Wellington Phoenix defeats Melbourne Victory 2-1 in season opener
Riley Bidois scored in the 77th minute as Wellington Phoenix beat Melbourne Victory 2-1 in the A-League Men's opening round on Sunday.
Phoenix marked their 20th season with a 2-1 win over Melbourne Victory on Sunday, facing the same foe they had in their first-ever game back in 2007/08. Corban Piper headed Phoenix in front just 14 minutes in after a Matthew Sheridan cross.
Charles Nduka tied it for Victory 10 minutes later when a deflection sat up for an easy finish. The turning point came when Bidois came off the bench in the 77th minute.
He scored within seconds of entering the game, securing the three points. Victory had more possession throughout but only managed five shots to Phoenix's nine.
They struggled to break down the hosts' defence. New Phoenix coach Chris Greenacre called the win vital after a difficult week affected by illness and injuries.
- 20th season
- Phoenix season milestone
- Phoenix 2-1 Victory
- Final score
- Third match in eight days
- Victory game schedule
Why it mattersA winning start for Greenacre in his first full season sets momentum for Phoenix. Victory's third game in eight days shows the tough A-League fixture list.
AustraliaThe A-League Men's opener draws interest across Australia and New Zealand; sets the tone for the season ahead.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 3 h ago
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