Melbourne Victory moved into the FFA Cup quarter-finals after a come-from-behind 2-1 win over the Gold Coast Knights on Thursday.
Summary
A youthful Victory went into the break behind at the Croatian Sports Centre following a first-half header from Cai Tipaldo.
But Luis Lawrie-Lattanzio levelled early in the second half before Will Wilson scored a tremendous winner in extra-time to send Victory into a last-eight meeting with Adelaide United.
Victory made a lively start and Birkan Kirdar put a good opportunity over the crossbar early on.
The midfielder also had the next good chance, curling a 20-yard free-kick over the crossbar in the 12th minute.
Robbie Kruse and Lleyton Brooks both tried their luck from distance in the opening 25 minutes, firing wide.
But the Knights took the lead just before the half-hour mark, Tipaldo heading in a Jai Ingham corner at the back post.
Victory had looked the more likely throughout the first half, but the visitor had to wait until after the break to draw level.
Nishan Velupillay played a lovely pass through to Lawrie-Lattanzio, who finished clinically for his first senior goal to make it 1-1 in the 53rd minute.
Introduced in the second half, Francesco Margiotta had an effort blocked before Kirdar fired over again as Victory pushed.
Gold Coast goalkeeper Josh Langdon forced extra-time with a couple of strong late stops.
He denied Kruse after a Velupillay pass before making an excellent save from Margiotta in the 93rd minute.
But the eventual game-winner came six minutes into extra-time.
After a scramble in the area, Zaydan Bello played a pass into Wilson, who curled a wonderful finish into the top corner from the edge of the area with the outside of his foot.
Margiotta and Velupillay squandered glorious chances to seal the win before the Knights wasted a late chance of their own as Victory moved through.
Key moment
Player in focus
Velupillay was in fine form. The attacker was a constant threat to the Knights defence, setting up Lawrie-Lattanzio for the equaliser and regularly creating chances for Victory.
Implications
Victory will face Adelaide United in the quarter-finals at Coopers Stadium on Wednesday, January 5.
Result
FFA Cup 2021/22 Round of 16
Gold Coast Knights 1 (Cai Tipaldo 28′)
Melbourne Victory 2 (Luis Lawrie-Lattanzio 53′, Will Wilson 96′)
Gold Coast Knights: Langdon (gk); Martin, Janiel (Atwal 80′), Ludwik (Aleki Ingham 68′); Walker (Bechwith 110′), Brown, Nichols (c), Schmidt; Tipaldo (McDonald 68′), Brymora (Muratovic 89′), Jai Ingham.
Melbourne Victory: Tyson (gk); Nigro, Lupancu, Broxham (c), Ishak (Bello 86′); Barnett (Wilson 86′), Kirdar; Brooks (Lambiris 113′), Kruse, Velupillay; Lawrie-Lattanzio (Margiotta 68′).
Yellow cards: Schmidt 78′, Martin 90+1′, Nichols 95′
Red cards: Nil
Attendance: 2,417
Venue: Croatian Sports Centre
Next up
Victory’s next game will be the quarter-final against Adelaide on Wednesday.
