A-League wrap: Victory grab first win

Veteran Archie Thompson starred as Melbourne Victory ended their winless start with a 2-1 win over 10-man Wellington Phoenix on Sunday.

The New Zealand-born striker scored three minutes before half-time after Wellington had dominated.

A 66th-minute penalty from Carlos Hernandez, after Ben Sigmund pulled down Thompson in the area, proved to be the match winner.

Dani Sanchez hit back with a firm strike five minutes later, but the previously winless and scoreless Victory weathered a late storm to triumph.

Wellington, missing key attacker Paul Ifill, had the lion’s share of the opportunities and Sanchez had the bulk of those.

The decisive penalty, midway through the second half, came after Thompson lined up a shot but Sigmund hauled him down six metres out from goal.

Referee Peter Green had little option but to give Sigmund, the last defender, a red card.

Gold Coast United moved to fifth after also sealing their first win with a 3-1 home victory over Newcastle Jets.

Dutchman Maceo Rigters opened the scoring with his first goal for his new club in the 11th minute, before second-half goals to veteran Kristian Rees and boom youngster James Brown ensured an impressive victory.

The Jets had their chances but United – and in particular, former Blackburn Rovers striker Rigters – were far more clinical when it mattered and ended up deserved winners.

Rigters, 27, was the most dangerous man on the park in the first half and showed exactly why with his 11th-minute goal.

Dylan Macallister laid the ball on a platter for him at the top of the box and Rigters duly obliged, letting go with a powerful first-time shot.

The Jets fell 2-0 down in the 58th minute when keeper Ben Kennedy looked like he had Peter Jungschlager’s long-distance free-kick covered, but he fumbled his save and veteran United defender Rees pounced on the rebound.

Ten minutes later though, the Jets reduced the arrears.

Ryan Griffiths’ free kick somehow avoided a sea of bodies around the penalty spot and landed in the lap of skipper Jobe Wheelhouse’s feet, leaving him with the simplest of finishes.

The hosts confirmed the three points through Brown in the 83rd minute.