Melbourne Victory are through to the Isuzu UTE A-League Semi-Finals after a 2-1 win over Western Sydney Wanderers at CommBank Stadium on Saturday night.
Having finished fifth on the table at the end of the regular season, Victory travelled to take on the fourth-placed Wanderers and stunned the majority of the 16,399 fans in the house with a seventh-minute opening goal, set up by Daniel Arzani and converted by Kasey Bos.
The hosts responded midway through the first half via Zac Sapsford, but Zinedine Machach got Victory back on top with what proved to be the match-winner, just minutes before half-time.
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Arzani was involved once again with a skilful run down the left wing as his cutback cross invited Machach to pounce in the box and give Victory the goal that would send Arthur Diles’ side through to the Semi-Finals, where they will face Premiers Auckland FC in a two-legged Semi-Final tie.
For Western Sydney, Saturday’s defeat at home ended the club’s 12-game unbeaten run. An Elimination Finals win over Victory would’ve equalled the club’s all-time unbeaten record of 13 games, but it wasn’t to be for the Wanderers, who remain without a Finals Series win since April 24, 2016 – 3,303 days ago.
Victory’s progression to the Semi-Finals locked in the final four sides competing for the 2025 Championship title; while Victory prepare to meet Auckland, Melbourne City and Western United will face off in the other side of the Semi-Final bracket, with the two-legged ties set to confirm this season’s Grand Finalists.
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Victory fired an early warning shot at the Wanderers within minutes of kick-off and Machach might have opened the scoring if not for a perfectly-timed, lunging block from Alex Gersbach.
The Wanderers escaped unscathed from Victory’s first foray forward, but in the seventh minute, Arzani picked out Bos with a defence-splitting pass, and the in-form Victory fullback made no mistake with a poked finish past Lawrence Thomas as the visitors raced to a one-goal lead at CommBank Stadium.
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Victory held the advantage in the Elimination Final until the 23rd minute when Brandon Borrello and Sapsford combined to bring the hosts back level at 1-1.
The equalising move began with an Anthony Pantazopoulos pass that pierced through Victory’s attacking and midfield lines to find the feet of Borrello.
The Socceroo’s first touch was superb, and his through ball was even better to pick out Sapsford, who fired Western Sydney back into the game – and fired up the home crowd.
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Arzani, in his 100th Isuzu UTE A-League appearance, looked well up for the challenge on Saturday night and his bright first-half performance led to Victory reclaiming the lead just minutes before half-time.
Having drifted to the left wing, Arzani beat two Wanderers markers and drove to the byline. His cutback cross met Ryan Teague; his blocked attempt spilled to Machach, who rolled a reflex volley through the legs of two Wanderers defenders to restore Victory’s advantage.
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After a breathless, all-action first half, opportunities dried up after half-time and it took the Wanderers until the 71st minute to put their first shot of the half on target; Nicolas Milanovic – who had been quiet throughout the contest – whipped a first-time effort around his body from a cross off the left wing but Jack Duncan got down to thwart the Wanderers forward with a comfortable save.
Then came a gilt-edged chance for Wanderers substitute Juan Mata, but just when it seemed the 2010 World Cup winner would show his experience and poise with a first-time shot from near the penalty spot, the Spaniard ballooned his attempt over the crossbar.
It was a deflating blow to Western Sydney’s hopes of a late equaliser.
