(3rd/26pts) MEL. VICTORY FC v WELLINGT. PHOENIX (1st/34pts)
1
[PREVIOUS MATCH] 1
- Theoklitos -
- Pantelidis - Vargas - Milicevic -
- Keenan - Vasilevski - Brebner - Patafta - Berger -
- Thompson[58-Thompson] - Alisopp -
- Coveny - Smeltz[77-Albelda] -
- Johnson - Lia[59-Brownlie] - Ferrante - Aloisi -
- Lochhead - Dodd - O'Dor - Old[59-Christie] -
- Paston -
The Phoenix needs only one more win to become the first New Zealand team to win the A-League following a 4-1 win against the last season champion, Melbourne Victory FC.
Smeltz scored from a free kick
The Nix took the lead in the 6th minutes from Coveny powerful shot after he escaped his marker and was awarded a free kick 5 minutes later following a foul by Keenan on Coveny. Smeltz shot from the 20 metres free kick straight to the back of the net to double Phoenix lead.
Coveny got his second in the 64th minutes after a wonderful team play by the Phoenix to break Victory's defense and scored a hat-trick 10 minutes before time after Albelda unselfishly pass the ball to him 6 yards from goal.
But two minutes later, O'Dor made a mistake and gave Alisopp a chance to get a consolation goal.
FINAL SCORE
MelFC 1-4 WPHX
MAN OF THE MATCH
Vaughan Coveny
Scored a hat-trick to move Phoenix closer to win the Premiership
Perth v WPHX
1(0) Goals(Assists) 4(1)
6(2) Total Shots(On target) 8(6)
0 Corner Kicks 1
1(0) Fouls(Booking) 2(0)
1(0) Free Kicks(Penalties) 1(0)
90% Passing 81%
42% Possessions 58%
OTHER FIXTURES
Perth 2-1 AUTD
CCMFC 2-1 Jets
SFC 1-0 Roar
LEAGUE TABLE
(#: TEAM : P/PTS)
1: WPHX : 18/37
2: Jets : 18/29
3: MelFC : 18/26