Melbourne Victory suffered a 3-0 defeat at Marvel Stadium to newly promoted Championship club, Wrexham AFC.
Returning to action to kick off our first pre-season friendly in preparation for the 2025/26 season, Victory started with a familiar lineup.
While new signings Keegan Jelacic and Louis D’Arrigo were brought straight into the starting XI, playing alongside experienced heads such as captain Roderick Miranda and Adama Traoré.
The Vuck started well against the Red Dragons, matching up well and creating several early chances.
Brazilian winger Santos was lively from the kick-off, forcing former Arsenal goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo into an important save in the 3rd minute.
The new additions to the side had a few moments of magic, notably with Louis D’Arrigo playing a perfectly weighted ball over the top of Wrexham’s defensive line to find Santos.
Keegan Jelacic was involved in some positive interplay in and around the visitors’ box, with one chance enabling Nikos Vergos to find space for a shot he couldn’t direct on target.
Carrying the ball through the middle of the park in transition, Zinédine Machach put Okonkwo to the test once more with a powerful strike on goal that earned Victory a corner kick.
However, Wrexham would progressively grow into the game and create chances of their own.
Jack Duncan pulled off a superb stretching save in the 26th minute to deny a certain goal, while Wrexham’s Seb Revan struck the side netting a few minutes past the half-hour mark.
The Welsh-based club brought physicality and industry to the match, with 20-year-old defender Joshua Inserra challenging for battles consistently down the right flank.
The first substitution was made in the 37th minute after Santos copped an unexpected falcon, with attacker Jing Reec the replacement.
While Jack Duncan would make another excellent save from a corner delivery in the 42nd minute, Wrexham would find the opener one minute later, thanks to Tom O’Connor.
It was an important goal for the Red Dragons, who entered the break a goal up.
Coming into the second half, both sides certainly turned to their benches to make an array of changes.
Arthur Diles brought youngsters Daniel Graskoski, Jack Mihailidis, Parker Williams, Toby Obani, Patrick Wall, Tommaso Minutoli and Evan Souris into the action, while the Red Dragons changed their entire XI.
Wrexham’s influence on the game grew with experienced heads on the field, such as captain James McClean and former Premier League goalkeeper, Danny Ward.
Reaching the hour mark, Victory did well to keep the visitors out.
In the 64th minute, Victory’s lineup became entirely academy-based, with teenagers John Radimisis, Damien Bozinovski, and Charlie Gorevski all receiving first-team opportunities.
While a great moment for the young group, the ruthless Red Dragons continued to push and punished the Young Vucks after new signing Ryan Hardie scored his first goal for the club in the 66th minute.
Daniel Lazarevski was Victory’s final substitute to be brought into the action with just under 20 minutes remaining, testing himself against top opposition.
Proving their quality once more, Wrexham added a third to their tally in the 78th minute after George Evans’ shot caught out the Young Vucks.
In the final moments, substitute Lazarevski had a promising moment after being played through on goal by Jack Mihailidis, firing a good strike on goal that earned his team a corner kick.
However, the referee shortly after blew the full-time whistle on a tough challenge for Victory in their pre-season building.
Taking on international opposition in front of over 37 thousand fans at Marvel Stadium, it will ultimately be a big learning experience for the squad, who will turn their attention to Caroline Springs George Cross on Tuesday, July 15.
Match Details
International Friendly
Melbourne Victory 0
Wrexham AFC 3 (O’Connor 43′, Hardie 66′, Evans 78′)
Melbourne Victory Starting XI: 25. Jack DUNCAN (GK), 3. Adama TRAORÉ, 8. Zinédine MACHACH, 9. Nikos VERGOS, 11. SANTOS, 14. Jordi VALADON, 16. Joshua INSERRA, 21. Roderick MIRANDA (C), 22. Joshua RAWLINS, 23. Keegan JELACIC, 27. Louis D’ARRIGO
Substitutes: 30. Daniel GRASKOSKI (GK) (46′), 40. Oskar VON SCHRENK (GK), 19. Jing REEC (37′), 31. Daniel LAZAREVSKI (71′), 33. Jack MIHAILIDIS (46′), 34. John RADIMISIS (64′), 35. Damien BOZINOVSKI (64′), 36. Parker WILLIAMS (46′), 37. Toby OBANI (46′), 38. Patrick WALL (46′), 39. Charlie GOREVSKI (64′), 42. Tommaso MINUTOLI (46′), 43. Evan SOURIS (46′), 44. George MIHAILIDIS
Wrexham AFC Starting XI: 1. Arthur OKONKWO (GK), 4. Max CLEWORTH, 6. Tom O’CONNOR, 9. Ollie PALMER, 11. Jack MARRIOTT, 15. George DOBSON, 23. Seb REVAN, 24. Dan SCARR, 37. Matty JAMES, 38. Elliot LEE, 47. Ryan LONGMAN
Substitutes: 21. Danny WARD (GK) (46′), 3. Lewis BRUNT (46′), 5. Eoghan O’CONNELL (46′), 7. James MCCLEAN (46′), 12. George EVANS (46′), 18. Ryan HARDIE (46′), 19. Jacob MENDY (46′), 20. Oliver RATHBONE (46′), 29. Ryan BARNETT (46′), 34. Aaron JAMES (46′), 40. Alex MOORE, 42. Callum EDWARDS (88′), 44. Max PURVIS, 45. Harry ASHFIELD (46′)
