Melbourne Victory are 90 minutes from promotion after they beat Eltham Redbacks FC 2-0 in the 2026 VPL Men 1 Semi-Final.
With the stakes high, the Boys in Blue rose to the occasion, striking in both halves at the Home of the Matildas on Friday night to claim their place in the Final against Northcote City FC.
A-League-contracted Jack Mihailidis opened the scoring from the penalty spot after 17 minutes, and he would have an instrumental role in Victory’s second late on.
The midfielder, having intercepted an underhit pass, was upended by goalkeeper Abdulkerim Koc, who would be sent off later in the match, but an advantage was played, allowing Ben Dunbar to finish off the Redbacks.
Victory will face Northcote, following their 3-2 win versus FC Bulleen Lions, for a place in the 2027 Senol NPL Victoria on Saturday, September 19, kick-off 7:30pm AEST, at Lakeside Stadium.
Match details are available by clicking here.
Speaking to MelbourneVictory.com.au, Senior Academy Head Coach, Besart Berisha was delighted at both the result and how his players performed in a pressurised situation.
“I was very pleased and proud of the boys last night. To win a semi-final and reach the Final is a fantastic achievement, especially with such a young group.
“I was really happy with the way we controlled the occasion and the intensity of the game. We were organised, aggressive and, at the same time, disciplined when it mattered. The boys showed great maturity and courage in an important moment. We have worked extremely hard all season to put ourselves in this position.
“Now it’s the Final – and we will make sure we are ready for it.”
