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03Mar24
Melbourne Go Nap At Wellington's Expense
by Jeremy Ruane
Melbourne Victory served up a footballing lesson to Wellington Phoenix in the first half of their Liberty A-League clash at LaTrobe University on March 3, prevailing by a 5-3 scoreline which flattered the beaten side, who twice reduced the deficit in stoppage time in front of 1087 spectators.
The home team dominated proceedings early doors, but it was Paul Temple's charges who fired the first shot in anger, Emma Main shooting straight at Courtney Newbon after being played in by Alyssa Whinham in the ninth minute.
That was akin to waving a red rag at a bull, because Melbourne stormed downfield instantly and opened the scoring. Tori Hansen unleashed Emily Gielnik into acres of space on the right - quite where Zoe McMeeken was, Lord alone knows, but the phrase "all at sea" springs to mind - and the Matilda didn't need a second invitation to exploit the space the wandering fullback should have been occupying.
Gielnik duly delivered a cross towards the far post, where Beattie Goad lost marker Hailey Davidson and rose between the fullback and Mackenzie Barry to head home beyond the despairing dive of Rylee Foster - the 'keeper was desperately unlucky not to pull off a brilliant save, as she got her fingertips to the ball, but alas, in vain.
Melbourne had clearly targeted McMeeken's footballing shortcomings in their preparation for this match, because she was again exposed in the sixteenth minute. Gielnik once more took full advantage of the out-of-position defender's absence, this time delivering a low cross into the stride of Rachel Lowe, who was prevented from doubling the home team's lead by Barry's superb covering challenge - the Football Fern had a fine game, despite what the scoreline would suggest.
Things went from bad to worse for the hapless McMeeken from Goad's resulting corner to the near post. The fullback's attempt to head clear directed the ball across goal to Hansen, lurking unmarked on the far post - 2-0 after seventeen minutes, and Wellington already facing an exercise in damage limitation.
A fine flying save to her right by Foster foiled Paige Zois' bid to batter the ball home from twenty-five yards after Goad had again got the better of Davidson in the 25th minute, while Gielnik lashed an acute-angled drive over the bar seconds later after being gifted possession by McMeeken before jinking inside the covering challenge of Rebecca Lake.
Wellington responded via the excitement machine that is Whinham, who won possession in midfield before surging forward prior to feeding Main on the right, from where she delivered an angled cross through the corridor of uncertainty which deceived Newbon but arced just beyond the incoming figure of Isabel Cox.
Twelve minutes before half-time, Macey Fraser and Whinham worked a double one-two through the middle of the park before the latter was unceremoniously shoved off the ball - referee Rebecca Durcau turned a blind eye to it, but not to Emma Checker's repeated efforts to throw the ball in far further forward than the place where it had gone out of play. 'Twas great to see this element of gamesmanship being clamped down on for once, for which the official should be praised.
Seeing Whinham sent sprawling without the offender being punished was not Miss Durcau's most memorable moment of the match, however, and Alex Chidiac was swift to take advantage, sending fellow Matilda Gielnik flying into the space behind McMeeken once more.
This time, the 57-times-capped international pinned her ears back and powered goalwards, only to be denied by the legs of Rylee Foster. But from the resulting corner, Melbourne made it 3-0, Goad tapping in on the far post for her second goal of the game after Gielnik had flicked on Chidiac's near post delivery in the 34th minute.
It could have been a lot worse before the break, and Wellington have the fearless figure of Barry to thank for keeping the score down. Twice in five minutes she saved the day, denying Lowe then Gielnik - the latter with a thunderous tackle - as Melbourne looked to exploit more openings in the visitors' defence.
In between times, the hat-trick-hunting Goad just failed to get on the end of Checker's cross from the right, while at the other end of the park, Main became the latest victim of referee Durcau's dubious decision-making, Kayla Morrison leaving the striker in a heap on the edge of the six-yard box as Main looked to get on the end of Cox's headed flick following a Michaela Foster cross.
Wellington found themselves 4-0 down as the game entered first half stoppage time. A venomous twenty yard shot on the run from Chidiac crashed against the crossbar before ricocheting into the net off the back of the diving figure of Foster, whose anguished cry at conceding an "oggie" in this manner reflected her frustration at the shortcomings which were being exposed in front of her.
The visitors fired the final shot in anger of the first
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half, Cox firing over from twenty-five yards after Fraser and Whinham had again weaved their magic in midfield - they really are a joy to behold when operating in attacking harmony, but for them to be able to do so successfully and often, those playing behind them need to be on their game, something which can only be said of Barry in this display.
Coach Temple dragged his fullbacks for the second spell, introducing Tiana Jaber at right back, returning Michaela Foster to the left back role to which she is better suited, and unleashing the express pace of Michaela Robertson on unsuspecting opponents, although Melbourne are better equipped than most at knowing the strengths and weaknesses of Kiwi players, given former NZ age-grade gaffer Gareth Turnbull is their assistant coach.
Nonetheless, Wellington made a better fist of things after the break, with Barry, Lake and Foster's interchange of passes ultimately finding the perfect outlet in Whinham, who stormed downfield, holding off the challenge of Sara D'Appolonia en route before unleashing a twenty-yarder which Newbon tipped over the bar in the 49th minute.
Fraser stung the gloves of Newbon soon after, while a poor clearance by the goalkeeper in the 55th minute allowed Robertson to set up Fraser for another twenty yard opportunity. Over the bar the ball sailed - why aim high? That's a result of leaning back when shooting - a technical failing.
If your technique's good enough - and that of Fraser is certainly better than most - the only reason the ball shouldn't be hitting the net from that range is if the 'keeper's saved the shot. Aim for the "postage stamps", bottom corners. If you're firing the ball high and wide in your pre-game shots, you'll do it in a match situation - practice makes permanent, not perfect.
Whinham was next to threaten, taking on four opponents in the 57th minute. Hansen halted her progress, but Wellington had the bit between their teeth, and after Checker had been forced into a hurried clearance following Jaber's cross from the right, the visitors were finally rewarded for their efforts from Hope Breslin's resulting corner, which was headed into her own net by Jamilla Rankin.
Melbourne didn't take kindly to conceding, and straight from the kick-off they rampaged downfield, only for Rylee Foster to smother Lowe's drive. The visitors' response was again led by Whinham, who turned Chidiac in the centre circle before stampeding downfield.
The enterprising midfielder then brought Cox into play, but she was thwarted by two defenders. The ball broke kindly for Whinham, however, but her finish lacked the quality and accuracy to match the dash and flair she had shown in creating the opening.
Melbourne restored their four-goal advantage in the 64th minute, Lake's poor touch being punished mercilessly by the title contenders, Checker pouncing on the ball and promptly working a one-two with Gielnik before crossing to Goad. She evaded a challenge before being shut down by Barry, the ball breaking kindly for Lowe to lash home beyond the wrong-footed figure of Foster - 5-1.
Eager to make amends for her blunder, Lake looked to utilise her attacking qualities soon after, easing into midfield before spreading play wide to Cox, who evaded a challenge before delivering a cross which Morrison nearly turned into her own net before eventually scrambling clear as she prevented Wellington substitute Mariana Speckmaier from capitalising upon the opening.
Back came Melbourne, Whinham being caught in possession outside her penalty area twenty minutes from time by Chidiac. She brought Gielnik into play, and her clever back-heeled pass took out two opponents for the benefit of her fellow Matilda, only for Chidiac to shoot straight at Foster.
The game rather lost its way in the remaining minutes, with broken play aplenty in evidence before Wellington finished with a wet sail. Newbon parried a twenty-yarder from substitute Helena Errington before diving to her left to keep out a drive from Robertson.
The visitors weren't to be denied a consolation goal, however, Robertson ramming the ball home from ten yards after Michaela Foster's corner wasn't cleared. That made it 5-2, and straight from the kick-off, Whinham caught Checker in possession and swiftly set up Speckmaier, who curled the ball home beyond Newbon's flailing fingertips to bring about the final 5-3 scoreline, a result which flattered the beaten side, for whom this was a ninth consecutive defeat on the road.
Melbourne: Newbon; Checker, Hansen, Morrison, Rankin; D'Appolonia (booked, 85), Chidiac, Zois (Curtis, 69); Gielnik (Okino, 77), Lowe (Privitelli, 69), Goad (Briedis, 88)
Wellington: R. Foster; Davidson (Jaber, 46), Barry, Lake, McMeeken (Robertson, 46); Whinham, M. Foster, Fraser (Errington, 71); Main (Speckmaier, 61), Cox, Breslin
Referee: Rebecca Durcau
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