Melbourne Victory Men’s prepare to take on Perth Glory in a second pre-season friendly, this time in Bunbury on Wednesday, September 24.
Prevailing over the Glory 1-0 in Mandurah, thanks to a clinical finish from Jordi Valadon, Melbourne Victory will be determined to go two from two against Perth as Isuzu UTE A-League preparations heat up.
Melbourne Victory
With starting debuts for new signings Denis Genreau and Matthew Grimaldi, as well as Jack Warshawsky and Oliver Dragicevic off the bench, Victory’s hit-out against the Glory in Mandurah was full of positives.
While Victory took time to settle into the game, aided by some impressive goalkeeping by Jack Duncan and bright sparks from winger Keegan Jelacic, Arthur Diles’ men came out improved in the second 45.
Fresh off becoming the youngest-ever Men’s player to receive the Victory Medal and helping the Australian U23 national team qualify for the Asian Cup, 22-year-old midfielder Jordi Valadon scored the game’s only goal just after the restart with an unstoppable shot into the bottom corner.
Minutes were provided off the bench for teenagers Malik Olukhale, Xavier Stella and Oliver Dragicevic, all receiving vital match experience against A-League Men’s opponents.
Closing out the game well and holding out for the win against Perth, the Vuck will certainly be pleased with the hit-out in Mandurah and aim to continue their momentum into Bunbury on Wednesday night.
Travelling Squad: 2. Jason DAVIDSON, 3. Adama TRAORÉ, 4. Lachlan JACKSON, 8. Jordi VALADON, 9. Nikos VERGOS, 10. Denis GENREAU, 11. SANTOS, 14. Matthew GRIMALDI, 17. Nishan VELUPILLAY, 19. Jing REEC, 21. Roderick MIRANDA, 22. Joshua RAWLINS, 23. Keegan JELACIC, 25. Jack DUNCAN, 27. Louis D’ARRIGO, 28. Kayne RAZMOVSKI, 31. Daniel LAZAREVSKI, 40. Oskar VON SCHRENK, 41. Malik OLUKHALE, 42. Xavier STELLA, 43. Oliver DRAGICEVIC, 44. George MIHAILIDIS, 50. Jack WARSHAWSKY, 64. Juan MATA
Perth Glory
Pushing Victory right until the end in Mandurah, Perth Glory will certainly have the hunger to enact revenge in Bunbury.
Utilising a starting XI with six off-season recruits, the new-look Glory certainly impressed at Peelwood Reserve and felt they could have come away with a result, denied by some impressive stops by Jack Duncan, resolute Victory defending and the woodwork following an audacious long-range strike from Sam Sutton.
Hosting the boys in blue once again, this time around at Hay Park, David Zdrilic’s side will hope to have another great clash against the Vuck in Bunbury.
