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

Match result:

Melbourne Victory and Wellington Phoenix have played out a stunning 3-3 draw at AAMI Park and set the stage for a finals encounter in about three months time.

After a stunning first ten minutes where Ola Toivonen’s effort was cancelled out by David Williams’ strike, it appeared we were in for an epic encounter.

When Roy Krishna struck in the 20th and 28th minutes to establish a two-goal lead for the visitors leading into the break, the Victory appeared stunned and their hopes somewhat desperate.

James Troisi scored and brought the home side closer after 58 minutes, before Kosta Barbarouses found the net in the 88th to level the scores.

The final minutes were played out with tension and drama as the dominant emotions and the Phoenix would hold on for a draw away from home, while the Victory would feel like a team under serious threat by their neighbours from across the ditch.

Final score
Melbourne Victory 3
Wellington Phoenix 3

Match preview:

Melbourne Victory host the Wellington Phoenix at AAMI Park in Melbourne, in a clash between two in-form A-League teams. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 5pm (AEDT).

It is a little tricky to comprehend a match between the Victory and the Phoenix as being the most anticipated in an A-League round of fixtures.

However, that is exactly what this match-up has become.

Expect 20,000-25,000 on a cracking Melbourne afternoon as the visitors walk into one the best home ground advantages in the league and a Victory side that shows little sign of dropping off the hot pace being set at the top of the ladder.

In fact, the home side has a chance to move within a single point of the Glory with a win today.

A triumph for the Phoenix would see them leapfrog Melbourne City into fourth place and the entire footballing world must now be starting to appreciate the enormity of the improvements made under the leadership of Mark Rudan.

The last time these two teams met, it was the Phoenix with the best chance to snatch all three points, before the brilliant attacking mantra of the Victory saw them equalise.

It was a pulsating game and the signs are there that this could be something similar this afternoon.

The team news is vital for this clash with Keisuke Honda and Nick Ansell still out for the home side and the Phoenix welcoming back Mandi Sosa and Alex Rufer into the team.

That sees the visitors at something very close to full strength and with the best chance they possibly have of knocking off the champions.

Prediction
I wrote during the week about the rise of the Phoenix and their deserved place in the A-League.

I have now seen enough to know that with Sarpreet Singh, Roy Krishna and Steven Taylor in top form, this team is the real deal.

It will be a tough road to hoe for them away from home, but I believe the Phoenix can grab a point in Melbourne.

Melbourne Victory 2, Wellington Phoenix 2

Catch all the action on The Roar live coverage from 5pm (AEDT).

Where: AAMI Park, Melbourne
When: Sunday 20th January 2019, 5pm (AEDT)
TV: Fox Sports
Betting: Melbourne Victory $1.72 Draw $4.00 Wellington Phoenix $4.50

Melbourne Victory
1.Matt Acton (Gk), 2.Storm Roux, 3.Corey Brown, 6.Leigh Broxham, 7.Kenny Athiu, 8.Terry Antonis, 9.Kosta Barbarouses, 10.James Troisi, 11.Ola Toivonen, 13.Birkan Kirdar, 14.Tommy Deng, 15.Raul Baena, 16.Josh Hope, 19.Rahmat Akbari, 20.Lawrence Thomas (Gk), 21.Carl Valeri (C), 24.Elvis Kamsoba, 25.Anthony Lesiotis

Wellington Phoenix
1.Filip Kurto (Gk), 4.Mandi Sosa, 6.Dylan Fox, 7.Cillian Sheridan, 9.Nathan Burns, 11.David Williams, 13.Liberato Cacace, 14.Alex Rufer, 15.Michal Kopzcynski, 16.Louis Fenton, 18.Sarpreet Singh, 19.Tom Doyle, 20.Oliver Sail (Gk), 21.Roy Krishna, 22.Andrew Durante (C), 23.Max Burgess, 27.Steven Taylor