Melbourne Victory will officially feature in the 2024-25 Isuzu UTE A-League Finals Series thanks to their 2-1 win over Macarthur Bulls on Friday night.
Victory – Grand Finalists last season – clinched their top-six berth at the expense of Macarthur with one round remaining courtesy of first-half goals from Ryan Teague and Kasey Bos on ANZAC Day.
With Subway Socceroos head coach Tony Popovic watching from the stands along with Young Socceroos boss Trevor Morgan, Australia international Teague produced a moment of magic upon his return from injury to put the visitors ahead in the fourth minute.
BUY TICKETS TO THE ISUZU UTE A-LEAGUE
Victory full-back Bos then capped a sublime team move nine minutes prior to half-time as the visitors won in Campbelltown for the first time since December 2022 while eliminating Macarthur from the finals race.
Arthur Diles’ Victory are now third in the standings ahead of this weekend’s fixtures, two points behind second-placed Melbourne City, while they are a point ahead of Western United and two clear of Western Sydney Wanderers.
As for the Bulls, the result left them four points outside of the top six with one match to play.
It took just four minutes for Victory – who were without injured goalkeeper Mitch Langerak – to set the tone on the road, where Teague’s stunning goal broke the deadlock.
BUY TICKETS TO THE ISUZU UTE A-LEAGUE
Stood on the edge of the penalty box, the Socceroo met Zinedine Machach’s lay-off before curling the ball into the top corner of the net against a helpless Filip Kurto.
Macarthur barely had a snuff in the opening 12 minutes but as the half wore on, they generated a couple of chances, with Jake Hollman’s 21st-minute effort flashing just wide of the post.
Hollman went even closer to restoring parity in the 35th minute when the Bulls midfielder rattled the crossbar with a ferocious half-volley.
But football is a game of fine margins and at the other end, Victory doubled their lead via Bos moments later. It was a delightful team move as Daniel Arzani’s inch-perfect pass picked out Machach who then produced a rabona cross which was flicked on by Nishan Velupillay for Bos to finish into the bottom of the net.
BUY TICKETS TO THE ISUZU UTE A-LEAGUE
Marin Jakolis nearly found a way past Victory goalkeeper Jack Duncan eight minutes into the second half as his deflected shot wreaked havoc. However, the shot-stopper managed to get down low and push the ball over the crossbar.
Macarthur head coach Mile Sterjovski turned to in-from striker Harrison Sawyer off the bench and it nearly lead to a goal on the hour as the former South Melbourne star glanced a header agonisingly wide of the post.
Sawyer came close again minutes later. Duncan produced an outrageous save to deny the Bulls frontman, who then hit the post on the rebound. However, it would not have counted anyway due to offside.
BUY TICKETS TO THE ISUZU UTE A-LEAGUE
The Bulls did get a goal back 22 minutes from the end through former Victory star Ikonomidis. The visiting side were caught out on the counter-attack as Jakolis picked out an unmarked Ikonomidis to slot home past Duncan.
Macarthur came within a whisker of drawing level in the 85th minute but they saw a shot dramatically cleared off the goal line.
