Victory pay the price

WESTERN Sydney Wanderers maintained their unbeaten start to the A-League season with a 1-0 win over Melbourne Victory at Parramatta Stadium last night.

An 82nd- minute strike from Mark Bridge was the difference between the two sides after Labinot Haliti had sent a pinpoint cross over the face of goal.

The Victory looked the better side for significant periods of the round six fix- ture, but couldn’t make the most of their chances when they came, with Archie Thompson a chief offender.

The win moves the Wanderers to the top of the A-League table, but Brisbane Roar can reclaim top spot with a win over the Newcastle Jets today.

Before a crowd of 15,854 in persistent rain, the Victory pressed well early with the Wanderers having to rely on counter attack to force their way into the game.

But the home side again showed that persistence and ahead of their friendly against Costa Rica in Sydney on Tuesday.

The visitors enjoyed the better of the first half and would have gone to the break ahead if Thompson had made the most of his chances.

He made a meal of a shot from point-blank range in the 13th minute and as the half wound down sent a shot across the face of goal in the 42nd minute.

Connor Pain, who like Thompson consistently troubled the Wanderers defence in the opening 45 minutes, had a shot blocked by Ante Covic in the 38th minute in the Victory’s other good chance for a goal.

The Wanderers had to wait until two minutes from the break for their best opportunity when Nathan Coe parried a brilliant strike from Bridge over the top of the goal and the teams went to halftime at 0-0.

The Victory had a chance to claim a point with a corner in time added on but the Wanderers defence had little trouble in getting the ball clear.