Popovic. Aloisi. Young. D’Agostino. The names of some of the main protagonists in Melbourne Victory’s battle with Western United in the 2021-22 Isuzu UTE A-League Finals Series.
They’ve all been here before. Together, in April 2017, amidst one of the great rivalries of the era: Brisbane Roar v Western Sydney Wanderers.
VICTORY LEAD WESTERN 1-0 AFTER THE SEMIFINAL LEG 1. SECURE YOUR TICKETS NOW FOR THE SECOND LEG
The two sides had met the season prior in the semi-finals. The Wanderers won 5-4 in an instant classic in Parramatta. One year later, Suncorp Stadium was the stage; an Elimination Final the occasion.
Tony Popovic was Wanderers boss, with John Aloisi in charge of the Roar. On Brisbane’s bench sat two current A-League stars, once team-mates, now opponents, hoping to have the same impact on Saturday afternoon as they did on that night in 2017.
The team lists read as so:
Brisbane Roar
Michael Theo, Jade North, Avraam Papadopoulos, Luke DeVere, Corey Brown, Thomas Kristensen, Joe Caletti, Brandon Borrello, Brett Holman, Thomas Broich, Jamie Maclaren
Head coach: John Aloisi
Western Sydney
Vedran Janjetović, Jack Clisby, Jonathan Aspropotamitis, Robbie Cornthwaite, Scott Neville, Terry Antonis, Keanu Baccus, Nicolás Martínez, Mitch Nichols, Jumpei Kusukami, Brendon Santalab
Head coach: Tony Popovic
Terry Antonis was the goalscorer for the Wanderers on that night, beating Michael Theo from the spot and putting the visitors in front on the cusp of half-time. Jamie Maclaren, now of Melbourne City, equalised for the Roar.
That took the game to extra time, when Brisbane’s bench came into play. A foot injury sustained by Theo opened the door for substitute keeper – a certain Jamie Young – to enter proceedings.
At half time in extra time came an attacking substitution from Aloisi: North for a baby-faced Nick D’Agostino, 19 years of age in just his ninth A-League appearance.
He would prove a crucial asset in crunch time for the Roar.
Neither team could split the deadlock, so penalties ensued. First went Brandon Borrello for Brisbane. Antonis had the Answer.
D’Agostino crunched Roar’s second penalty down the middle, lashing the net with the trademark power and authority we’ve come to expect of the Socceroos striker in a Victory kit.
The two sides continued to exchange blows; Maclaren bagged his spot kick off the Roar, as did then-Wanderers defender – and D’Agostino’s current Victory team-mate – Brendan Hamill. Robbie Cornthwaite blasted his own spot-kick into the top-right corner – arguably the pick of the bunch.
At 5-5, it was sudden death. Tommy Oar, now of Macarthur FC, did his job for the Roar. Up stepped Jumpei Kusukami to keep the Wanderers in it.
That’s when Young came to the fore. It was his moment, the reserve keeper, only half-committing to his left-handed dive to readjust his body and parry away Kusukami’s weak attempt struck virtually down the centre of goal.
It was the game that proved to be Popovic’s last game in charge of the Wanderers. But six years later, he’s back in the A-League – as is Aloisi. On Tuesday night the two former Socceroos team-mates met in the finals series for the first time in six years; Popovic took bragging rights, with his Victory outfit edging Aloisi’s Western by one goal to nil.
Popovic now holds a 2-1 advantage over Aloisi going head-to-head in finals fixtures. On Saturday afternoon, the rivalry resumes. D’Agostino draped in navy blue, Young in green and black, and the stakes all the same.
