As if a Melbourne Derby was not big enough, a Grand Final berth was up for grabs at AAMI Park on Sunday.
Defending Liberty A-League champions Melbourne Victory will defend their crown against Sydney FC in a replay of last season’s decider on March 27 after taking down rivals Melbourne City 3-1.
Afterwards, Western Sydney Wanderers and Adelaide United played out a 0-0 draw at CommBank Stadium in the Isuzu UTE A-League.
KEEPUP followed along LIVE to bring you all the goals, highlights, up to date scores and biggest talking points from the Liberty A-League Preliminary Final and the Isuzu UTE A-League reunion between Western Sydney Wanderers and Adelaide United.
- Liberty A-League: Melbourne Victory 3-1 Melbourne City
MATCH REPORT: Victory to face Sydney in Grand Final
- Isuzu UTE A-League: Western Sydney Wanderers 0-0 Adelaide United
MATCH REPORT: Wanderers and Reds in stalemate
ISUZU UTE A-LEAGUE: WESTERN SYDNEY WANDERERS 0-0 ADELAIDE UNITED
REACTION
Top-six chasing Wanderers treating every game like a cup final
Not since 2016-17 have Western Sydney Wanderers featured in the A-League Men finals.
The Wanderers have an uphill battle to end that drought this season, with Mark Rudan’s men ninth in the standings and four points adrift of the top six following Sunday’s 0-0 draw at home to Adelaide United.
Melbourne Victory have two games in hand on Western Sydney, who are desperate to bring finals football back to CommBank Stadium.
Asked if the Wanderers would be treating every game as a cup final to reach the top six, Western Sydney midfielder Keanu Baccus told Paramount+: “Of course.
“We’re just on the fringe. We haven’t made it the last few years, so we’re trying our best to get in there. Every game counts.”
The Wanderers weren’t without their chances in an entertaining but scoreless stalemate.
Thomas Aquilina hit the post in the first half, while Terry Antonis’ teasing delivery almost helped deadlock in the 19th minute.
“Yeah a little bit frustrating,” Baccus said post-game. “We wanted to win that. We tried out best. We were at home but didn’t happen. But positive we didn’t lose, so we move on.”
It came after the Wanderers edged the Reds 2-1 in Adelaide on Wednesday night, with Baccus adding: “We started off so well compared to Wednesday’s game. Probably should of put one or two away, and sealed the game then played different in the second half but we didn’t.”
Baccus added: “We’re getting better at consolidating and holding out. It’s working well, so we just have to put them away and it’ll be a better game.”
A point disappoints Clough and Reds
Adelaide were unable to avenge their midweek defeat to Western Sydney, but it wasn’t due to a lack of effort.
Lachlan Barr, Lachlan Brook and Zach Clough all came close to scoring for Adelaide, who overcame a slow start away to the Wanderers.
For English import Clough, it was two points dropped.
“I think we started slow. Western came at us very fast. But after about 20 minutes, we got a foothold on the game,” he told Paramount+.
“I think we controlled most of the game and disappointed to go home with just one point tonight.”
“I think we’re a really fit side and everyone can see that. We’re working hard. We started slow but we’ll have a look at that and go again,” he said.
Full-time: Honours even in Western Sydney
No goals at CommBank Stadium but it wasn’t for a want of trying from both sides.
A lot of chances fell to the Wanderers and Adelaide, especially the former.
The result left Adelaide third in the standings, three points ahead of fourth-placed Macarthur FC and six behind leaders Melbourne City.
As for Western Sydney, they’re ninth and four points adrift of the top six.
67′ Desperate Adama rescues Wanderers
If not for Adama Traore, Western Sydney would be behind.
Lachman Brook is in the thick of the action with 23 minutes remaining.
He bursts clear down the left and forces Margush into a diving save and the ball spills to Zach Clough, whose rebound is blocked on the line by Traore.
Half-time: All to play for in the second 45
It was a tale of two halves at CommBank Stadium.
Western Sydney stormed out of the blocks and should’ve scored at least once.
They weren’t able to and the Reds nearly broke the deadlock heading into the break.
There have been 12 goals scored in the last two ALM games between Western Sydney and Adelaide at CommBank Stadium, with each team picking up a win in that period. Goals coming up in the second half?
38′ Margush with a stunning save
The Wanderers dictated proceedings inside the opening 20 minutes but Adelaide have grown into the game and almost snatch the lead.
Lachlan Barr probably thought he had opened the scoring but quick-thinking Wanderers goalkeeper Daniel Margush uses his foot to deny Adelaide.
Sit back and enjoy this moment of brilliance.
19′ Western Sydney spurn great chance
Terry Antonis laid it on a platter for his team-mates.
The Wanderers star whipped in a teasing cross but the bouncing ball somehow evaded Bernie Ibini and Keijiro Ogawa.
What an opportunity!
7′ Woodwork thwarts Wanderers
Western Sydney have started on the front foot against Adelaide and they nearly take the lead insight seven minutes.
Thomas Aquilina makes a barnstorming run into the penalty area and his low shot cannons off the post, much to the relief of the Reds.
Opta insight
- Western Sydney Wanderers have lost only one of their last seven A-league Men games against Adelaide United (W4, D2) and are undefeated in their last three games against them (W1, D2); the last and only time they went longer without defeat against the Reds was a four-game streak from 2015 to 2016 (W1, D3).
- There have been 12 goals scored in the last two ALM games between Western Sydney and Adelaide at CommBank Stadium, with each team picking up a win in that period.
- This will be just the second time that the Wanderers have played the same team in back- to-back ALM games, they opened their 2013-14 season with a 1-all draw against the Central Coast Mariners after suffering a 2-0 defeat to the Mariners in the 2012-13 Grand Final.
- This will be the sixth time that Adelaide have faced the same team in consecutive ALM games and the second time they’ve done so in regular season games after they finished their 2009-10 season with a 2-1 win over the Newcastle Jets and opened their 2010-11 season with a nil-all draw against the Jets.
- Adelaide have picked up 21 competition points (W6, D3) from 10 games against teams ranked on the bottom half of the ALM ladder in the 2021-22 campaign, the second most of any team in the competition (Melbourne City – 23).
- Western Sydney have faced just 11 shots at their goal per game in the 2021-22 ALM season, the fewest of any team in the competition and four per game fewer than Adelaide (15).
- Adama Traore of the Wanderers has made 24 interceptions in the ALM since the beginning of 2022, the joint-most of any player in the competition alongside Adelaide’s Javi Lopez.
- Adelaide’s Jacob Tratt has made seven shots at goal from set pieces in the 2021-22 season, the most of any player in the competition and more than three times as any Western Sydney player.
Revenge on the minds of Adelaide
Western Sydney and Adelaide meet for the second time in quick succession with the Wanderers this time at home, hosting Carl Veart’s Reds at CommBank Stadium.
The Wanderers stunned the Reds on the road on Wednesday evening, coming from behind to win 2-1. It was the fourth win of head coach Mark Rudan’s reign, but the recently-appointed Western Sydney boss is yet to record back-to-back victories in an unpredictable start to his tenure.
Adelaide are without star captain Craig Goodwin, who’s been deemed a close contact for COVID-19.
LIBERTY A-LEAGUE: MELBOURNE VICTORY 3-1 MELBOURNE CITY
REACTION
Vidosic laments ‘worst game’ on ‘most important’ day
City were on the backfoot from the outset and were never able to match a red-hot Victory in the Melbourne Derby.
In a season that promised so much, City ended 2021-22 emptyhanded.
For City head coach Rado Vidosic, he said: “If we look at the whole season I can’t explain how proud I am of what they have achieved and how well they played.
“Maybe, unfortunately, we had probably our worst game on this most important day of the season for us.”
Will rest be a factor in Grand Final?
By the time the ALW decider comes around, Victory would’ve had seven days of rest, while Sydney had the week off having rallied past City in the Semi-Final on March 11.
Victory head coach Jeff Hopkins is confident the shorter rest won’t hamper his team.
“It depends how you use your rest,” Hopkins said post-game.
“I’m glad that we’re coming in after two weeks of two good performances where we’ve created chances and scored goals and we keep rolling on.
“You could see they were really focused yesterday and today. Maybe a little bit nervous but I’m really proud of the effort they put in.
“Very pleased with the amount of chances that we created.”
Full-time: Victory set up Sydney rematch
And it’s over.
It will be repeat of last season’s Grand Final between Sydney FC and Melbourne Victory after the latter outclassed Melbourne City 3-1 in the Preliminary Final.
Victory’s quest for back-to-back Championships is well and truly on track.
81′ Goal 3-1: City pull one back
They couldn’t, could they?
With 10 minutes remaining, Tori Tumeth puts the ball in the back of the net after James produces a stunning stop at the other end to prevent City from going 4-0 down.
“City have everything to play for” as the clock ticks down.
Bragging rights set to go to Victory
53′ Goal 3-0: Victory cruising into Grand Final
“It’s no longer a mountain to climb, Melbourne Victory are well and truly on their way,” Network 10’s Thomson says it perfectly.
It only takes eight minutes of the second half for Victory to virtually put the result beyond doubt.
Captain Lia Privitelli joins the action with her second goal in as many games after some magnificent work from Alex Chidiac.
Half-time: Uphill battle for City
City have been simply unable to match Victory’s intensity in the opening 45 minutes.
Ayres and Bunge deservedly have Victory leading 2-0 but it could and should be more for the titleholders.
As it stands, Victory will meet Sydney in a ‘Big Blue’ Grand Final. City have been “played off the park”, according to commentator Robbie Thomson. Can they find a way back?
45+2′ Goal 2-0: Victory put one foot in GF
And just like that, Victory will take a 2-0 lead into the break.
Victory have absolutely dominated and the defending champions get the second goal they deserve in first-half stoppage time.
Another set-piece proves City’s undoing as Claudia Bunge pounces to double Victory’s lead on the stroke of half-time.
35′ Another Victory chance goes begging
“That will be a tough one to watch back,” said co-commentator Amy Chapman and she’s not wrong.
Another sitter goes begging for Victory in the first half, this time Catherine Zimmerman before the interval.
Unmarked at the back post, Zimmerman somehow skies the ball over the crossbar with a goal at her mercy.
Victory lead but they could made to pay for their wastefulness.
30′ Goal 1-0: Ayres makes amends as Victory punish City
The best way to forget a howler? Score a goal.
Having missed an absolute sitter, Victory forward Ayres makes amends with a well-taken finish across goal on the half-hour mark.
Another City turnover proves costly as Ayres makes her way towards goal and slides a shot across goal, past James and into the back of the net.
Fair to say Victory deserved that.
Fun in the Melbourne sun
Fans are lapping up another Melbourne Derby at AAMI Park, with plenty of colour on show in this historic meeting.
15′ No Bubs, no worries for City
The glaring absence in City’s starting XI is veteran goalkeeper Melissa Barbieri after her red card against Sydney.
Her suspension has paved the way for Sally James, who was signed to be the starting goalkeeper at the beginning of the season, to stake her claim in her biggest match of the season.
She hasn’t looked too overawed on the big stage, stepping up to keep out Alex Chidiac in the 15th minute.
11′ Stott denied by Dumont’s brilliance
All eyes are on Stott today and she looks up for it.
Joining the century club, Stott tries her luck from distance and the Football Ferns star almost finds the top corner of the net in the 11th minute.
However, Casey Dumont produces a brilliant save to thwart Stott and City.
End-to-end stuff in Melbourne.
5′ Ayres with miss of the season contender
Melina Ayres won’t want to see a replay of her awful miss in the early exchanges.
With only the goalkeeper in front of her inside five minutes after a ball over the top, Victory’s Ayres somehow sprays a volley wide of the post in one of the worst misses you’ll see this season.
That could come back to haunt Victory at AAMI Park.
Milestone woman Stott
What an occasion it is for Rebekah Stott in her 100th appearance.
Stott’s journey back to the professional game after recovering from cancer has been one of the stories of the 2021-22 Liberty A-League season.
The physical and mental fortitude displayed from the New Zealand international to return to action both at club level and for the Football Ferns is nothing short of heroic; in the process Stott became Melbourne City’s all-time appearance record holder, and on Sunday afternoon the 28-year-old will reach another special milestone: her 100th game in the Liberty A-League.
Stott made her debut at Brisbane Roar, moving to Melbourne Victory for 25 games before joining City for the club’s inaugural season in the Liberty A-League.
74 appearances later and Stott is a City legend, with game number 100 set to come against Victory in Sunday afternoon’s Preliminary Final, with the winner set to face Sydney FC in the Grand Final next weekend.
Opta insight
- Melbourne City have won four of their last six A-League Women games against Melbourne Victory (L2), including a 5-1 win in their last encounter (Boxing Day 2021); this will be the first post-season meeting between the two teams.
- City have won their last five ALW games on the bounce at AAMI Park, outscoring their opponents 16-4 across that span, while Victory have won only one of their last five games at the venue (D1, L3).
- City will be out to avoid back-to-back ALW defeats for the first time since a stretch of five consecutive losses from January to March 2021 after giving away the lead in a 4-2 loss to Sydney FC in the 2021-22 Semi-finals.
- Victory have won their last three straight Finals games in the ALW, as many wins as they had logged in all their nine post-season games prior (D1, L5).
- City (55%) and Victory (54%) have had the highest possession rates of any teams in the 2021-22 ALW season.
- No team has scored the opening goal of the game on more occasions in the 2021-22 ALW season than City (12); however, City (2) are one of only two teams to have lost multiple games after scoring the opening goal of the game this season (Brisbane Roar FC – 2).
- City have made just one error leading to a shot at goal in the 2021-22 ALW season, the fewest of any team in the competition and four fewer than Victory (5); indeed, Western Sydney Wanderers FC (9) are the only team to have made more than the Victory.
- Hannah Wilkinson of City has scored five goals in her last four ALW games and found the back of the net five times in her last game against the Victory in the competition – equaling the A-League Women record for most goals in a game.
- Wilkinson has created 11 scoring chances for teammate Rhianna Pollicina this ALW season, the second-most of any player for another this campaign (14 – Fiona Worts for Chelsea Dawber).
- Victory’s Melina Ayres has scored six goals across her last six games in the ALW, as well as making two assists in that period; she has also logged one goal and one assist in her last two games against Melbourne City FC.
Historic meeting to decide Sydney’s opponent
For the first time in A-League Women’s history, a Melbourne Derby will play out in the Finals Series.
It comes after Melbourne City’s loss to Sydney FC and Melbourne Victory’s shock win over Adelaide United in a pair of Semi-Final fixtures last weekend. The two Victorian sides will now play off for the remaining spot in the Grand Final, with Sydney already securing safe passage to the title decider.
City had never lost a Final in eight prior post-season appearances until falling to the Sky Blues; now Rado Vidosic’s side must avoid losing two in a row as Victory bring momentum into the Preliminary Final.
Suspended for the Semi-Finals due to an accumulation of yellow cards, Victory star Kyra Cooney-Cross should return to the fray this Sunday. City, however must cope with the loss of goalkeeper Melissa Barbieri and wingback Tyla-Jay Vlajnic who both received red cards against Sydney.
