Entries Tagged 'Friendlies' ↓

Melbourne Victory beat the Whittlesea Zebras last night with a comfortable 2-0 win. From the sounds of it, Melbourne delivered a stronger performance than last week’s effort against Green Gully.

The Victory started with a stronger line-up: Theo in goals; Thwaite, Vargas, Muscat and Kemp in defence; Ryall, Elasi, Ward and Pondeljak in midfield; and Allsopp and Fabiano up front.

Goals from Ney Fabiano and Nick Ward ensured a victory, while Mitch Langerak did well to stop a penalty in the second half.

The Melbourne Victory’s first pre-season match against Green Gully ended in a 3-1 loss last night. It was a forgettable match for Michael Thwaite and Ney Fabiano, both of whom were making their debút for the Victory.

Matthew Kemp scored Melbourne’s only goal from a penalty. But it was Green Gully, currently placed second in the Foxtel Cup, who made the biggest impression. Kristijan Ivesi, John Adam and Ryan Ollerton scored for Green Gully.

Melbourne had two players red-carded, the VIS’ Fabio Dilizia and Evan Berger, who picked up two yellows. Green Gully’s Emanuel Muscat also received a red card.

Melbourne was missing a host of players, including Archie Thompson, Carlos Hernández, Rodrigo Vargas, Nick Ward, Sebastian Ryall and Billy Celeski. It started the game with Danny Allsopp, Ney Fabiano, Tom Pondeljak, Leigh Broxham, Evan Berger, Michael Thwaite, Kevin Muscat, Steven Pace, Matthew Kemp, Michael Theoklitos and Steve Pantelidis. The bench consisted of a slew of VIS youngsters.

Aaron Healy was coach in Ernie Merrick’s absence.

The Victory have one more friendly before they play Adelaide United in Launceston on July 20 for the Pre-Season Cup. They play the Whittlesea Zebras on July 15 at Epping Soccer Stadium.

The Melbourne Victory lost 4-1 to Juventus last night. Two late goals left Melbourne with a disappointing scoreline, despite the Victory managing to contain the Italians for most of 90 minutes.

In truth, it was a rather pedestrian performance by both sides. Juventus, consisting largely of B-team players, did not appear particularly driven, although it still kept Melbourne on the back foot for most of the match. The Victory did enjoy a fair share of possession, but struggled to convert possession to chances.

Juventus’ goals were clinical and opportunistic.

Compare that with Carlos Hernández’ equaliser, a beautiful strike from outside the penalty area, the kind of shot we dreamed of when the Costa Rican was first signed. The goal, his second in two matches, is an encouraging sign that Hernández is rapidly returning to form.

I went prepared to see Melbourne lose (I said as much yesterday), but I wasn’t prepared for the level of hostility directed towards the Victory from spectators around me. Several people around me were clearly not just there to witness one of the world’s legendary clubs in action; they were also there to ridicule the Victory. There’s something very odd about being in your home stadium listening to people take pleasure in everything your side’s players do wrong.

Kevin, an MVFC Blog reader, wrote me earlier today commenting on the lack of atmosphere at the game. He asked: “Where were the Blue & White Brigade and their flags and drums or the Juve army with theirs?”

I agree with Kevin. It was an odd affair last night. I was glad – as I always am – to see some of the youngsters given a good run (Nathan Elasi had a good half, I thought), but the game didn’t really come to life until Hernández fired in Melbourne’s equaliser. That broke things open for a while, but injuries to Hernández, Thompson, and the penalty for Juventus again stole the game’s spirit.

Anyway, enough of me being pessimistic. Anyone got something positive to say?

My wife thinks it’s a bit silly to dish out $60 for a friendly in which we’re bound to get pummelled.

But for me and the 50,000+ spectators at Telstra Dome tonight, Melbourne vs. Juventus offers a chance to watch one of the world’s greatest teams in action against our little club.

Ernie Merrick said earlier this week that he would be happy if Melbourne could come out of tonight’s clash with Juventus with a goal or two. A goal or two would be impressive indeed, even if Juventus are missing many of their best players.

Frankly, I’m not too fussed about the result. Just show me some good football and a courageous effort by the Victory lot, and I’ll be happy.

ps. Ernie, please, please give the youngsters a go. Evan Berger, Kaz Patafta, Nathan Elasi. There’s nothing to play for tonight, give them more than 3 minutes to play against a world-class team.

pps. Credit to my wife. Not only did she let me dish out $60 for the game, she’s coming along.

Juventus will be gracing Melbourne with a guest appearance at the Telstra Dome in May, according to The Age. The Italian club is making the rounds of the Asia-Pacific region, and is expected to play against the Victory on May 30.

Melbourne Victory and Adelaide United have played their fourth friendly, ending in a 0-0 draw. That’s three draws in a row, with Melbourne winning the first friendly back in February.

Steve Pantelidis was given a straight red card in the second half after a challenge on Matthew Mullen.

Judging by the report on Goal.com, Adelaide were the more dangerous side. Merrick gave a start to Leandro Love and Kaz Patafta, and lost Leigh Broxham early on to injury. Broxham’s injury isn’t expected to keep him out of next week’s match.

Melbourne Victory and Adelaide United fought out a 2-2 draw yesterday in Hindmarsh Stadium. With both teams missing a key striker (Adelaide are without Bruce Djite due to injury), the scoreline will provide encouragement for both coaches.

Adrian Caceres, who moved into a striker’s role alongside Danny Allsopp, opened the scoring in the 5th minute. A Lucas Pantelis goal brought Adelaide back on level terms, but Danny Allsopp made sure that Melbourne went into the break a goal up. In the second half, Adelaide had the better of play, but failed to capitalise on chances. Both Travis Dodd and Dez Giraldi missed penalties, though Young Socceroo Matthew Mullen managed to put one in the back of the net to ensure a draw.

With Carlos Hernandez and Archie Thompson expected to be out for the remainder of the ACL group stage, Ernie Merrick shifted Caceres up front and brought Nick Ward forward to act as an attacking midfielder just behind the strikers. While it’s encouraging to see this formula work (to an extent), the club must be looking to recruit a fresh, first-11 striker. With Caceres on his way to the Central Coast Mariners, and neither Nathan Elasi nor Leandro Love looking like first team material, Merrick’s options are starting to look rather thin.

How’s this for advance notice? The Herald Sun today suggests that the Melbourne Victory’s maiden game at the new stadium (currently being built) will be a friendly against a Greek team, most likely AEK Athens. 

There have also been talks with Olympiacos and Panathinaikos. 

As the piece points out, the Socceroos friendly with Greece prior to the World Cup attracted over 95,000 spectators. A match between the Victory and a Greek club will undoubtedly sell out the 31,000-capacity stadium. 

Melbourne Victory drew its second friendly with Adelaide United yesterday, after beating the South Australians last week with a 2-1 win. 

A goal for Danny Allsopp and a penalty converted by Adelaide’s Cassio left the teams at 1-1. 

With Leigh Broxham away with the Olyroos, and Nick Ward and Carlos Hernandez injured, Ernie Merrick opted for a creative midfield line-up featuring Steve Pantelidis, Kaz Patafta and Leandro Love. 

The Herald Sun reveals that Tom Pondeljak will not be available for the Victory’s match against the Chunnam Dragons next week. The midfielder hasn’t moved to Melbourne yet. I suppose he didn’t expect to be needed. 

His absence, as well as the injuries to Hernandez and Grant Brebner, means that Kaz Patafta and Billy Celeski will be clamouring for game time, especially if Nick Ward does not recover from his groin injury in time. 

The Melbourne Victory worked their way to a 3-1 victory over the Whittlesea Zebras last night. Stefan Moore, the former Queens Park Rangers striker who is currently on a 2-week trial in Melbourne, scored twice – undoubtedly going a long way to securing a contract with the Victory. Archie Thompson scored the other goal.

Nick Ward, Joe Keenan, Ljubo Milicevic, Grant Brebner and Steven Pace were all absent due to injury. Billy Celeski and Nathan Elasi both featured in the match, the former instrumental in one of Melbourne’s goals.

Since I didn’t make it along to the game, I can’t offer much personal analysis. Anyone else go? What did you think of the Victory’s performance?

Read more: The Herald Sun