Melbourne Victory set up a blockbuster Australia Cup semi-final with Isuzu UTE A-League rivals Adelaide United, while 2022 winners Macarthur FC also reached the final four over the weekend. This is what we learned.
Moreton Excelsior City 0-4 Melbourne Victory
Melbourne Victory recruit Nikos Vergos was at the double as the two-time Australia Cup champions emphatically punched their ticket through to the semi-finals with a 4-0 rout of NPLM QLD outfit Moreton City Excelsior.
Nishan Velupillay bagged his fifth goal in three Australia Cup matches this season while Kasey Bos was also on target – but it was Vergos who caught the eye.
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The former Panathinaikos and Olympiacos forward has now scored in back-to-back matches for Victory as he keeps talisman Bruno Fornaroli out of the starting XI.
With Tony Popovic at the helm last season, Fornaroli enjoyed an incredible season. The Uruguay-born Australia international started all 25 of his Isuzu UTE A-League appearances, scoring 18 goals, enjoying a Subway Socceroos re-call and helping Victory reach the 2023-24 Grand Final.
While Fornaroli has found the back of the net once in this season’s Australia Cup, he has found himself out of the line-up with new head coach Patrick Kisnorbo preferring Vergos since the ex-Real Madrid youngster made his debut against NPLM NSW club NWS Spirit last month.
In Victory’s past two fixtures, the 37-year-old Fornaroli played 24 minutes off the bench against NWS Spirit while he was an unused substitute against Moreton City as Vergos completed 134 minutes across both contests.
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“Niko came from overseas so he has taken some time to adjust but in training he has been performing well and in the game he is being rewarded for his work,” Kisnorbo said via Victory’s media.
“Does he need to do more? Yes. Can he do more? Yes. But the pleasing thing is he is getting into great positions created by the team around him.
“If you see the goals he scored, they’re goals that have been him finishing off good team work.”
Victory have barely put a foot wrong so far in the 2024 Australia Cup as they also look ahead to their Round 1 opener against Isuzu UTE A-League champions Central Coast Mariners on October 18 – a rematch of the Grand Final.
Victory have scored four goals in each of their Australia Cup games under new boss Kisnorbo to date – 4-1 v Lambton Jaffas, 4-0 v NWS Spirit and 4-0 v Moreton City as A-Leagues rivals Adelaide United await in the semis.
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“I think it was a good test and we showed some good things and scored some great team goals. In the second half, I think we dropped a bit and we need to improve that part of our game,” Kisnorbo reflected on the match against Moreton City.
“I can’t fault the players in the first half but we need to improve that second period. I think we dropped off a bit but we’ll learn and take it into the next game.”
Victory will host three-time champions Adelaide at AAMI Park on Saturday.
“It’s a massive opportunity for us because we know how important they are and how passionately they support our team and build an atmosphere,” added Kisnorbo.
“It’s a great opportunity to make a cup final, its a awesome opportunity for our fans to see us at home this pre-season and we’re looking forward to the match.”
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Oakleigh Cannons 0-1 Macarthur FC
If there is one thing that can be almost guaranteed in 2024-25, it is that Macarthur FC star Filip Kurto will be among the Isuzu UTE A-League’s elite goalkeepers.
Valere Germain’s goal and some Kurto heroics helped 2022 winners Macarthur past NPLM VIC champions Oakleigh Cannons at the Home of the Matildas on a wet Saturday afternoon.
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Former Monaco and Marseille star Germain made it three goals in two games after breaking the deadlock in the third minute, having scored twice to spark an incredible comeback against Newcastle Jets in the Round of 16.
In a rematch of the 2022 semi-final which saw Chris Taylor’s Oakleigh enjoy a fairytale run after upstaging Sydney FC, the Cannons huffed and puffed in pursuit of an equaliser.
But standing in between Oakleigh and a leveller was Polish shot-stopper Kurto.
Former Adelaide United forward Asad Kasumovic drew an incredible reaction save from Kurto in the second half as the Cannons remained a constant threat in the wet Melbourne weather.
It was not long before Kurto produced another stunning stop – this time denying Oliver Kubilay from long rage.
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As Oakleigh pushed and pushed, Mile Sterjovski’s Macarthur held firm to set up a semi-final showdown with NPLM VIC giants South Melbourne.
Interestingly, the only other time Macarthur reached the Australia Cup semis, they won it two years ago.
