Melbourne Victory recorded an emphatic 4-1 win over Western Sydney Wanderers in their National Youth League fixture at Lakeside on Sunday, moving joint top of the table after four rounds.
A day after Victory’s first team could not make the most of their opportunities at Pirtek Stadium, the youth side avoided the same mistakes by taking their chances in front of goal.
Jimmy Jeggo was pivotal for the home side, scoring a brace either side of the break, also assisting Andrew Nabbout for Victory’s third after Lawrence Hanna clinched one back for the Wanderers in the 61st minute.
Francesco Stella put the game beyond doubt with a strong header from a corner in the 80th minute.
From the outset Victory looked to play the game on their terms, controlling the midfield and pressing the Wanderers’ deep in their own half.
Yet the Wanderers should have taken the lead in the 27th minute, when Alusine Fofanah pounced on a loose ball and flashed a shot just wide of Victory goalkeeper Keegan Coulter.
Jeggo was first on the scoresheet in the 40th minute, taking advantage of a poor clearance from a corner and placing a long-range strike past Wanderer’s ‘keeper Blake Tuxford.
Earlier, there were a few worried faces when Jesse Makarounas required treatment on the sidelines after a challenge in the box.
He came back strong and had a chance to double Victory’s lead in the 40th minute, but blazed his shot high and wide.
Gui Finkler, playing another youth game on his way to full fitness, linked well with Makarounas and wide forwards Andrew Nabbout and Francesco Stella in the front third.
Victory’s Brazilian playmaker had a few chances early on, with an effort on goal saved just before the break.
The game opened up in the second half with the Wanderers launching the first attack, only to be put immediately on the back foot by a rampaging Victory.
Jeggo doubled his tally in the 56th minute with a classy finish from close range after expertly turning past a defender.
Western Sydney clinched one back when Hanna connected firmly with a Martin Lo cross to head past Coulter.
Stella then took a flurry of shots, none of which ended in the back of the net, with two close angle shots saved and one header flashing just wide of goal.
However, it was Nabbout that restored the two goal buffer after he made no mistake tucking Jeggo’s through ball past Tuxford, taking his tally now to six goals from four games.
Western Sydney almost closed the gap again when Joshua Sotirio’s long range shot sailed just over Keegan Coulter’s crossbar and into the top netting.
Stella’s late goal was just reward for his previous efforts and sealed a dominant win for the home side.