By ROY WARD
DANDENONG provided the rain and Melbourne Victory the goals in their pre-season match at George Andrews Reserve last night.
The Victory beat the Victorian Premier League leaders 4-1 as heavy rain blanketed the ground before the game and during the first half leaving several large puddles on the pitch and forcing the majority of spectators under the grandstand.
Despite the rain and the cold conditions well over a thousand spectators turned up for the clash which pitted the A-League glamour club against the Thunder who remain the favourite to claim the VPL title.
Yet neither side put their best 11 on the park with the Victory missing Archie Thompson (Socceroos duty) and Marco Flores (not ready) out of the team while the Thunder left star striker Nate Foster, winger Liam Kearney and Ross Thompson out of the side.
As both sides adjusted to the slippery conditions Victory striker Danny Allsopp got into the box early in the match and drew a mis-timed tackle which earned the visitors a penalty.
Allsopp stepped up to take the free shot giving Thunder keeper Stuart Webster no chance with a drive into the top left corner of the goal.
Neither side could manage many more shots of on goal with a deep puddle at the clubrooms end stopping a few promising Victory moves by sucking in the ball.
Victory supporters got an unwelcome shock midway through the first half when star defender Mark Milligan crashed to the turf after a late tackle.
Milligan immediately left the field and did not return.
He was seen limping from the Victory change-rooms post game but club officials said he had only suffered a hyper extended knee.
The Thunder could have drawn level late in the half when Sean McIlroy’s well-placed header was deflected wide by a diving Thando Velaphi in the Victory goals.
The game was locked 1-0 at the main break and the Thunder withdrew leading goal-scorer Luke Sherbon and other senior players in place of reserve team players and fringe senior players.
After Leigh Broxham doubled the Victory’s lead early in the half tapping home a spilt catch from the Thunder keeper, talented Thunder midfielder Feston Azizi chested down a well-placed pass and found himself one on one with Velaphi touching home a low shot to make it 2-1.
Victory reserve Julian Davies found two late tap-ins to bolster the result.
Victory coach Ange Postecoglu said his side had shown a nice “progression” in their adaption to his passing and game style but the team still had plenty to learn.
“Our passing between our defenders and our midfielders was better and we will keep working on it,” he said.
Postecoglu said Milligan would get treatment for his injury but it didn’t look like a serious one.
He said younger players like Theo Makelis, Marco Rojas and Davies had shown good improvement but were still learning to play their positions within his playing system.
Postecoglu also said the Victory would continue to look at Victorian players to fill their youth league side and he said VPL players would also get a chance to impress.
Thunder coach Chris Taylor said Azizi’s goal was just reward for his good season, albeit one which had suffered a couple of injury interruptions this term.
Taylor said his younger players had got a buzz from facing the Victory but he hadn’t risked all his senior players with the club fighting for the VPL title.
“We went on the cautious side not playing a few lads and giving a few others just 30 minutes on field,” he said.
“But it was a buzz for the younger guys to see where they stand against A-League players and it’s good for the club to host the Victory.
“This sort of game shows the Victory is willing to come out to other local clubs and play; they should be commended for it.”
