Wellington Phoenix vs Melbourne Victory — match summary
Australia · A-League Men · kick-off 18 Oct 2026 09:00
Full time · score 2-1
pPS pre-match readiness (0-100): Wellington Phoenix 36 · Melbourne Victory 39
mPS in-play performance (0-100): Wellington Phoenix 55 · Melbourne Victory 39
Shots on target 4-3 · corners 6-7 · possession 38-62
NextGOAL tip: Melbourne Victory -0.25 · 2 stars
Wellington Phoenix and Melbourne Victory meet in A-League Men, with the hosts having just finished a game on the end of a 0-4 defeat while the visitors just won 3-0 in the AFC Champions League 2. The two teams therefore come into this in clearly different moods. Wellington have won three of their last five but were thrashed in their most recent match. The attack offers something to cheer about, but a defence that has conceded 48 goals in 26 games tells you they tend to crack when put under sustained pressure. Melbourne Victory, meanwhile, are unbeaten in 5 straight, their defence is far tighter than before, and they have had slightly more of the ball over their last ten games. If Melbourne Victory score first, they will likely drop deeper and wait to counter, which is exactly the moment Wellington have to open up and risk being hit again. If the hosts take the lead first, the game becomes a trade of punches with chances at both ends, but the overall shape still leans toward the visitors, who look the calmer side.