Melbourne Victory host Wellington Phoenix in Round 23 of the Isuzu UTE A-League on Sunday, April 5, kick-off 3pm AEST.
The Boys in Blue are pushing for another AAMI Park maximum, which would both secure a third win of the season over the Phoenix and potentially close the gap to second-placed Auckland FC to a single point.
Victory, before March’s international window, recorded successive home wins over Macarthur FC and Central Coast Mariners to extend their unbeaten run to seven matches.
Wellington were also in the winners’ enclosure following Rounds 21 and 22, celebrating successes against Perth Glory and Brisbane Roar to keep them in Finals contention.
The Boys in Blue
Melbourne Victory are in sparkling form, with no team in the Isuzu UTE A-League being on a better run than Arthur Diles’ side as the jostling for position in the top six intensifies.
This hot streak started on February’s visit to Wellington Phoenix, when a five-goal game went the way of the visitors, thanks to goals from Sebastian Esposito, Nishan Velupillay and Louis D’Arrigo.
That was the latter’s last involvement before being sidelined by injury, but he is expected to return this weekend to bolster the midfield options at the Head Coach’s disposal.
During his absence, attacking midfielder Juan Mata has taken his contribution to a new level, recording 10 goal involvements in half a dozen matches. This included the go-ahead goal and an assist for Nikos Vergos versus Central Coast Mariners, as Victory overturned a half-time deficit to run out 4-1 winners.
Round 23 Squad: 2. Jason DAVIDSON, 4. Lachlan JACKSON, 5. Brendan HAMILL, 7. Reno PISCOPO, 8. Jordi VALADON, 9. Nikolaos VERGOS, 10. Denis GENREAU, 11. Clerismario SANTOS RODRIGUES, 14. Matthew GRIMALDI, 15. Sebastian ESPOSITO, 17. Nishan VELUPILLAY, 18. Franco LINO, 21. Roderick MIRANDA, 22. Joshua RAWLINS, 23. Keegan JELACIC, 25. Jack DUNCAN, 27. Louis D’ARRIGO, 40. Jack WARSHAWSKY, 44. Charles NDUKA, 64. Juan MATA
Ins: 27. Louis D’ARRIGO (Return from Injury)
Outs: 16. Joshua INSERRA (Injured)
Unavailable:Â 16. Joshua INSERRA (Injured), 19. Jing REEC (injured)
New-look Nix?
Following the dugout departure of Giancarlo Italiano in the aftermath of another damaging defeat to Auckland FC, Wellington Phoenix’s season was seriously threatening to unravel.
Italiano had been in charge for two-and-a-half seasons, which included a run to the semi-finals in 2024, but a sixth straight derby loss to Auckland, maintaining the Black Knights’ 100% Kiwi Classico record, proved to be the final straw.
He resigned around his post-match press conference, being replaced two days later by Chris Greenacre, who made 83 appearances for the club at the end of his playing career and had most recently been the Nix’s head of pro development and men’s reserves head coach.
His fourth stint as interim boss started with a defeat at Sydney FC as the team slipped to the bottom of the ladder before a significant upturn. Seven points from nine have catapulted them to within a point of sixth-place Macarthur, whom they visit on the final day of 2025/26.
Run it back
Melbourne Victory held off a late Wellington Phoenix fightback to win across the Tasman in early February.
Sebastian Esposito’s 10th-minute header put the away side ahead, and despite Carlo Armiento equalising, Victory would lead at the break thanks to Nishan Velupillay’s sharp, low finish.
This advantage was extended when substitute Louis D’Arrigo headed in an inviting Keegan Jelacic cross, with this third goal proving vital to the result as the Phoenix pulled one back late on.
Last time out
Melbourne Victory fought back to topple Central Coast Mariners at AAMI Park on the penultimate Saturday of March and record a second 4-1 win in as many matches.
Fresh from steamrolling Macarthur FC, the hosts gave the Mariners a first-half head start, with Sabit Ngor squeezing in an early opener.
This would be wiped out when Nishan Velupillay headed in a Roderick Miranda cross five minutes into the second half, and then overturned thanks to Juan Mata’s close-range header.
The scoreline was enhanced during injury time thanks to a solo run and finish from Nikos Vergos and Jason Davidson’s first goal of his second spell at the Club.
Wellington Phoenix sealed a valuable late away win in Round 22 to bolster their top-six hopes and dent those of Brisbane Roar.
James McGarry’s olimpico nudged the Roar a goal up at Suncorp Stadium before Corban Piper’s close-range header equalised this ahead of the interval.
Then, four minutes from time, with Brisbane committed upfield, Wellington launched a counterattack, finished off by leading scorer Ifeanyi Eze to seal back-to-back victories for the first time this term.
