Melbourne Victory secured a dramatic 3-2 victory over Wellington Phoenix at Sky Stadium on February 6, 2026, marking their first away win of the year and lifting them to fifth on the A-League table.
Match Summary
The match, held on Waitangi Day, was characterized by defensive errors and VAR controversy.
- Early Lead:Â Sebastian Esposito opened the scoring in the 10th minute with a near-post header that slipped through the hands of Phoenix goalkeeper Alby Kelly-Heald.
- First Half Exchange: Wellington’s Carlo Armiento equalized in the 39th minute following a counter-attack sparked by Ramy Najjarine. However, parity lasted only five minutes before Nishan Velupillay restored Victory’s lead just before halftime.
- VAR Drama:Â Midway through the second half, Wellington was awarded a penalty after Armiento went down in the box. However, after a lengthy VAR review, referee Jack Morgan overturned the decision.
- Closing Stages: Substitute Louis D’Arrigo scored Victory’s third in the 77th minute with a downward header. A late Roderick Miranda own goal in the 84th minute gave Wellington hope, but Victory held on through nearly 10 minutes of stoppage time.Â
Match Statistics
| Statistic | Wellington Phoenix | Melbourne Victory |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 2 | 3 |
| Goals | C. Armiento (39′), R. Miranda (84′ OG) | S. Esposito (10′), N. Velupillay (44′), L. D’Arrigo (77′) |
| Possession | 56.8% | 43.2% |
| Shots on Goal | 3 | 6 |
| Total Shots | 8 | 12 |
| Corners | 6 | 7 |
Lineups
- Wellington Phoenix:Â Kelly-Heald (GK); James, Payne, Retre, Armiento, Hughes, Kartum, Najjarine, Nagasawa (C), Tuiloma, Eze.
- Melbourne Victory:Â Warshawsky (GK); Davidson, Piscopo, Valadon, Genreau, Esposito, Velupillay, Miranda (C), Rawlins, Nduka, Juan Mata.