Melbourne Victory went top of the A-League table with a convincing 3-0 defeat over the Wellington Phoenix away from home.
Goals to Gui Finkler and Archie Thompson, as well as an own-goal from Andrew Durante sealed all three points for the away side in what is a crucial victory with the A-League finals nearing.
Finally the Victory prove they are the best team in the league
We have pondered on the thought for a while this season without the Victory giving us a clear answer, but their 3-0 win away to Wellington sent them atop of the league and finally proved they are the best team in the league this season. Their performance was a pure example of a ruthless and clinical team in full flight, something that the Victory would have liked to have been more consistent at this season, given their talent and depth in their squad. They put three past the Phoenix with ease in a stadium that has not been easy to win at this season (bar the last fortnight), and sent warning signs through the rest of the competition on the eve of the A-League finals. A team peaking at the perfectly right time.
https://youtu.be/nsUwDzenS1s
Consecutive home defeats a worry for the Phoenix
You would have to be concerned if you were Ernie Merrick with the finals just around the corner. Two consecutive defeats – thrashings, in fact – at home to two championship contenders is a worry that perhaps Merrick’s football will not stand up against the big teams on the big occasion. The Phoenix have been hot and cold since the restart of the A-League season after the Asian Cup, struggling initially, finding some form momentarily and crashing back down to Earth in the past two weeks. Wellington found its best form just before the Asian Cup break and many of its star players like Nathan Burns, Michael McGlinchey and Roy Krishna had much better first halves of the season. You have to wonder whether the Nix peaked too early?
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Archie deserves to go on
Nine goals this season from 20 games and an average of just 60 minutes per game. Not bad stats for an evergreen veteran who is still the navy blue heartbeat of the Melbourne Victory, and a crucial factor in their swoop for the double – Premiers Plate and Championship. He has had four assists to go with his goals and is a key in bringing his teammates into the game, and at the ripe old age of 36, continues to have everyone in awe of him. Archie deserves to go on next year and perhaps even the year after. He has given the club so much and continues to deliver the goods for the Victory on a regular basis. The ‘Postman’ of Melbourne.
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