Western United have beaten Wellington Phoenix 1-0 in their elimination final to reach the A-League Men final four and guarantee the grand final will be played in Victoria.
Aleksandar Prijovic’s 10th-minute thunderbolt and a series of sublime Jamie Young saves at AAMI Park proved enough for United to tee up a blockbuster two-legged semi-final against Melbourne Victory.
REACTION: ‘Something out of The Matrix’ – ‘World-class’ save defines Young’s vital Western role
John Aloisi’s United face Victory at AAMI Park on Tuesday night and Saturday evening but could be without Rene Khrin, who was helped off with a suspected hamstring injury in the 74th minute.
United had lost all three of their clashes with Wellington this season and hadn’t beaten them since their first ever game, back in October 2019.
But things started to go right from the sixth minute when Young made a sensational diving save to paw away Reno Piscopo’s fierce strike with one hand.
Four minutes later, United were in front.
Ben Garuccio lofted in a cross from the left and while it went over Dylan Wenzel-Halls’ head, it dropped to Prijovic.
The Serbian striker took a touch, propped then struck a scintillating strike into the top corner at the near post for his 10th goal of the season.
United were wasteful from there despite a flurry of chances while the Phoenix relied on spectacular efforts.
In the 62nd minute, Piscopo charged forward and let rip with a shot that dipped and hit the corner of the crossbar.
Two minutes later, United should have doubled their lead.
Wenzel-Halls had a header blocked, then somehow put his close-range follow-up wide.
Four minutes later, Wellington’s Ben Old headed wide from point-blank range.
Then in the 71st, Young again hauled United out of trouble.
James McGarry’s header looked certain to equalise but the veteran goalkeeper flung himself sideways then clawed the ball away with one hand.
Six minutes later, Young brilliantly dived down low to parry away Piscopo’s clever free kick.
Wellington’s Finn Surman toe-poked wide in the 86th while Young denied Old’s long-range effort in added time.
Melbourne City will play the winner of Sunday’s match between Adelaide United and Central Coast in the other semi-final.
RE-LIVE: WESTERN UNITED 1-0 WELLINGTON PHOENIX
By Matt Comito for KEEPUP
It’s all over at AAMI Park – and it’s Western United progressing to the semifinals!
John Aloisi’s side win 1-0 thanks to an early Aleksandar Prijović goal, and the superb glovework of Jamie Young.
72′: SAVE! Young (1-0)
An unbelievable save by Jamie Young ensures Western stay in the lead.
Network 10 co-commentator Andy Harper exclaimed: “He’s a freak, Jamie Young – this is inside the post, and behind him. How the hell does he do that? It’s an incredible piece of goalkeeping!”
70′: SAVE! Sail (1-0)
Sail to the rescue again for the ‘Nix!
Pain’s shot from distance deflects off the leg of Surman, wrong-footing Sail as the ball diverts toward the bottom-left corner.
Sail gets across quickly, adjusting his body to concede a corner, instead of a second Western goal.
65′: CHANCE! Wenzel-Halls (1-0)
Dylan Wenzel-Halls from close range – and he’s missed! The Western forward’s initial attempt was blocked but the rebound fell kindly; the angle was tight but Wenzel-Halls failed to get the ball on target as a golden chance went begging.
61′: CHANCE! Piscopo (1-0)
Reno Piscopo fires a rocket toward goal, and hammers the crossbar!
The Wellington creator goes close to levelling the score with an absolute stunner.
52′: CHANCE! Pain (1-0)
Prijović slides Connor Pain into the box and the Western winger shoots – but central defender Finn Surman gets across, sliding into the path of Pain to block the danger.
46′: SECOND HALF (1-0)
To progress to the semifinals, Wellington must do the following:
- Win an A-League Men’s final in Australia for the first time in club history
- Come from behind to win for the first time this season
Ufuk Talay’s side trail Western 1-0 as the second half begins.
39′: SAVE! Sail (1-0)
Jerry Skotadis tests Sail with a curling shot from range, attempting to squeeze the ball into the bottom-right corner. Sail gets down quickly to prod the ball around the post.
37′: Phoenix challenged to break Western down (1-0)
The hosts are conceding the majority of possession to Wellington; with a one-goal lead intact, Western are challenging the visitors to break them down – and are so far handling the Phoenix threat.
26′: Hooper lively early for ‘Nix (1-0)
Gary Hooper has been a bright spark up forward for the ‘Nix in an end-to-end contest at AAMI Park.
10′: GOAL! Prijović (1-0)
The hosts take an early lead in the elimination final!
A ball off the left flank fell into the path of Aleksandar Prijović as Sam Sutton failed to clear the danger. The Serbian controlled the ball before firing it past Oli Sail into the roof of the net.
6′: SAVE! Young (0-0)
That was close from the visitors!
Reno Piscopo’s strike from range bounced once on its way to the bottom-left corner, but Western keeper Jamie Young got down quickly to tip the strike out for a corner.
5′: CHANCE! Kilkenny (0-0)
Neil Kilkenny takes the first shot on goal of the evening, volleying wide from the edge of the box.
1′: KICK-OFF (0-0)
We’re underway at AAMI Park!
