A-League wrap: Injury mars Victory win, Roar extend lead

Melbourne Victory extended their unbeaten run to six games with a comfortable 2-0 win over Perth Glory in the A-League on Saturday night.

But the win was soured by what appeared to be a serious hamstring injury to star striker Archie Thompson, just seconds after he opened the scoring on the stroke of half-time.

Thompson immediately grabbed his hamstring after leaping over Glory goalkeeper Tando Velaphi, having completed a well-crafted move started by skipper Kevin Muscat and featuring a moment of brilliance Robbie Kruse.

Kruse’s back-heel unlocked what had been a resolute Glory defence and Thompson did the rest, with a cool finish for his third goal of the campaign.

Defender Rody Vargas sealed the three points with a 63rd-minute header from a Carlos Hernandez corner that beat Todd Howarth at the near post.

Thompson was not the Victory’s only injury concern, however, with defender Matthew Kemp limping off with a suspected groin injury in the 34th minute, while Hernandez was carried off late with an ankle injury.

The win lifted Ernie Merrick’s side to fifth place ahead of their home clash with Newcastle on December 27, while Glory meets second-placed Adelaide United at home on Wednesday.

Wellington Phoenix overcame the loss of striker Paul Ifill to claim a 4-0 win over a depleted Newcastle Jets side in Wellington.

Ifill left the field on a stretcher in the 10th minute and was taken to hospital for X-rays which cleared him of a fracture below his left knee.

Ifill’s departure seemed to galvanise Phoenix with Tim Brown, Marco Rojas – making his first start – and Chris Greenacre all scoring before half-time.

Dylan Macallister’s cool finish two minutes from time was simply icing on the cake as Phoenix moved level with the Jets on 25 points in the race for the play-offs.

And Kosta Barbarouses scored a brace as Brisbane Roar extended their lead at the top of the table with a 2-0 victory over North Queensland Fury.

Barbarouses opened the scoring in the sixth minute and doubled the lead in the 76th minute to keep the Roar on course for a maiden A-League title.