The Victory Academy face a Western United side desperately looking for a result to secure promotion on the final day of the VPL1 season.
Match Details
Melbourne Victory v Western United
Date: Sat 17 Aug
Time: 3:00pm
Location: Hume City Stadium
The Victory Academy face a Western United side that still has it all to play for on the final day of the VPL1 season.
Our boys in blue secured the VPL1 title and promotion last weekend with a 4-0 win over Kingston City, and will no doubt be looking to end the season on a high with a result over rivals Western United.
THEY'VE DONE IT!!!!
— Melbourne Victory (@gomvfc) August 10, 2024
Our Senior Academy are crowned #VPL1 Champions 🏆
Having now secured back-to-back promotions, we make our return to the @nplvictoria 🤩 pic.twitter.com/bpCpxCOH7l
A healthy crowd packed out John Cain Memorial Park last weekend as Melbourne Victory’s Senior Academy looked to secure the VPL1 crown and earn promotion to the NPL Victoria.
An early chance came Victory’s way in the 12th minute through Austin Ganino. The attacker used his pace to break through the back line, however, his centring ball in the box pass was cut off by a City defender and cleared from any danger.
Another chance in the 16th minute on the counter, this time through Jack Mihailidis. The winger was found streaming down the left side of the pitch to then whip in a curling cross, but Kayne Razmovski’s shot was mistimed, with the City keeper collecting without issue.
Adem Duratović thought he had opened the scoring in the 25th minute, but his left-footed shot from inside the box just brushed the outside of the opposite post.
But in the 29th minute, Victory broke the deadlock. A dangerous cross was sent into the box, only to find Austin Ganino streaming into the goal all alone. The attacker made no mistake, beating the keeper to give us the lead and bring us one step closer to promotion and the VPL1 title.
Our boys in blue started the second half on the front foot, having upped the pressure on Kingston City.
And it didn’t take long for the pressure to become too much when Adem Duratović’s header found the back of the net to give Victory a 2-0 lead.
Then, Tommaso Minutoli all but secured the VPL1 title and promotion to the NPL Victoria, scoring a brace in less than a minute to give Victory a commanding 4-0 lead in the 65th minute.
The full-time whistle blew and Victory was officially crowned VPL1 Champions!
Western United Academy currently sits only one point behind second-placed Preston Lions, who are currently in the last promotion spot.
United will require at least a point from Saturday afternoon’s match, and Preston to lose to join Victory in promotion to the NPLM VIC for season 2025.
