Victory v Springvale White Eagles
Epping Stadium
Saturday, June 25, 2022
Kick-off: 3:00pm AEST
Preview
Melbourne Victory will attempt to extend their NPLM 3 unbeaten run to four matches when they play host to Springvale White Eagles this weekend.
Victory will be desperate to return to the winner’s list having only managed a draw from their clash with Box Hill United last week.
The trip to Wembley Park was a frustrating affair for Victory as a slow start proved costly, despite finishing the game as the stronger side.
Adem Duratovic scored Victory’s only goal when he pounced on a flick-on following a corner just after the hour mark.
Duratovic has now scored three goals in his last two games, making him one to watch for the Springvale defence.
The dropped points against Box Hill caused Victory to slip to third position on the NPLM 3 table and are now four points behind league-leaders Melbourne City.
Despite last week’s result, Victory have shown impressive form over recent months, losing only one of their last nine fixtures.
Victory will be confident of securing the three points against a struggling Springvale side who currently sit second-bottom on the table.
The White Eagles have lost three of their last four games and have not kept a clean sheet all season.
Nonetheless, the competitive nature of the division means Springvale should not be taken lightly.
The two sides met earlier in the season where Victory were able to come away with the 3-1 win thanks in large part to a double from Binyam Kebede.
With difficult matches coming up against direct promotion rivals, it is crucial that Victory pick up wins against teams lower down the table.
Player in focus
Binyam Kebede scored twice in the reverse fixture and will be hoping to replicate his performance from earlier in the season.
Coming up against the leakiest defence in the division, Kebede should view the contest as a prime opportunity to regain some of his goalscoring form.
This week
Women’s State League 4 West: Victory Afghan Women’s Team v ETA Buffalo (Sunday, June 26 at 3:00pm AEST at Ron Barassi Senior Reserve)
NPLM 3 Victoria: Melbourne Victory v Springvale White Eagles (Saturday, June 25 at 3:00pm AEST at Epping Stadium)
U21 NPLM 3 Victoria: Melbourne Victory v Springvale White Eagles (Saturday, June 25 at 12:30pm AEST at Epping Stadium)
U18 NPL 1: Northcote City v Melbourne Victory (Saturday, June 25 at 3:00pm at State Football Centre)
U16 NPL 1: Northcote City v Melbourne Victory (Saturday, June 25 at 1:00pm at State Football Centre)
U15 NPL 1: Northcote City v Melbourne Victory (Saturday, June 25 at 11:15am at State Football Centre)
U14 NPL 1: Bulleen Lions v Melbourne Victory (Saturday, June 25 at 10:00am at Veneto Club)
Last week
Women’s State League 4 West: Victory Afghan Women’s Team 8 Brimbank Stallions 0
NPLM 3 Victoria: Victory 1 Box Hill 1
U21 NPLM 3 Victoria: Victory 8 Box Hill 0
U18 NPL 1: Victory 5 Glen Eira 1
U16 NPL 1: Victory 0 Glen Eira 0
U15 NPL 1: Victory 3 Glen Eira 1
U14 NPL 1: Victory 6 Brunswick Juventus 0
