Match-winner Gui Finkler says Melbourne Victory will relish the chance to take on runaway Premiers Brisbane and insists they have the belief to win the title.
Match-winner Gui Finkler says Melbourne Victory will relish the chance to take on runaway Premiers Brisbane and insists they have the belief to win the Hyundai A-League title.
Victory set up a blockbuster semi-final against Roar after a dramatic 2-1 win over Sydney FC at Etihad Stadium on Friday night.
The match looked like heading to extra-time after Sebastian Ryall cancelled out Archie Thompson’s opener before Finkler slammed home from close range in stoppage time.
Kevin Muscat’s side have a must-win AFC Champions League clash in Korea to take care of first on Tuesday night before the grand final qualifier at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday.
“We do have confidence. We showed (on Friday night) as a team we are pretty good team,” Finkler said.
“Now its two more steps and we are getting closer.
“The last game we played against (Roar), yes they won the game but we performed well against them over there.
“We get a lot of confidence from that game as well. If you play for victory you can beat anyone.”
Victory and Roar have met three times this season, with Victory taking out the first clash before Brisbane won the next two.
But the only clash in Brisbane was an even contest, with only Luke Bratten’s injury-time strike handing Roar the win.
Victory won’t be short on confidence though after a huge week for the club which included an ACL win over reigning champions Guangzhou and the last-gasp win over Sydney.
James Troisi played a huge role in both those victories and admits it’s been a tough schedule for the side but they are relishing the challenge.
“You can do everything you want to prepare but you’re not human if you’re not feeling tired,” Troisi told the Herald Sun.
“Tired, happy, relieved. With the schedule it was always going to be difficult but in the last month the boys have found something different in our game, we’re all working for each other and we go the result.
“We dug deep and played some good football. Everything’s in our own hands, we’ve got to go back into training and recover but Korea (Champions League) and next week, everything’s in our own hands.
“It was a massive week, every game we had to play for something and Tuesday was amazing, beating the biggest team in Asia and now tonight.
“One more game and we’re in the final and that’s what we’re working towards.”
Hyundai A-League 2014 Semi Final 1
Brisbane Roar v Melbourne Victory
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Sunday 27 April 2014
Kick-off 5.00pm (AEST)
Click here to purchase tickets.
Follow the match on Twitter using the hash-tag #ALeagueFinals
