The first of the 2010/11 midweek A-League games kicks off tonight with Melbourne Victory hosting the Wellington Phoenix.
The Victory are coming off a brilliant 3-0 win over Brisbane Roar on the weekend and will be full of confidence against a Phoenix outfit who do not travel all that well.
Melbourne will lose inspirational skipper Kevin Muscat, who is out with a foot injury, whilst Wellington will have defender Jade North in for his first game as well as goalkeeper Mark Paston back indicating that they are almost at full-strength.
But the fact of the matter is they have lost both their games on the road this year and the Victory in Melbourne is no easy task.
Verdict: Victory 2-1.
Melbourne Victory v Wellington PhoenixDate: Wednesday, 15 September 2010 Venue: AAMI Park, Melbourne Local kick-off: 7.30pm Head-to-Head: All matches (played 9): Melbourne Victory wins 4, Wellington Phoenix wins 1 (4 draws) Referee: Ben Williams
Live and exclusive broadcast on FOX Sports 3, FS 3 HD & Sky Sport 1. Hyundai A-League club broadcast partner is 774 ABC (Melbourne) and SEN (www.sen.com.au). To purchase tickets visit www.ticketek.com.au
Melbourne Victory squad: 1.Michael PETKOVIC (gk), 3.Mate DUGANDZIC, 5.Surat SUKHA, 6.Leigh BROXHAM, 8.Grant BREBNER, 9.RICARDINHO, 11.Marvin ANGULO, 12.Rodrigo VARGAS, 13.Diogo FERREIRA, 14. Billy CELESKI, 15.Tom PONDELJAK, 16.Carlos HERNANDEZ, 17.Matthew FOSCHINI, 19.Evan BERGER, 20.Sebastian MATTEI (gk), 23.Adrian LEIJER (c), 27.Geoff KELLAWAY *2 to be omitted* In: Matthew FOSCHINI (promoted), Diogo FERREIRA (promoted), Evan BERGER (promoted) Out: Kevin MUSCAT (foot - 4-6 weeks) Unavailable: Archie THOMPSON (knee), Matthew KEMP (knee), Robbie KRUSE (calf - 1-2 weeks)
Wellington Phoenix squad: 1. Mark PASTON (gk), 2. Manny MUSCAT, 3. Tony LOCHHEAD, 4. Nick WARD, 6. Tim BROWN, 7. Leo BERTOS, 8. Paul IFILL, 9. Chris GREENACRE, 11. DANIEL, 13. Troy HEARFIELD, 14. Mirjan PAVLOVIC, 15. Jade NORTH, 17. Vince LIA, 18. Ben SIGMUND, 19. Danny VUKOVIC (gk), 22. Andrew DURANTE (c), 23. Dylan MACALLISTER * three to be omitted* In: Mark PASTON (gk, return from injury), Jade NORTH (new signing), Vince LIA (return from injury) Out: Griffin McMASTER (omitted) Unavailable: Reece CROWTHER (gk, ribs - 3 weeks)
