Melbourne Victory fell to defeat in their Round 23 Isuzu UTE A-League clash with Wellington Phoenix.
Substitute Sander Kartum netted an 89th-minute goal for the visitors to settle a tight contest.
Arthur Diles’ men went scoreless for the first time in two months, with the Boys in Blue limited to speculative shots at AAMI Park on Sunday afternoon.
Team News
The Head Coach landed on two changes from the XI that started against Central Coast Mariners. Keegan Jelacic came in for Santos, and Nikos Vergos was rewarded for his goal in Round 22 with a start over Charles Nduka. The fit-again Louis D’Arrigo was on the bench,
Match Action
Wellington opened on the front foot, winning a corner through Ifeanyi Eze’s perseverance, although this was well-taken above the heads by Jack Warshawsky.
Their following set-piece delivery, after Sebastian Esposito had impressively retreated to clear in front of his own goal, asked more questions, and Corban Piper’s connection spurted up to hit the crossbar.
Growing into the contest, Victory’s first shot in anger would come through the recalled Jelacic. He navigated space smartly in the area but fired wide.
Unfortunately, the next key event was a concerning one, with Esposito, who had received treatment for a head knock earlier in the piece, being withdrawn for Jason Davidson.
The delay halted momentum, but the hosts were able to regain some of this as the half drew toward its conclusion. Both Denis Genreau and Jordi Valadon forced opposition goalkeeper Josh Oluwayemi into smart saves as they shot from distance.
Half-time: Melbourne Victory 0-0 Wellington Phoenix
Diles opted for a half-time change, introducing Nduka in place of Vergos to give his frontline an alternative dimension versus a stubborn Nix defence.
The home team were, though, struggling to get in behind, and when a chance did present itself, Franco Lino was off-target from an unfavourable angle.
Seeking more, especially after Paulo Retre had threatened from range, D’arrigo, Matt Grimaldi and Reno Piscopo were all called on, as Genreau, Jelacic and Velupillay departed the scene.
But it was a starter, and one of Victory’s most influential forces who would go closest first, with Jordi Valadon fizzing an attempt goalwards, which just faded away at the last. Piscopo tried his luck twice, the first being blocked before another was swallowed up by Oluwayemi. He then had a swirling corner punched away by the ‘keeper from under his own crossbar.
At the other end, Bill Tuiloma, having broken free from Joshua Rawlins’ attentions, headed wide at a corner when the goal beckoned.
This was a warning sign that Victory failed to read, and Kartum smuggled some room inside the penalty area, volleying in Eze’s cross with 60 seconds of regular time remaining.
Match Details
Melbourne Victory 1
Wellington Phoenix (KARTUM 89′)
Melbourne Victory starting XI: 40. Jack WARSHAWSKY (GK), 22. Joshua RAWLINS, 21. Roderick MIRANDA (C), 15. Sebastian ESPOSITO (2. Jason DAVIDSON 22′), 18. Franco LINO, 8. Jordi VALADON, 10. Denis GENREAU (27. Louis D’Arrigo 68′), 17. Nishan VELUPILLAY (14. Matthew GRIMALDI 68′), 23. Keegan JELACIC (7. Reno PISCOPO 68′), 64. Juan MATA (11. SANTOS 88′), 9. Nikolaos VERGOS (44. Charles NDUKA 46′).
Substitutes not used: 25. Jack DUNCAN (GK).
Booking: GENREAU 34′, VELUPILLAY 54′.
Wellington Phoenix starting XI: 1. Joshua OLUWAYEMI (GK), 3. Corban PIPER (29. Luke BROOKE-SMITH 83′), 7. Ifeanyi EZE (4. Manjrekar JAMES 90′), 8. Paulo RETRE (5. Fin ROA CONCHIE 83′), 12. Daniel EDWARDS (18. Lukas KELLY-HEALD 61′), 14. Alex RUFER (C), 15. Isaac HUGHES, 20. Ramy NAJJARINE (16. Sander KARTUM 73′), 25. Kazuki NAGASAWA (11. Carlo ARMIENTO 83′), 27. Matthew SHERIDAN, 28. Bill TUILOMA.
Substitutes not used: 30. Albert KELLY-HEALD (GK).
Booking: RUFER 76′.
Coming soon
For the final time in the 2025/26 regular season, Victory, fresh from visiting Auckland FC next weekend, are back at AAMI Park in just shy of a fortnight for a clash with league leaders Newcastle Jets.
