A-League wrap: Victory post gutsy win

Melbourne Victory overcame an early red card to record a 2-0 A-League win over the Western Sydney Wanderers on Saturday.

The Victory were reduced to 10 men in just the 16th minute when Sam Gallagher was given his marching orders for dragging down Dino Kresinger on the edge of the penalty box.

Despite spending the rest of the opening half on the back foot the visitors hit the front in the 44th minute via an own goal from Michael Beauchamp.

Ange Postecoglou’s men struck again on the hour when Archie Thompson scored on the counter attack to double the advantage.

The Wanderers peppered the visitors’ goal in the final half hour but could not breach the Victory defence and suffered their second straight loss at home.

The win lifts the Victory to fourth spot on the A-League ladder while the Wanderers could finish the weekend out of top six depending on other results.

Elsewhere, Melbourne Heart were left to rue a second-half fade-out as Ryan Griffiths’ 86th-minute penalty handed the Newcastle Jets a 3-3 draw at AAMI Park.

Jets substitute James Virgili was brought down by Simon Colosimo in the dying stages, giving Griffiths the chance to level proceedings from the spot.

Griffiths made no mistake with his attempt, sealing an unlikely result after Newcastle had trailed by two goals five minutes in.

Heart went ahead after 33 seconds through Richard Garcia, before Josip Tadic doubled the advantage with a penalty four minutes later.

Newcastle pulled one back through substitute Craig Goodwin in the 56th minute, and Ruben Zadkovich levelled the contest seven minutes later.

Garcia restored Heart’s lead in the 71st minute, but the hosts were unable to hold on as Newcastle fought back gallantly to salvage a point.

Wellington will travel home across the Tasman with a well-earned point after their 1-1 draw with Perth Glory at nib stadium.

Shane Smeltz struck first against his former team in the 62nd-minute when he took on Wellington captain Andrew Durante and then drove the ball low and hard past Mark Paston into the bottom right hand corner.

But Jeremy Brockie replied for the visitors shortly after when he chipped Steve Pantelidis, ran on to the ball and rolled it home with Wellington’s first shot of the second half.