Entries Tagged 'Melbourne Victory' ↓

Gary van Egmond and the Newcastle Jets have a chance for revenge tomorrow night when they host the Melbourne Victory. In round 3, when these two teams first met, Melbourne did to Newcastle what the Socceroos did to Qatar: thrashed them.

Newcastle are sitting sixth on the ladder, a solid three points away from the fourth-placed Central Coast Mariners. Joel and Adam Griffiths return for the Jets tomorrow, both having recovered from their injuries. Youngsters James Holland and Ben Kantarovski make their comebacks after completing their international duties.

Melbourne also has a number of players returning to the fold: Michael Theoklitos and Carlos Hernández are both back from suspension, while Michael Thwaite appears to have recovered from his injury. Back to the bench for Mitch Langerak, Tom Pondeljak and Steven Pace, all of whom had strong performances against the Perth Glory a fortnight ago.

Last time we played Newcastle, I tipped “utter destruction”. I’m going to be a little bit more reserved this time and just tip a solid 2 goal win.

My tips for the weekend:

• Queensland Roar to beat Adelaide United narrowly. Both teams are on a roll at the moment, but I think the Roar should make their home advantage count for them.
• Newcastle Jets to suffer a slightly more dignified loss to the mighty Melbourne Victory than last time. Maybe 1-3, perhaps 0-2. I’m not too fussed really.
• Perth Glory to lose to Sydney FC. While I’d love to see Perth inject some life into their season, I’m afraid Sydney are going to swamp them this weekend. Who knows, maybe John Aloisi will get his first goal in Sydney colours.
• Central Coast Mariners to beat Wellington Phoenix. Wellington have pulled four points out of their last two games, but I’d be surprised to see them get anything in Gosford.

It was exactly the game the Melbourne Victory needed. A solid win with plenty of goals to keep the club at the top of A-League after seven rounds.

Perth Glory were truly lacklustre, all across the pitch. Mitch Langerak was tested just once – and produced a wonderful acrobatic save to keep a clean sheet – while you only have to look at how easily Melbourne picked up its fourth goal to see how flimsy the Perth defence was. Things are not looking good for the bottom feeders.

The win adds great credibility to Merrick’s claim that Melbourne has the depth to cover for injuries and suspensions this year. Perth may have been poor, but it still takes a pretty good team to manage four goals. Even without Carlos Hernandez, our first-choice goalkeeper and one of our first-pick defenders, we looked the goods.

Meanwhile, Adelaide United stuffed up a 3-0 lead over the Central Coast Mariners, finishing the match with a draw. Sydney FC also drew at home, though they were lucky to come from behind in injury time. The Newcastle Jets host Wellington Phoenix tomorrow.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKQJdnPpMj0[/youtube]

The first third of the season wraps up this weekend, with the Melbourne Victory clutching a narrow lead at the top of the table.

Melbourne edges Sydney FC out on goal difference, sits a point ahead of Adelaide United, two ahead of the Central Coast Mariners and three points ahead of Queensland Roar, who inflicted Melbourne’s first defeat of the season last week.

This is a critical round. Adelaide hosts the Mariners tonight, while Queensland have another away game, this time in Sydney. The Wellington Phoenix have a chance for back-to-back victories (they’ve never achieved this before), with the Newcastle Jets missing a host of players, including Joel Griffiths.

Suspensions and injuries have whittled Melbourne’s squad down to barely enough to field a full team. Carlos Hernandez, Michael Theoklitos and Ney Fabiano are all out with suspensions; Sebastian Ryall and Nathan Elasi are on international duty; and Michael Thwaite is out with an ankle injury, while Nick Ward may make a reappearance. Steven Pace has been promoted into the squad, as has Matthew Theodore, who impressed me last week in the Youth League.

The Perth Glory aren’t without their problems. With just four points to show from 6 rounds, they’re holding up the bottom of the table. Former Victory player James Robinson has been ruled out for the next ten weeks with a groin injury, while Amaral, Dinjo Djulbic, Hayden Foxe and Josip Magdic are all still unavailable.

My tips for the weekend:

• Adelaide United to draw with Central Coast Mariners. Both these sides had strong wins last week, and they’re sitting in three and four on the ladder. I’m tipping a draw.
• Melbourne Victory to thump three past the Perth Glory. I like to be specific with my Victory tips. But seriously, even with a less-than-stellar squad, Melbourne should be able to beat the Glory emphatically.
• Sydney FC to draw with Queensland Roar. Again, I’m tipping a draw, but this could really go either way. At the end of the season, I would expect both of these sides to be in the final four.
• Newcastle Jets to draw with Wellington Phoenix. What can Newcastle do without Joel Griffiths? A fired up Wellington might be able to grab a win, but I think a draw’s the more likely outcome.

It was shaping up to be a rather woeful performance by the Melbourne Victory, until Carlos Hernandez picked up a second yellow in the 57th minute. Down to ten men for the third week in the row, and the Victory suddenly kicks it up half a dozen notches.

This time there was no narrow victory or lucky escape at the death. Queensland’s young subs, Tahj Minniecon and Michael Zullo, silenced Melbourne with two goals in the last ten minutes.

The Roar deserved the three points. The A-League scoreboard for the game shows a single attempt on target by Melbourne, compared with Queensland’s seven. For the vast majority of the game, the visitors were dominant. Melbourne only looked like creating something when it went down to ten men.

Speaking of which, I am yet to comprehend why Carlos Hernandez was sent off. A rather poor video on YouTube shows the incident. I see a Queensland Roar player with a hand raised, holding Hernandez back; I see Hernandez going down. Simulation is the only possible explanation for the yellow card, but it’s an incredibly soft yellow. Did Ben Williams even realize he was giving Hernandez a red when he pulled out the yellow card? He certainly took his time to show the red card.

Ok, time to stop ranting.

The loss does not affect Melbourne’s position at the top of the ladder (not bad for a team that’s finished half its games with a man down), but it does allow Adelaide United, the Central Coast Mariner and the Queensland Roar to step within striking distance of the top. Sydney FC retain second spot after losing to the Wellington Phoenix.

This weekend’s clash against the Perth Glory will be a major test of the quality of Melbourne’s depth. As the Herald Sun pointed out yesterday, Melbourne have just sixteen fit players from which to pick their squad. Trying times ahead.

The Melbourne Victory and Queensland Roar youth teams met this afternoon in Green Gully Reserve for the opening match of the A-League National Youth League. It was the visitors who went home with the points, with Queensland’s Joshua McVey and Mitch Nichols giving the Roar a 2-0 win.

Melbourne’s performance was promising but frustrating. Our overage players – Steve Pantelidis, Steven Pace and Daniel Vasilevski – shored up the defence, along with Robert Wynne and Cameron Drake, two solid centre-backs. Matthew Theodore gave a convincing performance as an attacking midfielder, but was rarely able to connect with the front pairing of Nathan Elasi and Dimitri Hatzimouratis. Nor was Ante Cicak, who worked the left flank but was unable to find the precision needed in the final third.

Nathan Elasi had Melbourne’s best chance with an opportunistic volley in the 38th minute. It beat Griffen McMaster, but hit the post, landing for Steven Pace, whose shot was stopped by McMaster. Beyond that excellent attempt, the Victory struggled to make a real impression in attack, only managing a handful of shots from distance, which were easily stopped by McMaster and his replacement, Luke Muir.

Queensland looked the more dangerous side at the start, but were kept quiet by a strong Victory defence. Josh McVey quickly made an impression after he was subbed on at the start of the second half, with a lovely strike putting his side in front after 48 minutes. 15 minutes later, Mitch Nichols took advantage of a goalkeeper mistake, beating Mijo Marinovic to give the Roar a strong lead. Isaka Cernak, from the senior team, looked incisive in midfield when he came on for the final half hour.

The game’s lowest point came in the final ten minutes, when Queensland’s Ben Griffin received a straight red card for pushing Milos Lujic in the face. What that suspension will do to his chances of playing in the A-League, I’m not sure, but it was sad to see one of the overage players acting so unprofessionally.

Melbourne Victory host the Queensland Roar on Sunday, as they try to maintain their hold on the top spot.

The Victory will be buoyed after their come-from-behind draw in Gosford last week, but they will have to meet Queensland without Michael Theoklitos and Ney Fabiano, who are both on suspension.

Lou Acevski comes into the squad as a back-up goalkeeper, as Mitch Langerak takes his place between the sticks.

It’s going to be a tough game for Langerak, with Queensland boasting a dangerous offence. Charlie Miller has scored in all but one game this season, while Reinaldo and Sergio van Dijk seem to be combining well up front. And with just one win so far this season, Frank Farina’s men need a win desperately.

My tips for the weekend:

• Central Coast Mariners to win at home against the Perth Glory. Perth got their first win last week, while the Mariners had victory snatched away from them by Archie Thompson. Home ground advantage will help the Mariners get the full three points this week.
• Adelaide United to lose to Newcastle Jets. The Newcastle Jets also picked up their first win last week, while Adelaide United have lost their past two A-League matches. Adelaide may be riding high after reaching the ACL semi-finals; but I think Newcastle will take advantage of their tired legs and steal an away win.
• Wellington Phoenix to draw with Sydney FC. There’s more hope than expectation behind this tip: most pundits are tipping a Sydney win, and it’s make or break time for the Phoenix, who are yet to win a game. Here’s hoping they snatch a draw or, even better, a win.
• Melbourne Victory to secure three points against Queensland Roar. It’ll be a fiery affair, but hopefully Melbourne will be able to finish the game with 11 men this week. If Vargas, Thwaite and Muscat can contain the Queensland attack, Melbourne will win this.

The Melbourne Victory has signed five more players for its inaugural youth squad, who play their first match at home this Friday afternoon against the Queensland Roar youth team.

The new kids on the block are Cameron Drake, Milos Lujic, Dimitri Hatzimouratis and Qantas Young Socceroos Mathew Theodore and Ante Cicak.

The Victory youth team now comprises 12 players, with the club allowed to bring in four overage players for matches.

The Melbourne Victory plays the Queensland Roar at Green Gully Reserve on Friday, kick-off 3:30 pm.

The Melbourne Victory decided yesterday not to appeal Michael Theoklitos’ red card, but today have to decide whether to appeal the 2-match suspension given to their #1.

One positive bit of news is that the FFA has agreed to allow Melbourne to sign a replacement goalkeeper on a short-term basis. Alternatively, the club could use Mitch Langerak, with youth team keeper Mijo Marinovic warming the bench.

Archie Thompson proved himself the hero on Saturday night when he snatched a last minute – literally – equaliser against the Central Coast Mariners, ensuring the Melbourne Victory remains at the top of the A-League ladder after five rounds.

For the second week in a row, Melbourne ended the game with ten men. This time, it was Michael Theoklitos to be sent off the field for apparently stomping on Sasho Petrovski’s foot. Once again, the threat of a longer suspension hangs over the club.

But Mitchell Langerak had an outstanding game off the bench, making several critical saves before being beaten by a Matt Simon header from point blank range.

While the Central Coast Mariners will be devastated to have given away the win at the death (not the first time they’ve done that this season), they should applaud Mark Bosnich for several great saves late in the first half and early in the second. Danny Allsopp and Carlos Hernandez both had opportunities that they should have converted.

With Sydney FC taking advantage of Adelaide United’s tired legs, the point in Gosford ensures that Melbourne remains at the top of the table on goal difference. The Newcastle Jets picked up their first win of the season, Joel Griffiths’ goal enough to beat the Queensland Roar, while the Perth Glory also had their first win, a 1-0 victory over the Wellington Phoenix.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0R5_p6krss[/youtube]

After a couple games at home, Melbourne heads to Gosford this weekend for an away game against the Central Coast Mariners.

While the news this week has been focused on Ney Fabiano’s 9-match ban, there is good news too. Jose Luis Lopez returns to the squad, as does Michael Thwaite, who has recovered from his injury. With Fabiano out of the picture, Tom Pondeljak is an excellent option to come into the squad.

The Central Coast Mariners have had a mixed season so far, with just one win, one loss and two draws. Before their round 3 clash against the Queensland Roar, they looked like a team in trouble. But that game proved that they remain a potent threat.

With Sydney and Adelaide playing each other earlier on Saturday night, this will be a critical round. A win for Melbourne will give them an even stronger lead, while a loss could see them drop from the top of the table.

My tips for the weekend:

• Queensland Roar to beat Newcastle Jets. Both of these teams have given mixed performances over the past couple rounds, but Queensland look like the stronger side to me.
• Sydney FC to draw with Adelaide United. If my tip happens to turn out right, Adelaide will be very pleased with the point. Although elated after their mid-week draw in Japan, they have to be getting tired.
• Central Coast Mariners to be outplayed and outscored by Melbourne Victory. I‘m tipping a two-goal win this weekend. I’ve had it right the last two weeks, so here’s hoping for a hattrick.
• Perth Glory to beat Wellington Phoenix. Two teams still in search for their first win of the season. Perth seem to be the livelier side, so I’m tipping a home win for them.