No-one comes alive at Hyundai A-League finals time more than Melbourne Victory striker Besart Berisha.
And Berisha has again proven himself to be the post-season king, scoring a spectacular late winner in Sunday night’s Elimination Final against Adelaide United.
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Berisha’s acrobatic finish not only took Victory into the semi-finals, it was also his 17th goal against Adelaide United, the most by any player against one team.
17 – @BesartBerisha7 has set the record for the most @ALeague goals of any player against a single opponent, scoring his 17th against the Reds. Warrior. pic.twitter.com/Z0WrS9NiuM
— OptaJason (@OptaJason) April 22, 2018
Berisha’s goal drew him level with former Victory favourite Archie Thompson on 10 finals goals, the joint-most by any player.
And the Kosovo international will have the chance to claim the record for himself when Victory visits Sydney FC on Saturday evening in a repeat of last season’s Hyundai A-League Grand Final.
Compared to most other Hyundai A-League sides, the Sky Blues have managed to limit the damage Berisha has inflicted upon them, but he’s still scored 11 goals in 22 previous meetings with the defending champions.
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He has though scored just once in three meetings with Sydney FC this season and that from the penalty spot in a 3-1 loss at AAMI Park in round 18.
But Berisha scored when the two sides met in the Grand Final last season, as he did in Victory’s win in the Hyundai A-League 2014/15 showpiece.
The competition’s greatest ever goalscorer has now netted 116 times in 184 Hyundai A-League games.
Is anyone brave enough to suggest he won’t add to that tally on Saturday night at Allianz Stadium?
After all, this is Besart Berisha at finals time we’re talking about.
