Wellington Phoenix Edge Melbourne Victory with Late Strike

Kosta Barbarouses’ 82nd-minute goal seals victory for Phoenix

In a tightly contested Matchweek 5 clash at Allianz Stadium, Wellington Phoenix secured a narrow 1-0 win over Melbourne Victory, thanks to a decisive late goal by Kosta Barbarouses. The result extends Phoenix’s recent strong form as they continue to climb the A-League standings.

Match Highlights

• First Half: The teams headed into halftime locked at 0-0, with both sides struggling to capitalize on chances. Referee C. Reibelt kept control of the physical game, issuing a yellow card to Melbourne’s K. Bos at the 30-minute mark.
• Second Half: Wellington made key substitutions, including C. Piper replacing O. van Hattum, which added fresh energy. The breakthrough finally came in the 82nd minute when Barbarouses, assisted by M. Rojas, struck the game’s only goal.
• Standout Players: Phoenix’s P. Retre impressed with his midfield control (7.5 rating), while Melbourne’s R. Teague earned a stellar 7.9 for his relentless effort.

Key Stats

• Shots on Target: Phoenix 4 – 3 Victory
• Possession: Phoenix 52% – 48% Victory
• Pass Accuracy: Phoenix 78% – 76% Victory

Elsewhere in Matchweek 5

• Perth Glory 1-3 Western United (Nov 22)
• Newcastle Jets 1-2 Central Coast Mariners (Nov 22)
• Brisbane Roar 2-3 Adelaide United (Nov 23)
• Sydney FC 4-2 Western Sydney Wanderers (Nov 23)
• Macarthur 0-1 Auckland FC (Nov 24)

Wellington Phoenix’s win pushes them further up the leaderboard as they eye a playoff spot. Meanwhile, Melbourne Victory will look to regroup ahead of their next fixture.

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