Semi-Final Ins & Outs: Victory captain pushing for return as City receive Socceroo boost

The teams are in ahead of the return legs of the 2024-25 Isuzu UTE A-League Semi-Finals.

Melbourne Victory travel to face Auckland FC at Go Media Stadium on Saturday, and head coach Arthur Diles has included club captain Roderick Miranda in his extended squad ahead of the trip across the ditch.

Miranda was a late out ahead of the 1-0 loss to Auckland in leg one and with his replacement in the backline, Brendan Hamill, suffering an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury against the Black Knights last week, the Victory captain’s potential inclusion in the matchday squad would be a tremendous boost to the travelling side’s hopes of overturning their aggregate deficit to reach the Grand Final.

Speaking on Thursday morning ahead of the trip to Auckland, Diles said Miranda had returned to training but a decision was still to be made on whether he’d travel with the squad for Saturday night’s Semi-Final.

“Roddy trained today,” Diles said.

“He looked okay today, so let’s hope that tomorrow he pulls through okay and he’s good enough to travel with the team. We’ll know more tomorrow morning.”

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In the second Semi-Final tie, Western United trail Melbourne City by three goals as they look to orchestrate a comeback for the ages at AAMI Park on Saturday night.

City won the first leg 3-0 without defender Nathaniel Atkinson, who was ruled out with a minor calf injury, but the Socceroos defender is back in the mix for selection this weekend.

Catch up with all the team news from the four remaining clubs in the hunt for a Grand Final spot below.

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Auckland FC v Melbourne Victory

Saturday, May 24 – Go Media Stadium – 4pm AEST /6pm NZST

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Auckland FC squad: 1. Michael WOUD, 2. Hiroki SAKAI, 4. Nando PIJNAKER, 5. Tommy SMITH, 6. Louis VERSTRAETE, 7. Cameron HOWIESON, 8. Luis TOOMEY, 9. Max MATA, 10. Guillermo MAY, 11. Marlee FRANÇOIS, 12. Alex PAULSEN, 14. Liam GILLION, 15. Francis DE VRIES, 17. Callan ELLIOT, 21. Jesse RANDALL, 22. Jake BRIMMER, 23. Dan HALL, 25. Neyder MORENO, 27. Logan ROGERSON, 28. Luis Felipe GALLEGOS

(Two to be omitted)

Ins: 8. Luis TOOMEY, 9. Max MATA

Outs: Nil

Unavailable: Nil

Melbourne Victory squad: 4. Lachlan JACKSON, 6. Ryan TEAGUE, 7. Daniel ARZANI, 8. Zinedine MACHACH, 9. Nikolaos VERGOS, 10. Bruno FORNAROLI, 11. Clerismario SANTOS RODRIGUES, 14. Jordi VALADON, 16. Joshua INSERRA, 17. Nishan VELUPILLAY, 18. Fabian MONGE, 19. Jing REEC, 21. Roderick MIRANDA, 22. Joshua RAWLINS, 23. Alexander BADOLATO, 24. Alexander MENELAOU, 25. Jack DUNCAN, 27. Reno PISCOPO, 28. Kasey BOS, 30. Daniel GRASKOSKI

Ins: 18. Fabian MONGE (promoted), 19. Jing REEC (promoted)

Outs: 5. Brendan HAMILL (injured)

Unavailable: 1. Mitch LANGERAK (injured), 3. Adama TRAORE (injured)

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Melbourne City v Western United

Saturday, May 24 – AAMI Park – 7.35pm AEST

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Melbourne City squad: 2. Callum TALBOT, 6. Steven UGARKOVIC, 7. Mathew LECKIE, 10. Yonatan COHEN, 13. Nathaniel ATKINSON, 16. Aziz BEHICH (C), 17. Max CAPUTO, 18. Dakota OCHSENHAM (GK), 19. Zane SCHREIBER, 21. Alessandro LOPANE, 22. Germán FERREYRA, 23. Marco TILIO, 27. Kai TREWIN, 30. Andreas KUEN, 33. Patrick BEACH (GK), 35. Medin MEMETI, 36. Harry SHILLINGTON, 39. Emin DURAKOVIC, 41. Lawrence WONG, 47. Kavian RAHMANI

(Two to be omitted)

Ins: 13. Nathaniel ATKINSON (returns from injury), 39. Emin DURAKOVIC (promoted)

Outs: Nil

Unavailable: 8. Jimmy JEGGO (achilles), 15. Andrew NABBOUT (knee), 26. Samuel SOUPRAYEN (calf), 34. Jayden NECOVSKI (knee), 40. James NIEUWENHUIZEN (knee)

Western United squad: 4. James DONACHIE, 5. Oliver LAVALE, 6. Tomoki IMAI, 7. Ramy NAJJARINE, 9. Hiroshi IBUSUKI, 10. Matthew GRIMALDI, 13. Tate RUSSELL, 17. Ben GARUCCIO (c), 19. Noah BOTIC, 20. Abel WALATEE, 21. Sebastian PASQUALI, 22. Kane VIDMAR, 23. Rhys BOZINOVSKI, 24. Michael RUHS, 30. Dylan LEONARD, 32. Angus THURGATE, 33. Matt SUTTON (gk), 44. Jordan LAUTON, 70. Michael VONJA (gk), 77. Riku DANZAKI

(Two to be omitted)

Ins: 4. James DONACHIE (returns from injury), 21. Sebastian PASQUALI (promoted)

Outs: Nil

Unavailable: Nil

MATCH PREVIEW: City hold all the cards as Socceroos great backed to repeat game-winning gamble