Match details
Gold Coast Knights v Melbourne Victory
Croatian Sports Centre, Gold Coast
Thursday, December 30, 2021
Kick-off: 8.30pm AEDT
Watch live and free on 10play.com.au
Preview
Melbourne Victory is targeting a place in the FFA Cup quarter-finals ahead of a trip to take on the Gold Coast Knights on Thursday.
Just four days after moving top of the Isuzu UTE A-League table with a 3-1 win over Western United, Victory will be on the Gold Coast for a rescheduled Round of 16 clash.
Victory has lost just one of eight games in all competitions this season ahead of taking on the Knights.
Squad rotation is again expected, with Victory taking on Brisbane Roar in the league at AAMI Park on Sunday.
Victory’s FFA Cup run so far has included hard-fought wins over Perth Glory and Adelaide City, booking a spot in the last 16.
If Tony Popovic’s side can get past Gold Coast, it will return to Adelaide for a third time in this cup campaign – to face rival United.
Victory is coming off a strong win over Western, with Jason Geria, Josh Brillante and Nick D’Agostino on the scoresheet.
Geria netted his first Isuzu UTE A-League goal, Brillante his first for the Club and D’Agostino his third of the season.
The opener – Geria’s header – was set up by Brimmer’s third assist of the campaign, while Rojas’ fourth assist led to D’Agostino’s sealer.
Mostly youthful Victory sides have competed in the FFA Cup so far this year, with Anthony Leban the hero from the penalty spot in both games.
Aaron Anderson, 21, Zaydan Bello, 19, Birkan Kirdar, 19, Jay Barnett, 20, and Lleyton Brooks, 20, have all started both matches.
Player in focus
Nishan Velupillay, 20, has caught the eye this season, including scoring the winner away to Adelaide United earlier this month. The attacker could get more of a chance against Gold Coast.
