 MV 2

78' Wellington on the attack, Krishna with a shot blocked and Vidosic with a lovely cut back but no one there to put it.away. Good stuff from the home side. WP 2 MV 2

77' Sub Wellington Galloway OFF Mullen ON WP 2 MV 2

76' Krishna gets cleaned up by Nigro. Yellow card for the Victory full back. WP 2 MV 2

75' Big 15 coming up. Its still on a knifes edge. WP 2 MV 2