Melbourne Victory promise to test Phoenix keeper Alex Paulsen busy in Wellington

Melbourne Victory to bring an ‘aggressive’ attitude into their semi-final second-leg battle with Wellington Phoenix.

Phoenix keeper Alex Paulsen (top right) rises high against Melbourne Victory last Sunday. Picture: Jonathan DiMaggio/Getty Images

Melbourne Victory coach Tony Popovic has called on his side make Wellington’s star goalkeeper Alex Paulsen “really work” in Saturday’s A-League semi-final second-leg after failing to properly test the Phoenix gloveman last weekend.

Paulsen, who was this week named keeper and captain of the PFA’s A-League team of the season, had a quiet afternoon at AAMI Park in last Sunday’s 0-0 first-leg draw.

The Victory had few genuine chances and resorted to taking shot from outside the Phoenix’s penalty area that the 21-year-old custodian comfortably dealt with.

It was part of a frustrating afternoon for the Victory, who struggled to break down Wellington’s resolute defence.

“If they give us shots from the edge of the box, I want the players to take them again,” Popovic said ahead of the second-leg at Wellington’s Sky Stadium.

“We had some good opportunities on the edge of the box that went straight to the keeper so we can debate whether they’re good opportunities or whether they (the Phoenix) were happy with those shots from there.

“If we get those opportunities again, I’m confident that we can find the corners a little bit better and make their keeper really work.”

Wellington keeper Alex Paulsen is preparing for the A-League semi-final, second-leg at Sky Stadium. Picture: Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images

The Victory haven’t beaten the Phoenix in four attempts this season, with three of the games finishing in draws and Wellington winning the other match 1-0 at home last month when the Melbourne team’s skipper Roderick Miranda scored an own goal in stoppage time.

“They’ve only lost one game at home this year. We’ve got to make that two,” Popovic said “That’s the challenge we have.”

The match was declared a sellout on Friday, with a crowd of 32,000 expected.

“The crowd gets behind them. They’re a very aggressive team … and we match them in that department and we’ll have to do that again,” Popovic said.

“That’s just a part of the game you have to do well in, which then allows your creative players to get some more time on the ball.”

The creative spark of former prodigy Daniel Arzani wasn’t introduced until the second-half of last Sunday’s clash, and such depth in the Victory squad hasn’t been lost on Phoenix coach Giancarlo Italiano.

“The fact that you can bring on (Jake) Brimmer and Arzani, who are some big players … they have a very, very good squad,” Italiano said.

“They have a very good goalkeeper (Paul Izzo) as well and I rate their two centre-backs (Miranda and Damien Da Silva).

“There are going to be times where we’re under the pump, or there might be a scenario where we have to chase the game and really show some grit and real character, but the boys are up for that.

“At every challenge, the boys have stepped up.?"

Originally published as Melbourne Victory promise to test Phoenix keeper Alex Paulsen busy in Wellington