Melbourne Victory 3-0 Wellington Phoenix: Victory comfortably beat the Phoenix

Victory players celebrate after Jimmy Jeggo scored a cracking third goal. Photo: TIM SIZE

Melbourne Victory have comfortably beaten Wellington Phoenix 3-0 at AAMI Park on Friday night to win just Magilton’s second game in eleven.

Jim Magilton made three changes to his Melbourne Victory side for their final home game with Tando Velaphi coming in for his Melbourne Victory A-League debut. Diogo Ferreira also came in for Petar Franjic with Mark Milligan moving into the centre of defence while Isaka Cernak also made way for the returning Carlos Hernandez.

Ricki Herbet only made one change to his Wellington Phoenix side with Alex Smith coming in for former Victory midfielder Nick Ward.

In the opening moments of the game both sides looked good going forward with Victory controlling most of the possession but neither side could conjure a real chance until Hernandez on 11 minutes.

Hernandez received the ball from Archie Thompson before thumping the ball into the net with a wonderful strike into the top corner of Mark Paston’s net.

Two minutes after taking the lead Hernandez curled a brilliant free-kick into the box but Archie Thompson’s flick-on header was directed straight into the hands of Paston.

Seconds later Thompson failed to break his goal scoring drought after beating Manny Muscat and firing low only but Paston comfortably saved.

On 19 minutes Paul Ifill scored almost a duplicate of his goal from last week’s 1-1 draw with Melbourne Heart as the former Crystal Palace forward fired just wide of the upright.

Soon after Marco Rojas was substituted for Cernak with a suspected facial injury.

On 32 minutes Thompson continued to look to break his drought but after dancing past Andrew Durante and Ben Sigmund he was unlucky to curl his effort into the woodwork.

Smith conjured the Phoenix’s first real chance of the half when the English born midfielder crossed for Brown who headed towards goal but directed the effort wide.

Wellington continued to push for an equaliser with Brown who drove an effort towards goal but Velaphi pulled off a great save to deny the New Zealand international.

Substitute Cernak was found on the wing and tested Paston again but the 35-year-old ‘keeper denied the Olyroo.

Just before the break Thompson, who hasn’t scored in nine games, fired wide once again. Like on many occasions the Socceroo used his pace to get past Sigmund before lobbing just wide of the net.

Two minutes after the break Wellington through Brown had a huge chance to equalise from a Lochhead cross but the former Newcastle Jet miss-timed his jump to head over.

But Victory through Harry Kewell and Thompson looked to extend their lead.

Kewell first with a thundering effort over Paston’s net before Hernandez set up Thompson only for the Socceroo to fire straight at Paston.

But Victory were awarded with their second goal when a brilliant Jimmy Jeggo ball played in Thompson who fired a low ball across to the on rushing Cernak who finished.

Lochhead next pushed forward for the Phoenix but Velaphi was behind to deny the fullback.

Luck was on the host’s side on 66 minutes when the ball fell for Thompson to have another crack but the luck wasn’t with the 33-year-old at the right time as he fired his volley over the top of the net.

Cernak next almost scored a brace with a great volley at the back post but Paston made a great save to deny the winger.

On 80 minutes former Bayern Munich academy product Julius Davies came on for Kewell to make his A-League debut.

Four minutes after coming Davies could have scored on debut but Sigmund got onto the line to clear to deny the debutant who was born in Liberia.

With one minute to go Jeggo extended the lead with a stunning first-time effort in off the post from outside of the box to score his debut goal.

Victory were able to hold on for Magilton’s second win in charge in their last home game of the season.

Melbourne Victory coach Jim Magillton “Really, really pleased and really proud of the players, really happy for them because it is not easy for them. Playing for Melbourne Victory is not easy, who said it was? It’s a privilege and they dealt with it really well tonight so delighted for them. ”

Match details

Friday, 16 March 2012
Melbourne Victory 3 (Carlos Hernandez 11’, Isaka Cernak 58’, James Jeggo 90’) Wellington Phoenix 0
Venue: AAMI Park
Local kick-off: 8:00pm
Attendance: 11,231

Referees: Chris Beath
Assistant referees: Luke Brennan & George Lakrindis
Fourth official: Lucien Laverdure

Melbourne Victory squad:
1. Tando Velaphi, 2. Matthew Foschini, 3. Fabio, 5. Mark Milligan, 10. Archie Thompson, 11. Marco Rojas (19. Isaka Cernak 19’), 13. Diogo Ferreira, 16. Carlos Hernandez (4. Petar Franjic 90’), 17.Jimmy Jeggo, 22. Harry Kewell (29. Julius Davies 80’), 24. Ubay Luzardo

Unused substitutes: 21. Ante Covic

Yellow cards: Diogo Ferreira 90 + 2’

Red cards: Nil

Wellington Phoenix squad:
1. Mark Paston, 2. Manny Muscat, 3. Tony Lochhead, 6. Tim Brown, 7. Leo Bertos, 8. Paul Ifill, 9. Chris Greenacre (14. Mirjan Pavlovic 65’), 17. Vince Lia, 18. Ben Sigmund, 21. Dani Sanchez (12. Nicky Ward 71’), 22. Andrew Durante, 24. Alex Smith (7. Leo Bertos 65’)

Unused substitutes: 20, Tony Warner

Yellow cards: Vince Lia 25’, tony Lochhead 41’, Chris Greenacre 63’, Paul Ifill 90 + 3’

Red cards: Nil.

Report also here