Final thoughts
In a match that felt like a heavyweight title slugfest one team punched its way to A-League championship favouritism. Western Sydney Wanderers started the season slowly but seven wins in a row means they now lead the ladder by six points with a third of the campaign gone. Strong in defence, peerless in midfield and lively in attack, they have a balanced squad and a proven coach. Liam Reddy was apparently in the stands tonight and his introduction to the squad for the shaky Redmayne would add another piece to the jigsaw. There’ll be many more nights as vibrant as this in Parramatta this year.
Victory? Something just isn’t clicking away from home. Ben Khalfallah has lost his mojo and the final ball from Barbarouses and Finkler just seems to be missing its target. They’re better than most in this competition but with fixtures piling up, injuries to key players and the tiring ACL on the horizon, the biggest club in the A-League is going to be tested to its limit.
A belting night for the A-League and a great showpiece for the competition on and off the park. Thanks for your company, I’ll see you soon.
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FULL TIME! Western Sydney Wanderers 2-0 Melbourne Victory
It’s all over! A pulsating match, a great top of the table advert for the A-League, ends with the Wanderers making it seven on the spin. For Victory it’s consecutive defeats for the first time in almost two years.
How decisive will that result prove in the championship race?
90 mins + 4: How can a side with such attacking potency have such a poor away record as Melbourne Victory? Another goalless road trip to go with the ones in Adelaide, Newcastle and New Zealand. Does it need a change of approach from Kevin Muscat? A change of personnel?
90 mins + 2: Four minutes of stoppage time to be played but a long crossfield pass from Finkler is too hot for Pain and Wanderers can regroup.
90 mins: As it stands the Wanderers are moving four points clear at the top of the ladder. Their seventh win in a row is all but complete. They look a complete side this season.
88 mins: Mebrahtu and Sotirio also in the book.
George Howard subbed on for Geria.
Attacks at both ends with Wanderers nearly putting the result beyond doubt but Sotirio shoots straight at Vukovic.
86 mins: Santalab the latest in the book for a late challenge on Geria. The sixth of the night, all warranted, but it’s not been a dirty match.
84 mins: Time running out for Victory who have lost attacking fluency in the second half.
Castelen leaves to a standing ovation, replaced by Golgol Mebrahtu who’s been out of the game for a long time through injury.
Very nice from Raymond Reardon (Not THE Ray Reardon, surely!?) emailing: “With the current form of Western Sydney Wanderers they may have to change their logo from WSW to WWW.”
82 mins: The Poznan (which I think is ridiculous, but that’s for another time) rumbles around Pirtek Stadium. Vukovic, a Western Sydney boy, has sent the home fans into delirium. That was a shocking error from the most experienced A-League campaigner ever.
GOAL! Western Sydney Wanderers 2-0 Melbourne Victory (Castelen 79)
79 mins: A great run down the right from Castelen who bursts into the box and from a tight angle belts one at Vukovic who fumbles the ball into his net. A gift from the Victory goalie. Could that be it?
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78 mins: The pace of the game starting to slow as bodies tire but the proliferation of head-to-head battles all over the pitch ensure it remains an engrossing contest. These teams have thrown everything at each other.
Galifuoco the latest Victory substitute, on for Mahazi, who’s again been tidy.
76 mins: Pain almost made me eat my words, wrapping his right boot around a 20-metre shot that Redmayne does well to tip around the post. Corner from Finkler bounces in the box but cleared eventually. Victory not out of this yet.
75 mins: Santalab on for the goalscorer Bridge. Is Tony Popovic substituting the match winner?
74 mins: Pain unfortunately playing to type so far. Lots of running, little purpose and the ball bouncing off him in all directions. Victory struggling to wrestle the ball and the tempo from the home side at the moment.
71 mins: Wanderers finding a way to get a challenge in as Victory attack. That midfield pivot much closer to the defence than in the first half. Tough for the visitors to break through.
Joshua Sotirio is Tony Popovic’s first substitute. He comes on for the injured Dario Vidosic in the space created by Kosta Barbarouses becoming the fifth yellow card of the night.
68 mins: Geria the fourth name in the book tonight and that gives Conor Pain the opportunity to be the night’s first substitute. He enters the fray for the disappointing Ben Khalfallah.
66 mins: Finkler doing his best to drag Victory back into this. His mazy dribble leads to Berisha finding space but his pullback to FBK doesn’t result in a shot on goal. FBK not enjoying the best of nights, or the best of seasons.
64 mins: Victory still threatening on the counter but Barbarouses can’t honour Finkler’s majestic throughball.
This remains brilliant and breathless.
62 mins: The noise at Pirtek Stadium is deafening as Scott Neville earns his team a corner. Jamieson takes it and Andreu hits the bar! Leaning backwards with the ball looping onto his right foot he strikes a floater beyond Vukovic but off the frame of the goal.
60 mins: Victory remember aren’t prolific away from home this season. They’re enjoying a nice spell of attacking possession but Wanderers defending in numbers and with good structure forcing an offside decision in their favour.
57 mins: Andreu is the next name in the book as Victory try to reply quickly. Good build up down the right leads to a Bozanic shot that Redmayne collects. Just like the goal he feeds Castelen down the right and the counterattack is on again. This time it’s blunted, just, by FBK on the edge of the box.
55 mins: Just before that Victory had two chances on goal and it was from one of those that Redmayne set up the goalscoring counterattack.
The key movement was always likely to come from one of the wide players and Castelen has looked dangerous all night. Bridge showing his experience and instinct to be in the right place at the right time, between the Victory centre-halves.
What have Victory got in response?
GOAL! Western Sydney Wanderers 1-0 Melbourne Victory (Bridge 54)
54 mins: Finally the deadlock is broken. Redmayne releases Castelen down the right, the ball is squared at pace to Bridge on the edge of the six-yard box and he slides it into the empty net. Game on!
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53 mins: Dimas has done some sterling defensive work in midfield and his pickpocketing of Finkler sets up another attack. Jamieson takes control, bursting down the left but his cross can’t be diverted in by Bridge.
51 mins: Both sides playing at such a high tempo and with such width there are isolated one-on-ones all over the pitch. Makes it great to watch, hard to report on!
49 mins: Replays suggest Castelen deserved a penalty for that incident. Victory unflustered head straight up the other end and test Redmayne through a Finkler volley.
47 mins: Second stanza picks up from where the first left off. Wanderers attacking down the left through Vidosic then the right through Castelen. Bridge has the ball stuck under his feet then Castelen shoots, deflected for a corner. The set piece leads to a scramble which flows into another Wanderers attack that sees Castelen tumble in the box. Blimey!
Peep!
Second half underway. No substitutions. Don’t forget to share your second-half thoughts.
This is how close Besart Berisha came to breaking the deadlock. Actually came off his knee, not his head, as he dived forward.
18' Close! @BesartBerisha7's effort from close range rebounds off the crossbar & back into play #WSWvMVC 0-0 #MVFC pic.twitter.com/9ye4MYpEZv
— Melbourne Victory (@gomvfc) December 12, 2015
Half-Time: Western Sydney Wanderers 0-0 Melbourne Victory
And breathe... That was a thrilling half of football played at breakneck speed. Both sides will be disappointed not to be on the scoresheet. Bridge’s early one-on-one and Berisha’s header against the bar the two standout chances but plenty more opportunities beside.
See you in 10 minutes, I’m just going to ice my fingertips.
45 mins +1: Vukovic claims the corner, launches a counterattack that sees Berisha tumble in the box again. Nothing doing.
45 mins: Great save! Vukovic with his legs from Castelen after a great period of pressure from the home side. Nichols, Vidosic, Bridge all involved and the ball reaches Castelen in the box and his low drive is parried clear.
44 mins: Nichols breaks down the right but his cross is headed clear. FBK then finds his way into Shaun Evans’ book for a momentum stopper in midfield. Evans has had a good game so far, by the way.
42 mins: Both sides flying into challenges in midfield, winning and then conceding turnovers at will. It’s like a rally of doubles tennis on grass at the moment. The ball pinging about at pace with bodies charging all over the place. Will this tempo ever dip?
40 mins: Castelen again in the game. Popping up on the left this time, rolling his defender and thumping one in from the edge of the box that Vukovic saves comfortably. Again, all wrapping, no present from the Dutchman.
39 mins: Castelen with a shot blocked by Broxham following a long free-kick. Typical Broxham, always manages to get a body part in the way when required. Captain for the night, playing as centre-half, he really is a remarkable servant.
37 mins: Counterattack from the corner threatens courtesy of a Nichols through-ball but Neville again is the man in possession as the attack breaks down. Fullbacks featuring prominently for both teams tonight, not for the right reasons either.
36 mins: Lovely skill from Barbarouses, skins two Wanderers defenders but Dimas covers to force a corner.
34 mins: Dimas and Andreu yet to stamp their authority on the game. Much more of a pong feel to it than the kind of measured controlled affair they’ve been dominating recently. They have to chase a few Victory shadows as the visitors string some passes together but the attack breaks down and FBK throws his hands up and shouts something I’m glad I can’t interpret.
32 mins: The pace of the game just slowing with a few offsides, infringements and loose passes. Victory will be disappointed not to be in front, but both sides have had clear chances.
30 mins: Castelen looks like he should dominate this league but he can’t seem to get into a consistent rhythm. A loose handball cuts short another attack. He has all the tricks but the end product still lacking.
27 mins: Victory again inches away from a goal. Lovely build up play down the right leads to Barbarouses through in the area but Redmayne does enough. Mahazi then has a shot deflected behind with the resulting corner headed over by Broxham. This is all killer, no filler.
25 mins: The intensity and pressure of both teams is relentless. Lots of turnovers in midfield, lots of one-on-one battles, the occasional breakaway, like FBK down the Victory left but his cross flashes across the six-yard box with nobody lurking.
Phil Withall, nice of you to email in: “It seems to be a recurring feature of this season that teams are consistently creating chances and not taking them. I feel a change in the laws to allow bigger goals may be in order.”
This might be a Friday Focus column of the future. After all, the general population (and therefore goalkeepers) are much bigger than 150 years ago and the codification of the game.
22 mins: More joy down the Wanderers right but another poor final ball from Neville brings things shuddering to a halt. Georgievski has his work cut out.
20 mins: First booking of the night goes to Mitch Nichols. Yellow for a trip on Jason Geria, the kind Ben Wilson is keen to stamp out.
19 mins: How was that not a goal!? Victory corner, dropped badly by Redmayne leads to a scramble that ends with Berisha heading against the crossbar from three metres out. It looked in for all money, bouncing down onto the goal-line. Where are the Swiss referees and Russian linesmen when you need them?
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17 mins: Castelen has Georgievski on toast at the moment but his trickery breaks down at the feet of Nichols. Quick transition by Victory ends up with a half-chance to Berisha. This is on like Donkey Kong.
15 mins: Break in play due to a stray arm catching Georgievski in the face. Chance to catch the replay of the penalty incident. Not stonewall, but you’ve seen them given. Alberto clearly wary of Berisha’s potency.
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14 mins: Good defensive work from Broxham releases Barbarouses and his cross sees Berisha hit the deck under contact from Alberto. Berisha appeals but no penalty. Andy Harper thinks there might have been something in it.
12 mins: First corner of the match, to Wanderers, courtesy of an intricate, patient build up. Vidosic heavily involved. The corner makes its way to Nichols 25 metres out and his floater just passes Vukovic’s post. Audacious effort.
10 mins: Wanderers settled now and enjoying some midfield possession. Nichols and Castelen providing lively outlets for Dimas and Andreu with both fullbacks also keen to advance. Nothing cagey about this.
8 mins: Bridge has to score! A Victory attack breaks down and Nichols releases Bridge into acres of space. The striker nears the edge of the box but a loose touch allows Vukovic to close and force the shot to miss the near post. Huge opportunity. Should be 1-0.
7 mins: Barbarouses and Finkler linking well down the Victory right. Both getting behind Jamieson already. Finkler fouled wide on the touchline but his free-kick comes to nought.
6 mins: Castelen causes havoc down the right, leaving two defenders for dead. His cross reaches Bridge but a mishit shot dribbles wide. Nice open end-to-end start to this big match.
5 mins: Victory settled the better of the two teams, winning a turnover in midfield and creating an opening for Barbarouses down the right. Cross claimed by Redmayne.
4 mins: Attacking free-kick from Finkler causes a bit of trouble in the Wanderers box. The ball reaches FBK and his cross is flicked just wide by Berisha. Offside anyway. Good early attack from the visitors.
2 mins: Scrappy opening with the only moment of note Alberto’s scene setting challenge on Besart Berisha. That will be a fun duel to follow as the night progresses.
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Peep!
Underway at Pirtek Stadium...
Shaun Evans leads the two teams out of the tunnel, Wanderers in red and black hoops, Victory in white. No embarrassing kit clash issues this week thankfully.
Don’t forget to tweet and email your thoughts over the next couple of hours. @JPHowcroft or jonathan.howcroft.freelance@theguardian.com will do it.
Begin with predictions if you like?
Result - I’m going 1-0 Wanderers with Bridge finding the back of the net.
Man of the match - Andreu
Unexpected storyline of the match - Rebecca Wilson and Alan Jones spotted in the RBB leading the Poznan at the 80-minute mark.
19C and cloudy in Parramatta with an easterly breeze but no chance of rain. Surface looks pristine. In other words, perfect conditions.
Some stats to masticate over before kick off:
- Victory are unbeaten in four against Wanderers.
- The visitors are looking to avoid consecutive A-League defeats for the first time since January 2014.
- This pair have only drawn once in nine encounters, Victory winning five to Wanderers’ three.
- Both teams have a 100% record this season when scoring first.
- And in case you were wondering... Scott Neville has won 18 aerial duels this season, the equal most of any player in the A-League.
Victory also name their best available XI which remains without skipper Carl Valeri who was this week ruled out indefinitely due to an illness that has led to him struggling with his balance. Rashid Mahazi has been in excellent form and the pressure will be on the youngster to perform the grunt work in Victory’s midfield in Valeri’s absence.
Here's our starting XI for #WSWvMVC at @PirtekStadium tonight 7.30pm AEDT. Catch it live on Fox Sports 505 #MVFC pic.twitter.com/vxpgk0Vetp
— Melbourne Victory (@gomvfc) December 12, 2015
Wanderers line up as expected. It’s a settled defensive and midfield combination and while there remains fluidity to the front three, Vidosic, Castelen and Bridge all pick themselves on form.
Bouzanis, Santalab, Mebrahtu, Sotirio and Pepper make up the bench.
Starting XI: Redmayne, Jamieson, Topor-Stanley (C), Alberto, Neville, Dimas, Andreu, Vidosic, Nichols, Castelen and Bridge #WSWvMVC
— WS Wanderers FC (@wswanderersfc) December 12, 2015
Preamble
After a rancorous few weeks for the A-League Saturday night features the kind of showpiece that should draw a line under recent events. Western Sydney Wanderers are the competition’s form team and they host the competition’s best, Melbourne Victory, at Pirtek Stadium.
A full house is expected after the suspension of fan boycotts earlier this week. It’s been an unedifying sight for Australia’s football lovers but with the Red and Black Bloc in situ opposite Victory’s travelling active support, the stage will be set for a mouthwatering match-up on and off the field.
Ladder leading Wanderers have won six on the bounce and look the real deal thanks to some astute summer signings. The midfield pivot of Dimas and Andreu is the quintessential iron fist inside the velvet glove, while ahead of them Mitch Nichols is doing his Socceroos hopes no harm.
Third-placed Victory have not been at their fluent best this season but are nonetheless a game in hand from the top of the table. There were mitigating circumstances to defeat last time out in New Zealand but it continued a worrying trend of goalless away performances. The premiers have only found the back of the net in one out of four matches on the road this season. With tonight’s fixture the prelude to a midweek trip to Perth and then a Melbourne derby with a rampant City, this is a critical few days for Kevin Muscat.
If you want to get in touch during the match feel free to email me at jonathan.howcroft.freelance@theguardian.com or tweet me @JPHowcroft.
Jonathan is the man tasked with being your eyes and ears in Parramatta tonight. He’ll be along shortly, so in the meantime, why not have a chuckle at David Squires’ latest cartoon, on some ideas from the A-League’s brains trust?
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