Victory ready to ruin Phoenix home comforts

Tony Popovic knows the challenge of breaking down Wellington's stout defence goes up another level when they play at Sky Stadium but he's confident his side will be able to make their chances count.

Melbourne Victory boss Tony Popovic is well aware that facing Wellington Phoenix at Sky Stadium is a much different proposition to facing them on this side of the Tasman. But with a grand final place up for grabs when the two meet in the New Zealand capital this Saturday, he’s confident his group has what it takes to break Phoenix hearts… and their low block.

2023-24 has proven a record-setting season for first-year coach Giancarlo Italiano and his Phoenix unit this season, recording more points than any other campaign in their 17-year history on the way to a highest-ever finish of second. 

Foundational in this has been the side’s form at Sky Stadium, with no A-League Men side picking up more home points than their 32, no side able to match their home ten wins, and only Melbourne City able to match their miserly ten goals conceded. Just once has a side made the trek to the South Island and come away with three points and that, incongruously enough, was the Newcastle Jets, who took out a 3-0 back on December 9. 

It puts the Kiwi side in something of a commanding position heading into the second leg of their semifinal against Victory this Saturday with the scores locked at 0-0 after last Saturday’s first leg, one bolstered by what will be a vocal, partisan, 34,500-capacity crowd. 

Now, Victory aren’t exactly slouches on the road this season – their two road defeats are the fewest in the league, even if one was against Wellington – but their coach, who will have a fully fit squad to choose from this weekend, knows a stiff challenge awaits.

“They have obviously taken advantage of playing in Wellington,” said Popovic. “They've only lost one game at home this year. We've got to make that two, that's a challenge we have.

“The crowd gets behind them. They're a very aggressive team, with very good intensity. I think that defensively, not much changes [between home and away] but they're very effective and efficient in the front third at home. 

“But we've had some really good battles with them and I'm sure this will be no different.”

If Victory is to upset the applecart and end the ‘Nix’s fairytale run, they’ll have to do something that has proven exceedingly difficult this season, beat Alex Paulsen with the home Yellow Fever at his back. 

But actually making Paulsen work is often half the battle against the Phoenix, with Italiano having installed an approach this season that excels at getting numbers behind the ball and in the way of any opponent’s attempts.  

Indeed, the Phoenix may give up a fair amount of shots – Victory has outshot them 78 to 27 across their four competitive meetings this season – but as Italiano has observed, they’re adept at not allowing good shots. 

“That's what they do, they do it really well,” said Popovic. “We understand that and we don't fear that part of the game. 

“If they have many numbers in the box, so be it. We just have to be calm and patient. In the semifinal, you don't expect to get ten moments that you open up a team but I'm confident that we'll get the opportunities

“If they give us shots from the edge of the box, I want the players to take them again. We had some good opportunities on the edge of the box that went straight to the keeper [last Saturday]. 

“So we can debate whether they're good opportunities or whether they're happy with those shots from there. 

“But if we get those opportunities again, I'm confident that we can find the corners a little bit better and make the keeper really work.”