Melbourne Victory have progressed to their third Ninja A-League Grand Final in five years after a 3-1 win over Adelaide United on Saturday afternoon that sealed a 6-2 aggregate Semi-Final win over the Reds.
Rachel Lowe was the hero at the Home of the Matildas on Saturday, scoring a goal on either side of Sara D’Appolonia’s clinical second-half finish as Victory built off a 3-1 first-leg win over Adelaide to take advantage of the Semi-Final tie.
Reds substitute Izzy Hodgson scored a late consolation goal for the visitors as the full-time whistle confirmed a 6-2 aggregate win to Victory, as well as a Grand Final spot.
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Jeff Hopkins’ Victory are now 15 games unbeaten – a club record – heading into next weekend’s title decider, where they’ll meet either Central Coast Mariners or Premiers Melbourne City; City and the Mariners are locked level at 2-2 after the first leg of their Semi-Final tie, with the return leg set to take place at ctrl:cyber Pitch on Sunday, May 11.
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As for Adelaide, Saturday’s 3-1 loss to Victory ended a fairytale season for Adrian Stenta’s side. Last season’s wooden spooners, Adelaide surged from a bottom-placed finish in 2023-24 to third at the end of the 2024-25 regular season, having recorded a club-record 11-game unbeaten streak along the way.
Despite the hefty 6-2 aggregate Semi-Final defeat, the Reds will hold their heads high after a brilliant campaign.
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A fast start was crucial for Adelaide if they had any hope of reducing Victory’s two-goal aggregate lead but just 11 minutes after kick-off, the visitors conceded a free-kick in a dangerous position, leading to the opening goal of the game.
Claudia Jenkins saved Alana Jancevski’s powerful effort from the edge of the area but Rachel Lowe had gambled on a spillage from the Reds keeper and the gamble paid off.
Lowe pounced on the loose ball to tap home from close range as Victory sailed to a 4-1 aggregate lead.
Adelaide midfielder Dylan Holmes had a big chance to equalise just beyond the half-hour mark but, in a one-on-one with Courtney Newbon, Holmes failed to find the back of the net as her centrally-struck effort invited the Victory keeper to make a save.
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Victory’s 1-0 lead on the day came under threat once again when Fiona Worts pounced on a spill from Newbon inside the six-yard box but Ellie Wilson scampered across to make a desperate block and keep her side’s three-goal aggregate lead intact.
Adelaide’s season was all but over at the break, although American import Erin Healy did her best to try and inspire a late fightback with a determined start to the second half.
The match clock ticked past the hour mark with Victory ahead by just one goal on the day, before the hosts doubled their advantage to pull four goals clear on aggregate.
Sara D’Appolonia scored the goal to seal Victory’s passage to the Grand Final, taking one touch to control a cutback cross from Nickoletta Flannery before firing a half-volley into the bottom-right corner.
Up 2-0 in the game and 5-1 on aggregate, Victory head coach Jeff Hopkins dipped into his bench and, just minutes after injecting substiture Holly Furphy into the contest, the young forward supplied the assist for Lowe’s second goal of the day as Victory turned the Semi-Final tie into a 6-1 aggregate rout.
Deep into second-half stoppage time, Izzy Hodgson bagged a consolation goal for Adelaide to reduce the aggregate deficit to four goals – but the final whistle blew soon after to send Victory back to a Ninja A-League Grand Final for the first time since 2022.
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