Besart Berisha’s sensational 89th-minute volley fired Melbourne Victory to a 2-1 win over Adelaide United in an entertaining Elimination Final at AAMI Park.
Star striker Berisha completed a stirring comeback in supreme style as Kevin Muscat’s men booked a date with Sydney FC in next week’s Semi Final at Allianz Stadium.
Adelaide had been on track to claim that spot when, after a cagey first 45 minutes, Nikola Mileusnic silenced the home fans by breaking the deadlock in the 57th minute.
But Leroy George responded with a header just six minutes later before Berisha popped up with a superb winner just as extra-time beckoned.
While the Reds were left to rue an eighth successive Finals Series defeat outside South Australia, Victory can look forward to a blockbuster Big Blue next Saturday night as they seek revenge for last year’s Grand Final loss.
Catch up with all the highlights and stats in our match centre!
STORY OF THE GAME
- CLOSE: Ersan Gulum heads across the face of goal from a corner.
- CHANCE: Lawrence Thomas is deceived by a Daniel Adlung, but Nathan Konstandopoulos can’t bring it under control at the far post.
- TACKLE: Ben Garuccio’s superb sliding challenge nicks the ball off George’s foot just as the winger shaped to shoot.
- GOAL! Mileusnic stuns AAMI Park into silence with the opener just prior to the hour.
- SAVE: Thomas makes a smart stop, parrying away Baba Diawara’s snapshot.
- GOAL! Victory hit back six minutes after falling behind as George heads in his ninth of the season.
- SAVE: George slides a superb, angled ball into the box that Berisha directs back across Paul Izzo, but the goalkeeper sticks out his leg to save.
- CHANCE: George is caught in two minds and lets a good opportunity go begging.
- GOAL! Just as the clock is set to tick into added time, Berisha conjures a brilliant winner.
GOALS
Nikola Mileusnic, Adelaide United 57′: 0-1
Isaias’s quick free-kick from within his own half catches out a napping a Victory defence as Mileusnic peels off Rhys Williams’ shoulder and pokes past the onrushing Thomas.
Leroy George, Melbourne Victory 63′: 1-1
Kosta Barbarouses twists in and then out on the right flank before dinking a cross into the middle, where George beats Michael Marrone to the header.
Besart Berisha, Melbourne Victory 89′: 2-1
Absolutely sublime from Berisha as he holds off Jordan Elsey and acrobatically volleys in a Barbarouses cross that was behind the striker.
BESART BERISHA, THIS IS INSANE!!! ???
?: @FOXFootball #MVCvADL #ALeagueFinals pic.twitter.com/bsXbjkeJw7
— Hyundai A-League (@ALeague) April 22, 2018
