Melbourne Victory resumes its A-League season with another trip to New South Wales to face the Wellington Phoenix on Wednesday.
Summary
Victory last played outside its home state on February 10, and its encounter away to Sydney FC, scheduled for Saturday, was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.
As it aims to end a three-game losing streak, Victory heads back to New South Wales to face Wellington at WIN Stadium in Wollongong.
Grant Brebner’s side was last in action on March 13, when it suffered a 3-1 loss to Adelaide United.
Jake Brimmer’s tremendous free-kick – his fourth league goal of the season – put Victory ahead before it fell to defeat.
Victory captain Leigh Broxham is suspended for the clash against Wellington after picking up his fifth yellow card of the campaign against Adelaide.
Defender Aaron Anderson, 20, came off injured in the second half against Adelaide, but was named in the squad to face Sydney.
Meanwhile, Rudy Gestede – whose brace inspired a win over the Phoenix last month – was left out of that squad due to a knee injury.
Victory has lost just one of its past nine meetings with Wellington, winning three.
Player in focus
Last time
A-League 2020/21
Melbourne Victory 2-0 Wellington Phoenix
Wednesday, February 24, 2021
AAMI Park, Melbourne
Victory’s most recent win came against Wellington last month.
Gestede headed in two Jake Brimmer corners either side of half-time to secure three points for Victory.
As it stands
Head to head
Round 9, 2020/21: Victory 2-0 Phoenix at AAMI Park
Round 23, 2019/20: Phoenix 3-0 Victory at Sky Stadium
Round 10, 2019/20: Victory 0-0 Phoenix at AAMI Park
Round 5, 2019/20: Victory 1-1 Phoenix at AAMI Park
Elimination Final, 2018/19: Victory 3-1 Phoenix at AAMI Park
Match details
Wellington Phoenix v Melbourne Victory
WIN Stadium, Wollongong
Wednesday, March 24, 2021
Kick-off: 7.05pm AEDT
Melbourne Victory squad: 1.Matt ACTON (gk), 2.Storm ROUX , 3.Adama TRAORE, 4.Nicholas ANSELL, 7.Callum McMANAMAN, 8.Jacob BUTTERFIELD, 10.Robbie KRUSE, 11.Ben FOLAMI, 13.Birkan KIRDAR, 14.Jay BARNETT, 15.Aaron ANDERSON, 16.Brandon LAUTON, 17.Elvis KAMSOBA, 20.Max CROCOMBE (gk), 22.Jake BRIMMER, 25.Luis LAWRIE-LATTANZIO, 26. Lleyton BROOKS, 33.Dalibor MARKOVIC, 35.Zaydan BELLO
**1-3 to be omitted**
In: 4.Nicholas ANSELL (promoted), 17.Elvis KAMSOBA (Promoted), 26. Lleyton BROOKS (promoted)
Out: 6.Leigh BROXHAM (suspended), 9.Rudy GESTEDE (injured – knee)
Unavailable: 5.Ryan SHOTTON (injured – groin), 19.Dylan RYAN (injured – knee), 23.Marco ROJAS (injured – fractured leg)
