Daniel Arzani put on a performance to remember in Melbourne Victory’s Elimination Final win over Western Sydney Wanderers, playing a key role in both of his side’s goals at CommBank Stadium to inspire his side to the Semi-Finals.
Arzani looked on from the get-go at Wanderland and picked out Kasey Bos with a defence-splitting pass as Victory took a shock lead against Western Sydney just seven minutes into Saturday night’s knockout clash.
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The Wanderers equalised through Zac Sapsford but just before half-time, Arzani – who took more touches (36) than any other player in the first half of the Elimination Final – produced another piece of magic with a weaving run down the left wing that took two Wanderers defenders out of play and led to Zinedine Machach’s calmly-taken volley as Victory got back in front at CommBank Stadium.
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During Network 10’s half-time show, former A-Leagues striker Roy O’Donovan highlighted the unique skillset possessed by the Victory and Socceroos star when he thrusts himself into the thick of an Isuzu UTE A-League contest.
“Arzani, when he’s on, there’s nobody like him in this country,” said O’Donovan.
Victory held their 2-1 lead through the second half and all the way to the full-time whistle to eliminate the Wanderers and set up a two-legged Semi-Final bout with Premiers Auckland FC.
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Arzani was substituted with six minutes to play after suffering from a cramp which ended his virtuoso performance at CommBank Stadium.
Post-game, Arzani joined Network 10, where he described the cramp he felt before his substitution as one of the worst he’s experienced.
“That was one of the worst (cramps) I’ve had in a long time,” he said.
“It was a really important game for the club. I had to give it my all and stay on for as long as I could, and I kind of paid the price at the end, I guess.”
With a two-legged tie against Premiers Auckland to look forward to, Arzani laid down a strong marker for what’s to come from his side, with the belief that, when Victory are at their best, they can beat any of the remaining three Semi-Finalists.
“We’ve known from the beginning that we are our own best friends and our own worst enemies,” Arzani added.
“And I don’t think there’s a team in the league that can beat us on our day.
“The focus has always been on us and what we can put out on the day. If we come in strong and play like we did today, I can’t see another team beating us.”
Victory head coach Arthur Diles confirmed post-game that Arzani’s substitution was due only to intense cramping, and that there was no fear of an injury suffered by the star winger.
“He played to the level we know he can show – and I think he can get better than that as well,” Diles said.
“In the end, I think in the second half he’s gone to play a ball to Nish (Nishan Velupillay), I think, where I’d love to see him beat the guy on the inside and shoot. He’s got a fantastic shot and no one will really know that because he doesn’t shoot enough. That’s the next part of his game that needs to keep developing.
“In the end, he’s put in a great shift and his body cramped up at the end from all that hard work. That’s the other part of his game that he’s growing: his defensive duty and discipline. That’s showing growth in him as a player.”
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