Melbourne Victory have secured sixth spot on the table following a 4-1 win over Wellington Phoenix at Westpac Stadium.
In a match that had everything, Carl Valeri made his long awaited return to the park. But Victory’s captain entered the match while both teams were down to 10 men with Besart Berisha and Albert Riera being sent off respectively – the former under some controversy.
Victory began the match expertly, opening the scoring in the first 10 minutes. Kosta Barbarouses’ cross was turned in by a Berisha backheel.
Bozanic doubled the visitors’ advantage in the 20th minute. Fahid Ben Khalfallah played throguh Scott Galloway who cut the ball back for the oncoming Bozanic.
Wellington’s two recruits for next season combined to score Victory’s third. Finkler and Barbarouses exchanged passes before the Kiwi international coolly finished past Glen Moss.
George Howard added a fourth, his first for the club, finishing off an Archie Thompson cross in injury time.
Roly Bonevacia got one back for the Phoenix in the 83rd minute, playing a one two off a short corner and striking the ball through a sea of legs into the back of the net.
Wellington had the chance to make the final moments interesting, being awarded a penalty, but Michael McGlinchey sprayed his spot kick wide.
Lawrence Thomas has made his case
At the beginning of the season, news of Danny Vukovic’s signing raised one major question: what did this mean for Lawrence Thomas? In seven matches last season, including the entirety of the finals series, the Victory custodian conceded only three goals and proved himself to be a genuine contender for the number one position.
He has sat on the bench for most of the season but, once called upon, has again proven to be a more than capable shot stopper. In his three A-League matches he has conceded only twice, with the team recording two wins and a draw.
Thomas has made excellent saves in all three matches and even in the rainy conditions in Wellington today he was solid and brilliant. He has done more than enough to cement his spot as Victory’s number one.
Berisha does a Vardy! #WELvMVC https://t.co/2WWlH7zVfM
— Sportsbet.com.au (@sportsbetcomau) April 2, 2016
Carl Valeri’s comeback a great story
Round eight against Adelaide United was the last time Carl Valeri played A-League football. A largely mysterious inflammatory brain condition attacked the Victory captain, affecting the midfielder’s balance and co-ordination. After being ruled out for the rest of the season, his return seems to have come at just the right time and it has undoubtedly lifted the spirits of everyone around the club.
Coming on as a substitute for Rashid Mahazi, Valeri’s comeback will reach its fever pitch next week, presuming he plays against the Roar at home.
The club has, in essence, been deprived of its captain for majority of the season and his presence is not only great for the Victory but good for the league.
Victory hitting form at the right time?
Although this match was exceptional, the fact of the matter is Victory have won two in a row for the first time since round 15 and 16 and have won well. People were tentative when saying that Muscat’s men had turned a corner after the win against the Wanderers; they had put in impressive displays before only to return to poor form. But now with two wins in a row, six goals scored and only one conceded, Victory fans can be optimistic to a certain degree. Carl Valeri’s return only furthers the optimism.
How the team handles this run of matches, with three in eight days in three different countries, will indicate whether or not Melbourne’s hopes of claiming back to back titles have any substance to them.
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