Victory win A-League’s Premiers’ Plate

Sydney: Melbourne Victory won their third Premiers’ Plate by finishing top of the regular A-League season standings with a 3-1 final day defeat of the Central Coast Mariners on Sunday.

Sydney FC’s 2-1 win over Wellington Phoenix earlier in the day ensured the Premiers’ Plate would come down to the final match of the regular season, with Victory needing to avoid a loss of more than six goals.

But goals to Daniel Georgievski, Archie Thompson and Besart Berisha meant the most unlikely of last-day results was never on the cards.

The last-round results confirmed Adelaide and Wellington as hosts for next week’s opening to the finals series.

On Friday, defending champions Brisbane will travel to play Josep Gombau’s Adelaide United, while the Phoenix host Melbourne City in New Zealand on Sunday.

Winners from week one will play Victory and Sydney FC in week two for a place in the A-League grand final.