Melbourne Victory will be looking to continue their winning run on Sunday afternoon when they host Caroline Springs George Cross at Epping Stadium.
Match Details
Melbourne Victory v Caroline Springs George Cross
Date: Sunday 23 June
Time: 2pm (AEST)
Location: Epping Stadium
Ticket Information
| Ticket Type | Price |
| Members | FREE |
| Adult | $10 |
| Concession | $5 |
| Junior under 14 | FREE |
Preview
Victory’s first game at Epping Stadium in over a month sees the two teams promoted from NPL3 last season going head to head.
Joe Palatsides’ team have returned to winning ways in recent weeks, claiming all three points against both Eastern Lions and North Geelong Warriors away from home.
Last weekend’s meeting with North Geelong posed a major challenge to Victory, who were pegged back twice by their hosts before eventually getting over the line to win 3-2.
Adem Duratović put his side in front early, before a resurgent Warriors outfit scored the equaliser and looked likely to go ahead before the break, but Tommaso Minutoli returned Victory to the lead against the run of play.
Nonetheless, the team sitting bottom of the ladder continued to toil, equalising again in the second half, before a late Luka Kolić strike finally sealed the win for Victory.
The three points maintained a five point lead on top of the VPL1 table for Palatsides’ side, who are looking to hold off Western United, Preston Lions and Northcote City in the battle for top spot.
Sunday’s game will see Victory take on George Cross, who head into the weekend’s fixtures in 12th position on the ladder.
The tight nature of VPL1 though means that a win for Georgies could lift them as high as ninth spot by the end of the weekend.
George Cross are coming to the end of a run of seven consecutive away games, most recently having drawn 0-0 with Bulleen Lions.
Whilst the season has not always gone smoothly for Georgies, the earlier meeting between two promoted teams this season will ensure Victory do not take Sunday’s game lightly.
A 0-0 draw at City Vista was one of Victory’s harder-fought points from the campaign and remains one of only two games this season in which Victory have failed to score.
The ladder-leaders will be hoping to go one better this weekend, with every point crucial as the season edges towards its conclusion.
