Y-League wrap: Waring hat-trick sees Victory past Reds

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A Pierce Waring hat-trick helped Melbourne Victory to a come-from-behind 4-3 win over Adelaide United in the Foxtel Y-League.

Waring’s 10-minute hat-trick in the first half and a goal from 15-year-old Birkan Kirdar saw Victory to its win at Marden Sports Complex on Saturday.

The result extended Victory’s unbeaten run to four matches and saw it climb into second in Group A.

Victory head coach Gareth Naven was happy with his side’s performance, but said there were still areas to work on.

“Overall, we dominated the play, but we find ourselves 2-0 down from things that are really preventable,” he said.

“The efficiency of us on the ball to not give the ball away, the efficiency of us when we win the ball back to take the ball out of pressure and get it where there is an advantage for us, all the things we need to do eight out of 10, at times we do them four out of 10 then sometimes eight, then sometimes three, then sometimes one of out 10 and then back to seven, eight out of 10.

“It’s about performing more consistently and the players’ behaviours, being more consistent in their behaviour of play.

“The team pressed well in regards to what Adelaide was trying to do so it’s good that the players are recognising that, but there were many more opportunities that they could’ve capitalised on and it could’ve been probably another three of four on top of the goals we already scored.

“We’ve just got to be more clinical and put teams away when you have opportunities because we had numerous amounts of opportunities to put them away earlier, once we were back in the game at 2-2 and then at 4-2.”

Naven also praised 19-year-old forward Waring for his contribution in Adelaide.

“He’s playing his role, he’s pressing in the right manner and getting a benefit from it – not only for the team, but individually,” he said.

“A young player is not about going out there and trying to dribble as many as they can, get as many shots as they can, it’s about doing that at the right time for themselves but more importantly the team.

“I think Pierce is working towards that as well and I think he’s trying to work hard when he has opportunities now to play games, he makes sure he takes that and he’s done well with three goals for himself and more importantly three goals for the team that gets us back in the game.”

Goals from Kyle Crout and Ninko Beric saw Adelaide into a 2-0 lead but Waring’s treble and Kirdar’s strike had Victory ahead at half-time.

The hat-trick saw Waring take his tally to five goals in as many Foxtel Y-League games this season.

Beric struck again late on for Adelaide, but Victory held on for its win to continue its good form.

Foxtel Y-League 2017/18 Round 8
Adelaide United 3
(Kyle Crout 10′, Ninko Beric 17’/90+2′)
Melbourne Victory 4 (Pierce Waring 28’/35’/37′, Birkan Kirdar 31′)