Wellington Phoenix have beaten A-League leaders Melbourne Victory 2-0 at QBE Stadium in Auckland to prove their status among the competition’s elite.
In a match that had everything, kits clashing, a patchy pitch, some brilliance from Roy Krishna and even a referee substitution, Melbourne Victory could not find the back of the net.
The Phoenix started the better of the two sides and appeared to go ahead in the 13th minute with a quick Wellington free-kick finding the back of the net, but it was too quick for the referee’s liking.
Wellington only had to wait six minutes for a goal to count though, with Roy Krishna squeezing the ball past Victory goalkeeper Danny Vukovic and the near-post from an impossible angle to put the home side ahead.
A period of fiery altercations saw a few yellow cards dealt out but each team was able to keep their full complement. The Phoenix continued to dominate the game with chance after chance and on the cusp of half time they doubled their advantage.
Krishna was allowed to burst through the midfield, completly unimpeded, before playing a one-two with Michael McGlinchey. He put the ball at the feet of Roly Bonevacia, who was able to stab at it with his toe through a mass of bodies in the six yard box.
The second-half saw Victory come out of the blocks much better than the early stages, able to retain possession in the midfield.
Fahid Ben Khalfallah looked to have scored 10 minutes after the restart, but a stuck out boot from Besart Berisha seemed to help the ball past Wellington Phoenix goalkeeper Glen Moss from an offside position.
Victory were the more dominant side in the second-half but were not able to capitalise on any of their chances.
Cagey midfield battle
Lining up in practically identical 4-3-3 formations, with a holding midfielder – in Rashid Mahazi for Melbourne and Albert Riera for Wellington and the creative, attacking midfielder, in Roly Bonevacia and Gui Finkler respectively, the battle in the centre of the park ultimately decided the match.
Victory’s three man midfield, which this week consisted of Mahazi, Finkler and Oliver Bozanic has been so effective in weeks gone by. The Phoenix midfield of Riera, Bonevacia and Vince Lia was able to fill the spaces, making it impossible for Victory to break through the middle of the field throughout the first half.
While the second half saw the Victory midfielders find their feet and use the midfield space, the Phoenix did their job with their impressive first half display.
Click NEXT for more talking points
