Melbourne Victory is aiming to build on its solid start to the NPL2 West season when it hosts the Moreland Zebras on Sunday.
Victory is fifth on the table through three games, having rebounded from its loss to open the season.
Since its loss to the North Geelong Warriors, Victory has beaten Brunswick City and drawn at Altona Magic.
It was unable to find a breakthrough at Altona, holding the host to a scrappy 0-0 draw.
The result marked Victory’s first clean sheet since early last season in a positive sign.
Led by goalkeeper Matthew Sutton, who recently signed with the club as a scholarship player, and central defenders Cameron McGilp and Benjamin Carrigan, Victory earned a hard-fought point in Altona.
The Zebras have collected five points from their opening three games this season.
Victory and Moreland met twice in 2017, drawing their first clash before the Zebras won the second.
Head coach Gareth Naven
“Players are learning, getting better at defending and invested in it, which is as important as ball possession. It’s just about getting the players to maintain that – which they’re capable of doing – and focusing on it and at the same time, it’s important that we still want to pass the ball, try and score goals, but the defending enables us to do those things that I mention.”
This week
NPL2 West 2018 Round 4
Melbourne Victory v Moreland Zebras
Sunday, March 11, 3.00pm AEDT
Epping Stadium, Melbourne
U20 NPL2 West 2018 Round 4
Melbourne Victory v Moreland Zebras
Sunday, March 11, 12.30pm AEDT
Epping Stadium, Melbourne
U18 NPL West 2018 Round 3
Bendigo City v Melbourne Victory
Saturday, March 10, 12.45pm AEDT
Epsom Huntly Recreation Reserve, Bendigo
U15 NPL West 2018 Round 3
Bendigo City v Melbourne Victory
Saturday, March 10, 11.00am AEDT
Epsom Huntly Recreation Reserve, Bendigo
Last week
NPL2 West: Altona Magic 0 Victory 0
U20 NPL2 West: Altona Magic 1 Victory 1 (Morton 33′)
U18 NPL West: Victory 8 (Constantinou 18′, Georgiadis 19’/48′, Tsafkas 25’/73′, Dinatale 31′, Bassal 75′, Ciantar 88′) St Albans Saints 0
U15 NPL West: Victory 1 (Siccita 47′) St Albans Saints 1
