Attacking trio key to Victory success

Ange Postecoglou will breathe a sigh of relief after Melbourne Victory  picked up their second win of the season at the expense of Wellington Phoenix. After taking a commanding 3-0 lead early in the second half, it looked like the home side would push on and score at least another two. It wasn’t to be however as instead it was the visitors who scored two late goals to put a little fear in the eyes of the home faithful.

Despite the lack of concentration late on, it was clearly visible in the opening hour how Ange wants his men to play football. Marco Flores put in his finest performance since joining the club, even finding the back of the net after a neat one-two, while the other two front men in Archie Thompson and Marco Rojas also put in great displays, with the former assisting the latter for both his goals.

Rojas could not ask for a better 21^st birthday as he is finally finding his feet at Victory after a disastrous debut season in 2011 under Mehmet Durakovic and Jim Magilton.

Although it is still very much early in the season, it is can be seen that Postecoglou will rely heavily on the attacking trio of Flores, Rojas and Thompson throughout the course of the campaign and the form of the trio above will be key as to whether the side will be title contenders or cellar dwellers.

For the visitors it was not a good evening as Ricki Herbert  will feel fortunate his side only lost by a goal after being outplayed for well over an hour. The only positive for the Phoenix was Jeremy Brockie who found the net with two magnificent strikes. The first a contender for goal of the year and the second a wonderfully struck free-kick.

Herbert’s men have failed to pick up a win since the opening round against Sydney FC and will quickly turn his attention to Sunday’s home fixture against Central Coast, who themselves dismantled the Sky Blues 7-2 on Saturday.

No matter who they come up against on home soil, whether it is the second placed Mariners or the bottom-placed Heart, Herbert knows winning games at home is essential if his side is to have any chance of making the Finals.

Just like the attacking trio is crucial to the success of Melbourne Victory, the home form is crucial to the success of Wellington Phoenix who for years have struggled to pick up points on the road.

After five rounds Victory are slowly getting to play the way Postecoglou wants them to play, while the Phoenix will feel a little better knowing they are ahead of the Champions Brisbane Roar.