Mlebourne Victory were edged out by Western Sydney Wanderers at AAMI Park on Saturday night.
Kosta Barbarouses’ first-half penalty was the only goal of the Isuzu UTE A-League Round 12 contest, with Victory suffering a narrow defeat.
Arthur Diles’ side fell to defeat for the first time in six matches.
Team News
As Jack Duncan observed concussion protocol, Jack Warshawsky came in for his first Victory appearance, and young goalkeeper Daniel Graskoski was promoted to the substitutes.
In front of the debutant ‘keeper, Jason Davidson took both the armband and centre-back berth of the injured Roderick Miranda, with Adama Traore in at left-back. On the bench, there were places for Lachlan Jackson, birthday boy Kayne Razmovski, and the returning Reno Piscopo.
Match Action
The game was locked in a stalemate until Western Sydney scored a penalty in the 29th minute. Victory’s Santos was penalised for a handball, and Barbarouses stroked his spot kick down the middle to break the deadlock.
Until that intervention from the officials, wayward volleys from Joshua Brillante and Denis Genreau were the only notable goal attempts of a slow-burning opening 45, whilst a yellow card shown to Davidson – his fifth of the season – triggered a one-game suspension he will serve in next weekend’s Original Rivalry clash.
Hunting a second first-half equaliser in as many matches, Nishan Velupillay went close to picking out the bottom corner. The Socceroo shifted in from the right and, with Lawrence Thomas beaten, missed the far corner by fractions.
Then, the leftovers of a corner broke to Davidson, but his effort slammed into the side netting.
In stoppage time, an equaliser was again threatened. Juan Mata centred and Nikos Vergos connected, only for his low effort to be within Lawrence’s orbit.
Half-time: Melbourne Victory 0-1 Western Sydney Wanderers
Victory threatened first after the restart. Velupillay mazed his way into the penalty area, and despite his left-footed shot appearing to deflect behind, a goal kick was awarded.
The next opportunity came from a corner and was only kept out by Anthony Pantazopoulos’ goalline clearance. Genreau’s delivery located Mata at the far post, and his fiercely struck volley was headed away from under the crossbar.
Moments to equalise kept coming, and Santos was the latest to go close. Mata threaded a pass through that the Brazilian scampered on to, striking the outside of the post as the angle closed on him.
That would be both Santos’ and Mata’s last involvements, as Keegan Jelacic and Piscopo entered the action with just over a quarter of an hour remaining.
Against the run of play, Wanderers almost snuck a second. Kraev zoomed up the right and worked his way into the box, where he was foiled one-on-one by a superb Warshawsky stop.
Diles made further changes as the game ran down, introducing Grimaldi, Reec and, for his A-League debut, Razmovski.
However, the finishing touches narrowly evaded the Boys in Blue, falling 0-1 to the Wanderers in the end.
Match Details
Melbourne Victory 0
Western Sydney Wanderers 1 (BARBAROUSES 29′)
Melbourne Victory starting XI: 40. Jack WARSHAWSKY (GK), 3. Adama TRAORE, 2. Jason DAVIDSON (C), 15. Sebastian ESPOSITO, 16. Joshua INSERRA (28. Kayne RAZMOVSKI 88′), 10. Denis GENREAU (19. Jing REEC 88′), 27. Louis D’ARRIGO, 64. Juan MATA ( 7. Reno PISCOPO 73′), 11. Clerismario SANTOS RODRIGUES (23. Keegan JELACIC 73′), 9. Nikolaos VERGOS, 17. Nishan VELUPILLAY (14. Matthew GRIMALDI 81′).
Substitutes not used: 30. Daniel GRASKOSKI (GK), 4. Lachlan JACKSON.
Booking: DAVIDSON 12′, TRAORE 31′.
Western Sydney Wanderers starting XI: 20. Lawrence THOMAS (GK) (C), 3. Alex GERSBACH, 22. Anthony PANTAZOPOULOS, 19. Ruon TONGYIK, 17. Jarrod CARLUCCIO, 26. Brandon BORRELLO (37. Alaat ABDUL-RAHMAN 90+1′), 32. Angus THURGATE, 25. Joshua BRILLANTE (14. Phillip CANCAR 90+1′), 23. Bozhidar KRAEV, 9. Kosta BARBAROUSES (8. Steven UGARKOVIC 66′), 45. Alou KUOL (5. Dylan SCICLUNA 75′).
Substitutes not used: 30. Jordan HOLMES (GK), 24. Nathan BARRIE, 38. Jai ROSE.
Booking: KRAEV 47′, THURGATE 76′.
Coming soon
After facing Adelaide United away on Saturday, January 17, kick-off 7:35pm AEDT, in an A-League Women’s and Men’s double header, it is time for the Big Blue against Sydney FC at AAMI Park.
