Sports · Football · 1 hr ago
Wellington Phoenix beat Melbourne Victory 2-1 in season opener
Wellington Phoenix beat Melbourne Victory 2-1 in the A-League Men season opener in Wellington, New Zealand.
Corban Piper put Phoenix ahead before Charles Nduka equalised for Victory, and substitute Riley Bidois scored the winner late in the match.
The result began Phoenix’s 20th A-League Men campaign with a win against the same club they faced in their first game in 2007/08.
Victory had played three competitive matches in eight days, but coach Giovanni Savarese said fatigue was not an excuse and called the defeat a lesson for his team.
He said Victory had chances to take the lead but failed to convert them, while the team had more possession but struggled to create enough danger.
Phoenix next host Central Coast, while Victory return home to prepare for a Melbourne derby against City on Saturday, October 24.
Wellington Phoenix beat Melbourne Victory 2-1 in their A-League Men season opener at Hnry Stadium.
Corban Piper put Wellington ahead with a header before Charles Nduka equalised for Victory.
Riley Bidois came off the bench and scored Wellington’s winner late in the match.
The win began Wellington’s 20th A-League Men campaign and gave coach Chris Greenacre a winning start to his first full season in charge.
Victory coach Giovanni Savarese said his side was disappointed but would treat the defeat as a learning lesson.
- Who
- Wellington Phoenix beat Melbourne Victory.
- What
- Phoenix won 2-1 in the A-League Men season opener.
- When
- Sunday, October 18, 2026.
- Where
- Hnry Stadium in Wellington, New Zealand.
- Why
- Riley Bidois scored the late winning goal; the sources do not state a broader reason.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Matthew Sheridan set up Corban Piper to score Wellington’s opening goal.
Charles Nduka equalised for Melbourne Victory.
Riley Bidois came on as a substitute and scored seconds later to put Wellington ahead.
- Final score
- Wellington Phoenix 2-1 Melbourne Victory
- Venue
- Hnry Stadium, Wellington
- Opening goal
- Corban Piper, 14th minute
- Equaliser
- Charles Nduka, about 24 minutes
- Winning goal
- Riley Bidois, seconds after his 77th-minute introduction
- Campaign milestone
- Wellington Phoenix’s 20th A-League Men campaign
3 sources
What people are saying
A little bit overwhelmed; it's been a turbulent week,
We have to do better and we have to find the solutions to these deep blocks,
We had about four chances that we could put the game on our side,
We were tired, but that’s not an excuse, it’s just something that we need to continue to learn.