A-League: Melbourne Victory beat Wellington Phoenix in elimination final
Melbourne Victory have struggled to replicate their sizzling early season form of late, but on Friday night they showed they can produce when it counts.
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Melbourne Victory have struggled to replicate their sizzling early season form of late, but on Friday night they showed they can produce when it counts.
Their big players stood up, headlined by Ola Toivonen who brushed off heavy-handed tactics from a physical Phoenix, to net a world-class sealer in the 3-1 elimination final win at AAMI Park.
Fellow visa duo Georg Niedermeier and Kosta Barbarouses netted either side of the break, the former after a stunning free-kick assist from Keisuke Honda, in front of 16,010 fans.
Roy Krishna netted Phoenix’s consolation, but they failed to capitalise on their solid first half work, as Victory expertly killed it off to secure a semi final playoff with Sydney FC on Sunday week.
SEE BELOW FOR COACH REACTION
CHESS BATTLE
Phoenix has outplayed Victory for large parts of their three encounters this season (three draws), prompting Kevin Muscat and his coaching staff to make a tactical switch.
Victory opted for a 4-3-3 to counter Phoenix’s wing-backs, with their top scorer Kosta Barbarouses shifting from a central role to wide right, although left-winger Elvis Kamsoba dropped deep without the ball to make it a 4-1-4-1.
Phoenix came out firing, while leaving talented teen attacker Sarpreet Singh on the bench, with Max Burgess impressing in his place.
Phoenix created the better chances, with Krishna forcing a great save in the opening minutes from Lawrence Thomas, who was picked ahead of Matt Acton.
Ryan Lowry then exploited a gap down the right, after superb releases from Mandi and David Williams, but he blasted wide.
HONDA IGNITES
Honda was on. He looked sharp and imposed himself physically from the get-go.
He also created Victory’s best chance of the first half, dropping the shoulder to cut inside after a clever release from Leigh Broxham, before his zinger produced a top save from Filip Kurto.
Honda’s other weapon is set pieces, and Phoenix flirted with danger when Williams gave away a free-kick on the edge of the box.
The sublime set piece – straight from the Gosch’s Paddock training ground – produced Victory’s opener.
Honda’s sublime, flat delivery was key along with Niedermeier’s burst from deep, which no Phoenix defenders picked up.
The German rose and expertly contoured his body to wrong-foot Kurto and angle home his header.
THE HALF THAT MATTERED
Phoenix coach Mark Rudan was content at half-time, clapping at the whistle despite being a goal down.
But conceding moments before the break was the shot in the arm they could ill-afford to give a dangerous and experienced finals campaigner like Victory.
Barbarouses ghosted in to blast wide from close range just after the restart before he converted, after a clever Toivonen release.
Singh’s introduction pinned Victory back and his cross found Krishna, who calmly angled it in.
Phoenix’s enthusiasm was offset by Victory’s class, with Toivonen breaking free down the right and on the tightest of angles, drew Kurto to commit before dinking it over the keeper.
Muscat relished the final moments, directing the Victory fans to cheer Barbarouses and Kamsoba when they came off, with the latter kicking his heels as he came off for some late theatre.
COACH MUSCAT PRAISES VICTORY’S COMPOSURE
Melbourne Victory boss Kevin Muscat praised his players for keeping their heads in their elimination final win that threatened to boilover against plucky Wellington Phoenix.
Victory looks set to send a severely depleted team to South Korea, for the mid-week Asian Champions League dead rubber against Daegu FC, as they wrap their stars in cotton wool for Sunday week’s semi-final away to Sydney FC.
Ola Toivonen earnt praise from Muscat for his performance and scoring heroics, while Kosta Barbarouses and Georg Neidermeieralso helped dispose of an aggressive Phoenix at AAMI Park.
“It was a contest where there wasn’t much love lost. It started to spill over a little bit. It’s a final, we kept our discipline,kept our heads in key moments,’’ Muscat said.
“We scored some good goals so it was a strong performance. Ola’s finish was outstanding, he’s been getting better and better.”
Muscat refused to be drawn on the semi-final rematch with arch enemy Sydney FC, who also have mid-week Champions League commitments.
Victory players were told to soak up the win, as they continue their busy, late season schedule.
“I still want to take this in and enjoy it. I said to the players responsibly enjoy tonight, it was a really strong performance,’’ he said.
“We go across to Sydney in 7-8 days time so we got time to work out the gameplan.”
Departing Phoenix coach Mark Rudan was proud of his team’s feats, despite naivety costing them on the big occasion.
A-League golden boot winner Roy Krishna provided hope just after the restart, netting substitute Sarpreet Singh’s cross, butthey ran out of puff as they struggled to maintain their aggressive press.
“Inexperience. Mistakes, all three goals from our mistakes. It wasn’t as if their goals came from outplaying us,’’ Rudan said.
“Give credit to Victory, no dramas there, extremely proud of my players. We had belief, we had a gameplan, we performed admirably. Very proud of their performance, not just tonight but all season as well.
“There’s been tough times. There’s a platform there to build on and I believe it will continue to go in an upward fashion.”
MELBOURNE VICTORY 3 (Georg Niedermeier 42m, Kosta Barbarouses 53m, Ola Toivonen71m) WELLINGTON PHOENIX 1 (Roy Krishna 64m) at AAMI Park. Crowd: 16,010
Originally published as A-League: Melbourne Victory beat Wellington Phoenix in elimination final
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