Jack Duncan was the hero, making three penalty saves as Melbourne Victory eliminated Western Sydney Wanderers from the Hahn Australia Cup on Saturday night.
The netminder had already dirtied his gloves during normal time, superbly keeping out a goalbound effort from Aydan Hammond, before the contest that had persistently bubbled came to the boil in extra time at Marconi Stadium.
Substitute Harrison Sawyer made his mark off the bench, firing the Boys in Blue ahead in the 97th minute, only for Nicolas Milanovic to level matters from an impressive free kick and take the Round of 16 tie to penalties.
With Milanovic and Brandon Borrello for the hosts, and Louis D’Arrigo and Sawyer for Victory getting the shootout off to an immaculate start, the signs were that an episode of this interstate rivalry that had already gone the distance was set for an extended cut, but Duncan had other ideas.
He first denied Dylan Scicluna, then kept out Awan Lual, and whilst Charles Nduka could not win it after Mikey Ghossaini’s nerveless conversion, the goalkeeper produced a third and defining save, foiling Alexander Gersbach to send Giovanni Savarese’s team through.
Progression sets up a Quarter-Final tie away to the winner of APIA Leichhardt and Sydney United 58, who face off on Wednesday, August 12, kick-off 7:30pm AEST.
Team News
The Head Coach settled on an unchanged starting XI from the Round of 32 triumph over Kingborough Lions United in Tasmania, but there were a couple of alterations on the bench. Welsh defender Tom Lockyer and youngster Jack Mihailidis were swapped out for former Wanderers man Brendan Hamill and Australia youth international Malik Olukhale.
Match Action
The visitors were being suffocated during the opening exchanges, and within the first 60 seconds, D’Arrigo was forced to make a goal-saving challenge when Hammond had a line of sight inside the penalty area. He then had another opportunity, approaching from the angle, but tamely rolled the ball wide.
Victory responded by fashioning a chance of their own after 10 minutes. Grimaldi scampered down the left, and when his low centre found its way to Santos, the Brazilian fed Keegan Jelacic, whose sidefooter was intercepted en route to the target.
Western Sydney’s backline was creaking almost to submission again soon after, and it took a desperately retreating Germán Ferreyra to slide in and deny Nduka an unapposed go at goalkeeper Jordan Holmes.
That intervention was firm and fair from the Argentine, but when Santos had a penalty appeal dismissed with half an hour elapsed, more than a few eyebrows were raised amongst those watching on.
Half-time: Western Sydney Wanderers 0-0 Melbourne Victory
In a pattern resembling the first-half’s beginning, Wanderers asked the initial questions, and the away side again answered these effectively, dealing with two corners, the second of which Duncan used all his experience to beat away under pressure.
Then, as the game started to open up, just some greater conviction applied to the final ball was preventing Victory from creating a genuine opportunity. When Santos did find room for a crack, his connection was uncomfortable, grating the turf as it failed to threaten. Grimaldi would get a better feeling on a shot, only to watch its direction fade away.
Ghossaini was Savarese’s first introduction from the bench, soon followed by Sawyer and Harry Shillington, who replaced Lino following some treatment, although it was the hosts who would go closest in what remained of regulation time. Hammond’s curler, destined for the top corner, was clawed behind by an acrobatic Duncan.
In the final breaths, Victoria’s men heaved a free kick into the box, but the referee remained unmoved in response to some half-hearted appeals.
Full-time: Western Sydney Wanderers 0-0 Melbourne Victory
If the presence of Victory’s imposing centre forward had not been noted at that set piece, it was soon felt in extra-time. Jason Davidson dug out a cross from the left, and despite Nduka’s attempt whacking the crossbar, Sawyer stayed alive to the play and planted the ball in.
This, however, brought those in red and black to life. Milanovic, a second-half substitute, stood over a free kick, sizing it up, before stylishly curling it home to level matters.
The second period of extra-time passed without major incident in terms of the scoreline, but there was a senior debut for Olukhale.
Full-time (extra-time): Western Sydney Wanderers 1-1 Melbourne Victory
So it was to penalties to determine who would prevail from a first meeting between the two clubs in Australia Cup history, with Duncan’s hat-trick of stops, all low down to his right, putting the two-time winners into the last eight.
Match Details
Western Sydney Wanderers 1 (MILANOVIC 102′)
Melbourne Victory 1 (SAWYER 97′)
Western Sydney Wanderers starting XI: 23. Jordan HOLMES (GK), 3. Alexander Gersbach, 7. Aydan HAMMOND (19. Awan LUAL 100′), 8. Dylan SCICLUNA, 10. Miguel DI PIZIO (14. Nicolas MILANOVIC 56′), 21. Liam GILLION (31. Atiya WARAGA 77′), 22. Anthony PANTAZOPOULOS, 26. Brandon BORRELLO, 32. Angus THURGATE, 33. Germán FERREYRA, 36. Panashe MADANHA.
Substitutes not used: 55. Tristan VIDACKOVIC, 17. Jarrod CARLUCCIO, 24. Nathan BARRIE, 27. Jai ROSE.
Booking: BORRELLO 99′.
Melbourne Victory starting XI: 25. Jack DUNCAN (GK), 16. Joshua INSERRA, 4. Philipp ZIEREIS, 3. Jason DAVIDSON (C), 18. Franco LINO (36. Harry SHILLINGTON 84′), 8. Jordi VALADON, 6. Louis D’ARRIGO, 23. Keegan JELACIC (24. Malik OLUKHALE 114′), 14. Matthew GRIMALDI (9. Harry SAWYER 84′), 11. SANTOS (29. Mikey GHOSSAINI 77′), 44. Charles NDUKA.
Substitutes not used: 1. Jack WARSHAWSKY (GK), 5. Brendan HAMILL, 22. Xavier STELLA.
Booking: ZIEREIS 30′, DAVIDSON 62′.
Penalties: Western Sydney Wanderers (MILANOVIC, BORRELLO) 2-3 (D’ARRIGO, SAWYER, GHOSSAINI).
