Wellington Phoenix v Melbourne Victory
Date: Wednesday August 6
Kick-off (local time): 7:30 pm local
Venue: Westpac Stadium, Wellington
Head-to-head
Three A-League meetings: Melbourne Victory - 1 win, Draws - 2
One Pre-Season Cup meeting: Wellington 1 win
Previous meeting
Melbourne Victory 3 Wellington Phoenix 0, Round 19, 2008
Pre-season Cup Results
Wellington:
Round 1: Wellington Phoenix 1 Central Coast Mariners 0 Westpac Stadium Sunday July 20
Round 2: Queensland Roar 1, Wellington Phoenix 1, Sunshine Coast, Saturday July 26
Round 3: Sydney FC 2, Wellington Phoenix 3, WIN Stadium, Wollongong, Saturday August 2
Melbourne:
Round 1: Melbourne Victory 1 Adelaide United 2, Aurora Stadium, Sunday July 20
Round 2: Perth Glory 0 Melbourne Victory 1, Members Equity Stadium, Saturday July 26
Round 3: Newcastle Jets 0 Melbourne Victory 1, Port Macquarie, Saturday August 2
Previous Pre-season Cup Results
Wellington:
2007: Sixth (Lost to Newcastle 4-2 on pens in fifth-placed playoff)
Melbourne:
2007: Eighth (Lost to Sydney 1-0 in seventh-place playoff)
2006: Fifth (Defeated Perth 1-0 in fifth-place playoff)
2005: Semi-finals (Lost to Central Coast 3-1)
Analysis
Wellington has a shot at its first-ever trophy on Wednesday and the club will be hoping the locals come along for the ride in what could be a defining moment for the fledgling franchise. Ricki Herbert has done a superb job considering just over 12 months ago, the Phoenix hadn't played a game. While they did eventually prop up the ladder last year, Herbert invoked an enterprising style of play which has given his young squad confidence.
That confidence has continued into this pre-season, with three very good results to date. The win over the Mariners was all about getting the job done, while the draw with Queensland showed the determination this club has to get good results. But the 3-2 win over glamour club Sydney, away from home served as a considerable reminder to the rest of the league that this is not a team to be trifled with. Shrewd off-season signings and Herbert's insistence on positive football have seen Wellington take a considerable leap.
Unfortunately for the Phoenix, one of those new signings, Andrew Durante, was sent off late in the match against Sydney and won't play here, but Jon McKain comes back in, as does Karl Dodd.
Melbourne has been quietly going about its business this pre-season, unluckily losing to Adelaide in the opening match before solid 1-0 wins against Perth and Newcastle. While its progress hasn't been as spectacular as Wellington, the development of new signings Michael Thwaite, Jose Luis Lopez and Ney Fabiano has been pleasing for coach Ernie Merrick. Thwaite and Fabiano have both scored in the pre-season, while another 'new' face, Tom Pondeljak, did the job late in last week's game against Newcastle.
More importantly, Victory are looking more imposing up the other end, and have not conceded a goal in their past two matches. Thwaite has settled in well beside Rody Vargas, while Seb Ryall has continued to grow in the off-season
Five of Merrick's men picked up bookings in the group stage, but none are missing for this. The Victory coach has had basically the same squad to work with throughout the three matches and there is a real settled feeling among the team, despite the absence of skipper Kevin Muscat, who has missed every game thanks to an untimely hamstring tear.
The concern for Melbourne, which is bidding to become the first Hyundai A-League club to win all three trophies, is the constant travelling the team has endured in the pre-season. They have been 'on-the-road' for a good month now and while Merrick insists that's good for morale, there must be a little bit of travel fatigue settling in. Given Wellington's comeback win last week, that might prove crucial in the final few minutes if it is a tight game.
The good folks at Fox Sports have agreed to show this one on live and with both teams having plenty to prove, it will be compulsory viewing for those football fans on the eastern side of the Tasman. With the Olympics just days away, here's a real Trans-Tasman battle to whet your appetite.
Match Details:
Referee: Peter O'Leary
Assistant Referees: Brent Best and Glen Lochrie
Fourth Official: Mark Rule
Melbourne Victory Squad: 1.Michael THEOKLITOS (gk), 3.Michael THWAITE, 4.Steven PACE, 5.Sebastian RYALL, 7.Matthew KEMP, 9.Danny ALLSOPP, 11.NEY FABIANO, 12.Rodrigo VARGAS (Captain), 13.Nathan ELASI, 15.Tom PONDELJAK, 16.Carlos HERNANDEZ, 17.Jose Luis LOPEZ, 19.Evan BERGER, 20.Mitchell LANGERAK (gk), 22.Nick WARD
Unavailable: Kevin MUSCAT (hamstring – 1 week), Grant BREBNER (groin – indefinite), Archie THOMPSON (Olympic duty), Billy CELESKI (Olympic duty), Leigh BROXHAM (Olympic duty), Daniel VASILEVSKI (hip – 3 weeks).
Wellington Phoenix Squad: 1. Mark PASTON (gk), 2. Jeremy CHRISTIE, 4. Jon McKAIN (captain), 5. Karl DODD, 7. Leo BERTOS, 8, Vaughan COVENY, 9. Shane SMELTZ, 10. Michael FERRANTE, 11. DANIEL, 12. Richard JOHNSON, 13. Troy HEARFIELD, 18. Ben SIGMUND, 20. Glen MOSS (gk), 21. Leilei GAO, 25. Manny MUSCAT, 27. Adam KWASNIK * one to be omitted
In: 4. Jon McKAIN (return from injury), 5. Karl DODD (return from suspension)
Out: 24. Andrew DURANTE (suspended)
Unavailable: 3. Tony LOCHHEAD (overseas trial – 1 week), 17. Vince LIA (knee – season)