A youthful-looking Melbourne Victory have eased through their latest pre-season test, defeating Port Melbourne 2-0 on Tuesday.
A youthful-looking Melbourne Victory have eased through their latest pre-season test, defeating Port Melbourne 2-0 on Tuesday.
Isaka Cernak, Carlos Hernandez and Marco Rojas were among those rested for the match at JL Murphy Reserve, with striker Archie Thompson captaining a starting XI that included youth-team graduates Nick Ansell and Jimmy Jeggo.
But it was experienced heads Danny Allsopp and Leigh Broxham who got the decisive goals for the Victory, handing the two-time A-League premiers their first win of the pre-season campaign after a 1-0 loss to Celtic on July 13.
Fellow first-team regulars Billy Celeski and Tom Pondeljak carved out the early chances for the Victory, with the latter’s shot on 15 minutes beating the State League 1 side’s goalkeeper.
The woodwork came to the Sharks custodian’s rescue, and the rebound failed to fall to the advantage of Danny Allsopp.
In a familiar sight, Thompson and Allsopp combined to set up the next chance of note for the Victory, only for some astute defending to come to Port’s rescue.
There was no such luck for the home team on 35 minutes, when Allsopp’s rocket from outside the box found the back of the net.
Captain Adrian Leijer, Jean Carlos Solorzano, Broxham and Matthew Foschini were among those introduced at the break, and it took just five minutes for the substitutes to make their mark.
Foschini’s cross was met well by the head of Costa Rican striker Solorzano but found the crossbar, only for Broxham to poke home.
Port Melbourne twice tried to test Victory goalkeeper Tando Velaphi from distance but the efforts flew just wide, while Solorzano sent another header just off target on 72 minutes as the match finished 2-0.
The Victory’s next pre-season test comes in the form of Springvale White Eagles on August 24.