Melbourne Victory cruised through to the 2024 Australia Cup quarter-finals but Perth Glory bowed out in a thriller on Wednesday night. This is what we learned from the two fixtures.
NWS Spirit 0-4 Melbourne Victory
Is this the season Nishan Velupillay takes his game to another level?
Velupillay scored another brace and provided an assist as Melbourne Victory advanced to the Australia Cup quarter-finals for the first time since going on to win the 2021 tournament after easing past NPLM NSW outfit NWS Spirit midweek.
The 23-year-old forward has now scored four goals in two Australia Cup matches this season having enjoyed a two-goal haul in the 4-1 dismantling of NPLM NNSW club Lambton Jaffas in the Round of 32.
AUSTRALIA CUP QUARTER-FINAL DRAW: A-Leagues heavyweights go head-to-head
Last season was a breakout campaign for Velupillay, who was once an adoring Victory fan in the stands. Now, he is on the opposite side of the fans banging in goals.
Velupillay scored three goals in 27 A-Leagues matches in 2023-24, and four across all competitions, as the two-time Australia Cup champions reached the Grand Final with Tony Popovic at the helm last term.
WHAT WE LEARNED: Wanderers duo impress on debut as teen No. 9 eyes breakout A-Leagues season
“I’ve just been working on the mental side of the game. Information that I can take in wherever. Spoke to a few people,” he said at the time.
“I feel the mental side is so important. When you play at a club like Victory, you’re going to have to deal with pressure. I feel the mental side I’ve made stronger and there’s even more potential to make stronger.
“It helps when my goal is go out there and play with joy, and have fun with a smile on my face. That kind of relieves everything.
“I feel like I’m doing that now and that’s translating into how I’m delivering more consistent performances across 90 minutes.”
Patrick Kisnorbo is the new boss in town and the early signs indicate Velupillay is ready to take things up a notch.
It was another successful night for Kisnorbo and his Victory team.
For the second game running, the 2023-24 Isuzu UTE A-League Grand Finalists – scored four goals in a match as the Kisnorbo era at AAMI Park continues to gather momentum.
Ryan Teague’s long-range strike put Victory ahead in the 29th minute following a dominant start, which also saw Jordi Valadon hit the crossbar.
That midfield duo are looming as the pair to watch this season, having played a key role in Victory’s path to the Grand Final.
After doubling the lead before half-time, Velupillay turned provider for Greek recruit Nikos Vergos, who scored his first goal in Victory colours after keeping last season’s leading goalscorer Bruno Fornaroli out of the line-up.
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE WINNER IN WELLINGTON: Phoenix sign Japan international
WONDERKID WATCH: Sydney FC’s great escape as Jets complete ‘unprecedented’ NPL feat
The 28-year-old is also an ex-Real Madrid youth team player. Vergos spent the 2016-17 season at Real Madrid B, playing alongside Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard, Uruguay star Federico Valverde, Paris Saint-Germain’s Achraf Hakimi and Sergio Reguilon, while also training alongside the legendary Cristiano Ronaldo.
A brilliant first-time ball across the six-yard box from Velupillay allowed Vergos to tap home approaching the hour mark.
PROMOTION! Image that ‘highlights’ success of A-Leagues side’s three-year project
There was also a debut 13 minutes from the end as academy attacker Jordan Hoey came on to make his bow.
Hoey, whose twin brother Jesse is also in the side, was part of the Victory senior academy team that earned promotion to NPLM VIC this season.
Moreton City Excelsior 3-2 Perth Glory
Perth Glory’s exciting Australia Cup campaign came to an end in thrilling circumstances away in Queensland midweek.
Glory saw their 2-0 lead wiped out as NPLM QLD side Moreton City Excelsior rallied to beat 10-man Perth 3-2 on home soil.
It’s a new era under David Zdrilic in Western Australia. Not only are there new owners, but a new coach with a new philosophy and new players leading the charge at a club that finished bottom of the Isuzu UTE A-League last season.
COSTA COUP! Sydney FC sign ex-Bayern, Juve star in one of the biggest moves in A-Leagues history
SOCIAL REACTION: Sydney FC’s ‘outrageous’ new signing is the ‘biggest since Del Piero
With former Sydney FC assistant Zdrilic at the helm, Perth are adopting a high-octane brand of football and relentless pressing style.
It is a style which he helped implement alongside Sydney FC head coach Ufuk Talay last season – through his experience with the Red Bull Group at German Bundesliga outfit RB Leipzig, working with the likes of Austria head coach Ralf Rangnick and current Germany boss Julian Nagelsmann.
To get to the last 16, Glory outlasted Melbourne City 5-4 in a wild clash in the previous round having defeated Brisbane Roar in a play-off.
On Wednesday, Glory flew out the blocks with two goals inside the opening 10 minutes via highly-rated 18-year-old recruit Zach Lisolajski and Jacob Muir.
Lisolajski, who joined from Western United and was described as an “absolute machine” by Glory football director Stan Lazaridis upon his arrival, scored his first goal for the club.
Moreton City hit back with two goals to be back on level terms by the half-hour mark and Perth were dealt a blow approaching half-time when Adam Bugarija was sent off for a second yellow card.
The home side made the most of their numerical advantage five minutes from the end as substitute Joseph Scott found the back of the net.
A-LEAGUES ALUMNI: Bundesliga star’s impending exit could open door for Nestory Irankunda
“We couldn’t have wished for a better start with the two early goals,” Zdrilic said via Glory’s website. “But I don’t think we managed the momentum of the game very well.
“We should have been able to soak up a little bit of pressure. We’ve seen from a number of the other Cup games that the NPL teams are strong and they’re willing to have a go.
“We just had to manage that period when they did that, but we didn’t and we allowed them back into the game.
“Having said that, there was still another half to play and we’ve already done it many times this season, coming back and going again.
“But the red card then forced us to change our whole approach in the second half.
“I thought with 10 men we still were able to create three or four big opportunities… but you have to take them and in the end we copped a late goal and didn’t give ourselves enough time to get back into it.
“All credit to the opposition, they fought back, fought for every ball… and unfortunately we let them back in.
“It’s about how we respond now. It’s not a good feeling, it’s not the result that we wanted, but teams that win have to be able to deal with loss.
“So we have to put it aside and go again. There have been a lot of positives in this pre-season, but there’s still a lot of work to do.”
LOCKED IN! Dates announced for 2024-25 A-Leagues season
UNITE ROUND LAUNCHED FOR 2024-25: Everything you need to know
UNITE ROUND 2024-25: What’s new this season?
FULL FIXTURE: Who your team is up against in Unite Round
