Melbourne Victory visit Wellington Phoenix in Matchweek 2 of the Ninja A-League.
Across the ditch, Jeff Hopkins and co. will be chasing another three points on the road to continue their positive start to the 2026/27 season, following last weekend’s success away to Western Sydney Wanderers.
Alana Jančevski, deployed upfield after spending last term at full-back, hit the winning goal from a stunning first-half free kick, whilst it was another impressive free kick that consigned the Phoenix to a home defeat versus Melbourne City.
Supporters can watch the contest against the 2025/26 runners-up live on Paramount+ on Sunday, October 25, kick-off 10:15am AEDT.
The Girls in Blue
Melbourne Victory were able to exercise the success of their off-season recruitment in New South Wales on Saturday afternoon, with five of the team’s six new signings taking to the field at Wanderers Football Park.
However, it was a familiar face who produced the moment that mattered in New South Wales, with Alana Jančevski’s sixth goal for the Club enough to beat Western Sydney Wanderers in Matchweek 1.
The adaptable left-sider was restored to a more advanced position for the curtain raiser, having spent most of the previous campaign at left-back, as the experienced Angie Beard made her second debut for the Club in the vacated defensive berth.
This added know-how to a rearguard platformed by recent Matilda call-up goalkeeper Courtney Newbon and centre-back pillars Captain, Kayla Morrison, and Claudia Bunge. The latter was withdrawn with a suspected injury during the second half interstate, but Jeff Hopkins has confirmed this was just a cramp.
MW2 squad: 1. Courtney NEWBON, 2. Skye LEACH, 3. Claudia BUNGE, 4. Chelsea BLISSETT, 7. Ella O’GRADY, 8. Sophie HARDING, 9. Holly FURPHY, 10. Sienna SAVESKA, 11. Nicki FLANNERY, 13. Angela BEARD, 14. Alicia WOODS, 16. Anna SUTTER, 18. Kayla MORRISON, 19. Zoe MCMEEKEN, 21. Jasmine MILLAR, 25. Ayana AOYAGI, 28. Sienna TECHERA, 30. Chloe MCKENZIE, 31. Shaylee LANE, 66. Alana JANCEVSKI.
Ins: 11. Nicki FLANNERY.
Outs: N/A.
Unavailable: 88. Grace, MAHER (leg), 17. Poppy, O’KEEFFE (foot), 20. Leyla, HUSSEIN (international duty).
Last time out
Melbourne Victory proved too much for Western Sydney Wanderers on the first outing of the 2026/27 Ninja A-League season.
The Girls in Blue, despite taking maximum points by a single-goal margin, exerted control throughout, deservedly striking through Alana Jančevski’s curling 32nd-minute free kick.
And when the hosts did find some attacking flow, Courtney Newbon reacted smartly to keep out Wanderers’ Talia Younis at close quarters.
Wellington Phoenix were unable to hold out against defending Champions Melbourne City in a rematch of the 2026 Grand Final.
A-League All Star Makala Woods opened the scoring, finishing a bouncing ball with aplomb just seven minutes into the second 45, but this would eventually be wiped out by the visitors.
Striker Melina Ayres equalised from the penalty spot, despite the best efforts of goalkeeper Victoria Esson, before Momo Hayashi’s punchy free kick won it for City late on.
