@kiwitiger
Wellington Phoenix have made a winning start to their 20th A-League Men season, thanks to goals from Corban Piper and Riley Bidois against Melbourne Victory at Hnry Stadium.
Riley Bidois has made sure that Wellington celebrated their 20th birthday in style, after his late strike secured the Kiwi side a 2-1 win over Melbourne Victory.
Hosting the same foe they’d faced in their first-ever game back in 2007/08, the 20th A-League Men campaign in Phoenix history got off to a fine start on Sunday when Matthew Sheridan teed up Corban Piper to drive a header home just 14 minutes in.
And while Charles Nduka would level things ten minutes later, the introduction of Bidois off the bench proved pivotal, as he netted just seconds after his 77th-minute introduction to secure ‘Nix coach Chris Greenacre a winning start to his first full season in charge.
The Victory had more of the ball throughout the contest but struggled to do much with it, outshot nine to five.
Their goal came when Denis Genreau capitalised on a numerical advantage gleaned by Rafael Duran being forced off for treatment; driving into the box and, after a fortunate bounce, having the ball sit up for Nduka.
With Duran forced off soon after, his replacement Nathan Walker almost restored the lead just seconds after coming on, but his 28th-minute attempt was sent straight at Jack Duncan.
It was the first of a handful of clean looks on goal that both sides would go on to fashion, with Matthew Grimaldi spurning a chance to give the visitors the lead on the hour when he bent a left-footed effort around the post.
But just as it looked like the spoils would be shared at Hnry Stadium, Walker put the ball on a plate for Bidois with a cutback that was duly deposited into the back of the net.
Wellington will next host Central Coast, while the Victory will return home to prepare for a Melbourne derby against City next Saturday.
Wellington Phoenix have made a winning start to their 20th A-League Men season, thanks to goals from Corban Piper and Riley Bidois against Melbourne Victory at Hnry Stadium.
Riley Bidois has made sure that Wellington celebrated their 20th birthday in style, after his late strike secured the Kiwi side a 2-1 win over Melbourne Victory.
Hosting the same foe they’d faced in their first-ever game back in 2007/08, the 20th A-League Men campaign in Phoenix history got off to a fine start on Sunday when Matthew Sheridan teed up Corban Piper to drive a header home just 14 minutes in.
And while Charles Nduka would level things ten minutes later, the introduction of Bidois off the bench proved pivotal, as he netted just seconds after his 77th-minute introduction to secure ‘Nix coach Chris Greenacre a winning start to his first full season in charge.
The Victory had more of the ball throughout the contest but struggled to do much with it, outshot nine to five.
Their goal came when Denis Genreau capitalised on a numerical advantage gleaned by Rafael Duran being forced off for treatment; driving into the box and, after a fortunate bounce, having the ball sit up for Nduka.
With Duran forced off soon after, his replacement Nathan Walker almost restored the lead just seconds after coming on, but his 28th-minute attempt was sent straight at Jack Duncan.
It was the first of a handful of clean looks on goal that both sides would go on to fashion, with Matthew Grimaldi spurning a chance to give the visitors the lead on the hour when he bent a left-footed effort around the post.
But just as it looked like the spoils would be shared at Hnry Stadium, Walker put the ball on a plate for Bidois with a cutback that was duly deposited into the back of the net.
Wellington will next host Central Coast, while the Victory will return home to prepare for a Melbourne derby against City next Saturday.
