Melbourne Victory Crush Wellington Phoenix 5-1 at AAMI Park

Melbourne Victory delivered a decisive performance on March 18, 2024, defeating Wellington Phoenix 5-1 at AAMI Park. This heavy loss marks a significant setback for the Phoenix, who are now positioned at 10th on the A-League Men ladder, facing mounting pressure on coach Giancarlo Italiano. The defeat follows a brief moment of optimism after their recent 3-1 victory against the Central Coast Mariners.

The match began poorly for Wellington, as they were forced to start 18-year-old goalkeeper Eamonn McCarron due to an injury to first-choice keeper Josh Oluwayemi. Just seven minutes into the game, Nikos Vergos scored the first of his three goals, capitalizing on a defensive lapse to head the ball past McCarron. Vergos showcased his aerial prowess, scoring two of his goals with headers.

Wellington managed to equalize in the 29th minute, thanks to a mistake from veteran defender Jason Davidson. After a short goal kick, Davidson miscontrolled the ball, allowing Ramy Najjarine to seize the opportunity and score. Unfortunately for the Phoenix, this momentary spark was not enough to shift the momentum of the match.

Three minutes before halftime, Vergos struck again, regaining the lead for Melbourne. He completed his hat-trick shortly after the second half began, effectively putting the game out of reach for Wellington. Clarismario Santos extended the lead in the 55th minute, taking advantage of another defensive error. Santos celebrated his goal with a backflip, further emphasizing the home team’s dominance.

The Phoenix’s woes continued as they lost captain Alex Rufer to a knee injury during the match, raising concerns about his availability for their upcoming game against the Brisbane Roar. Coach Italiano will be eager to see if Rufer can recover in time, especially as the team struggles to find form in the league.

The final score was rounded off in the 90th minute when Keegan Jelacic scored, sealing a comprehensive victory for Melbourne. This match marks Victory’s largest win over Wellington since a 6-1 triumph in 2016.

As the Phoenix prepare to face the third-placed Brisbane Roar in Redcliffe, they will need to regroup and find a way to bounce back from this disappointing loss. The match is set to be part of a double-header alongside the Phoenix women’s team, who will also be looking for a vital win.