Melbourne Victory fell to reigning NPL WA double-winners Olympic Kingsway 4-3, defeated in a hard-fought clash that was decided in extra time.
Returning to competitive football for the 2025/26 season, Victory were in for a challenge against the in-form Green Machine on their home turf, attracting a record crowd of over 3,000 spectators.
With new signings Louis D’Arrigo and Keegan Jelacic in the starting lineup for their official debuts in Navy Blue, Arthur Diles’ men got off to a strong start in the West.
Stepping up to a free-kick just outside the box in the opening minutes, Zinédine Machach forced the goalkeeper into an early save.
Machach would be involved in another big chance after a phenomenal nutmeg and burst to the byline by winger Santos, but the Frenchman couldn’t direct his effort on target this time around.
Controlling possession and the tempo, it was only a matter of time before Victory took the lead.
Combining with Nikos Vergos and Machach on the edge of the box, Jordi Valadon produced a beautiful curling finish off the post and in, kicking off the scoring in the 23rd minute.
However, it did not take long for the hosts to respond after earning a penalty kick just three minutes later due to a handball in the box.
Former Perth Glory midfielder Mitchell Oxborrow converted from the spot, bringing the game back level.
Chances fell for both sides as the first half continued, with Machach coming close yet again after his left-footed effort curled just wide of the post in the 39th minute.
Playing until the half-time whistle, the Vuck would reclaim the lead with the final kick after an excellent combination between Nikos Vergos and Keegan Jelacic saw the 22-year-old winger score on his Victory debut.
It was a near-perfect way to end the half for Victory, who were undoubtedly expecting the Green Machine to come out swinging in the second 45′.
Kingsway certainly did that, coming very close after rattling the crossbar in the 51st minute.
Two yellow cards were shown to both sides within a span of 13 minutes, representing the growing tension in the game.
Unable to properly clear a corner delivery by the hosts, forward Joseph Hobson equalised for his side with a powerful volley into the roof of the net.
Shortly after, substitutes Joshua Rawlins, Jing Reec and Reno Piscopo were all introduced from the bench.
Leaving his studs ever-so slightly too high in a 50-50 challenge, Rawlins saw red to the surprise of many in the 78th minute.
Down to 10 men with the score remaining at 2-2, Victory were in a tough-but-manageable position.
Released down the wing, Jing Reec floated across a ball to Reno Piscopo on the opposing flank, who looked to cut in on his favoured right foot.
Finding a yard of space, Piscopo hammered home a truly stunning strike into the top corner, providing Victory with what seemed to be an 88th-minute winner.
The special moment was added to after young defender John Radimisis was provided with his competitive debut for Victory’s senior team with minutes to spare.
But, in true Cup fashion, the drama was not over.
Picked out by a pinpoint cross from fullback Lebib Lebib, the Australia Cup’s all-time top-scorer Liam Boland grabbed a remarkable 93rd-minute equaliser for Olympic Kingsway.
With the home crowd in jubilation, celebrating a historic goal that would take their side into extra time, it was a big ask for the Victory boys to run out another 30 minutes against a fit Kingsway side.
Although the hosts controlled the majority of possession in this period, a truly crazy sequence of football largely decided the final outcome.
Similarly finding space and cutting inside from the left wing like Reno Piscopo just prior, Keegan Jelacic’s effort came agonisingly close as it smacked the crossbar.
Heading straight down the other end, Laat Mathiang would draw his side their second penalty of the night after Jelacic unfortunately tripped onto the midfielder in the box.
Stepping up to the spot, Liam Boland scored his second for the night in the 101st minute.
Playing out the second half of extra time with youngsters Luka Kolic and Alex Lee entering the game, Victory simply gave it all they had in the final 15 minutes.
Aided by some superb goalkeeping from Jack Duncan, Victory’s youthful cohort attacked hard and registered six shots at goal in the final period, but ultimately failed to find the back of the net.
The final whistle soon after arrived, finalising the first Cup-set of this season’s edition of the Australia Cup.
Falling in the Round of 32, Melbourne Victory will bounce back and continue their pre-season preparations, awaiting the arrival of the A-League Men’s season in mid-October.
Match Details
Australia Cup: Round of 32
Olympic Kingsway 4 (Oxborrow 27′, Hobson 70′, Boland 90+3′, 101′)
Melbourne Victory 3 (Valadon 23′, Jelacic 45+1′, Piscopo 88′)
Olympic Kingsway Starting XI: 1. Adrian SINAGRA (GK), 3. Harley ORR, 4. Oliver ANNIS, 5. Laat MATHIANG, 6. Aryn WILLIAMS, 8. Mitchell OXBORROW (C), 9. Joseph HOBSON, 11. William RICHARDS, 17. Joshua SAMSON, 19. Lebib LEBIB, 20. Luke HEWINGS
Substitutes: 2. Jonathon LEITHEAD (62′), 10. Liam BOLAND (62′), 14. Fanuel DAWIT (111′), 15. Ronan DOWLING, 21. Thomas SALLIS, 23. Younous SOW, 33. Kristian RASANO
Melbourne Victory Starting XI: 25. Jack DUNCAN (GK), 3. Adama TRAORÉ, 8. Jordi VALADON, 9. Nikos VERGOS, 10. Zinédine MACHACH, 11. SANTOS, 16. Joshua INSERRA, 21. Roderick MIRANDA (C), 23. Keegan JELACIC, 27. Louis D’ARRIGO
Substitutes: 30. Daniel GRASKOSKI (GK), 7. Reno PISCOPO (76′), 19. Jing REEC (71′), 22. Joshua RAWLINS (71′), 26. Luka KOLIC (105+3′), 34. John RADIMISIS (90′), 39. Alex LEE (105+3′)
