Melbourne Victory beat Sydney FC 0-2 on Wednesday night to reach the Club’s fourth Hahn Australia Cup Final.
A goal in either half was enough to settle the 72nd Big Blue and first-ever Australia Cup meeting of this storied interstate rivalry at a windy Jubilee Stadium.
Keegan Jelacic, having assisted Harry Sawyer’s winner in the Quarter-Final success over APIA Leichhardt, set Giovanni Savarese’s side on their way by opening the scoring courtesy of an electric second-minute finish.
This was deservedly added to when Charles Nduka forced an own goal off Jordan Courtney-Perkins shortly after the hour mark before the Boys in Blue calmly closed out the latter stages.
Victory will face the winner of South Melbourne and Queensland Lions in the Final, with the second Semi-Final taking place on Tuesday, September 15, kick-off 7:30pm AEST.
Team News
The Head Coach was forced into one change for the last-four clash, with Philipp Ziereis (concussion) replaced by Tom Lockyer for his first start since signing during the off-season. This brought Brendan Hamill back into the match day squad, which included Denis Genreau after he overcame a viral infection.
Match Action
Indisputably, Victory made a fast start. Inside two minutes, with the hosts yet to have a meaningful kick, Grimaldi operating in the pocket fed Jelacic, who finished first time without hesitation.
The visitors then, after seven minutes, felt they should have been awarded a penalty. Although appearing unorthodox, as he was slipping, Courtney-Perkins clearly handled a cross.
Sydney, midway through the first half, were next to feel aggrieved, certain they should have been given a shot from 12 yards when Takahiro Sekine collided in the air with Jack Duncan.
These perceived injustices added some extra feeling to the match, not that a Big Blue needs it, and shortly after, Lockyer, Jordi Valadon and Santos felt the impact of heavy challenges. The latter brought a yellow card for Jake Hollman, and from the resulting free kick, Jelacic went close to finding the top corner.
At the other end, the Sky Blues were starting to click, and Oriola Sunday looked certain to level from close range, only for Duncan – already a star of the cup run, after penalty heroics against Western Sydney Wanderers – to propel himself left and claw the effort behind. On the stroke of half-time, the hosts probed again, but Rhyan Grant’s diving header went wide.
Half-time: Sydney FC 0-1 Melbourne Victory
Victory were pushing to double their advantage from the outset of the second 45. Jason Davidson, again wearing the armband, flashed a free kick through the wall that was gathered by Gus Hoefsloot, and Grimaldi headed off target when he was left unattended in the area.
As it went, a second goal did arrive, albeit with a helping hand. Valadon’s cute reverse pass gave Nduka a chance to shoot, and when he unselfishly looked to give one of his teammates a tap-in, the sliding Courtney-Perkins turned it into his own net.
At the other end, with time running out, Sekine made a burst into the box, but lashed his shot well over the top as Sydney were shut out on a night to remember for Victory and the supporters who travelled to New South Wales.
Match Details
Sydney FC 0
Melbourne Victory 2 (JELACIC 2′, COURTNEY-PERKINS 61′)
Sydney FC starting XI: 1. Gus HOEFSLOOT, 4. Jordan COURTNEY-PERKINS, 7. AKOL ALON (35. Al Hassan TOURE 66′), 14. Takahiro SEKINE, 15. Jake HOLLMAN (36. Rhys YOULLEY 69′), 17. Ben GARUCCIO, 20. Tiago QUINTAL, 23. Rhyan GRANT (2. James OVERY 78′), 29. Joseph LACEY, 41. Alex POPOVIĆ, 90. Oriola SUNDAY (22. Mathias MACALLISTER 78′).
Substitutes not used: 30. Alexander ZAVERDINOS, 16. Gabriel POPOVIC, 28. Ethan DYER.
Booking: HOLLMAN 31, QUINTAL 66′
Melbourne Victory starting XI: 25. Jack DUNCAN (GK), 16. Joshua INSERRA, 15. Tom LOCKYER (5. Brendan HAMILL 83′), Jason DAVIDSON (C), 18. Franco LINO, 8. Jordi VALADON, 6. Louis D’ARRIGO, 23. Keegan JELACIC, 14. Matthew GRIMALDI (10. Denis GENREAU 69′), 11. SANTOS (24. Malik OLUKHALE 89′), 44. Charles NDUKA.
Substitutes not used: 1. Jack WARSHAWSKY (GK), 9. Harry SAWYER, 22. Xavier STELLA, 36. Harry SHILLINGTON.
Booking: VALADON 53′, D’Arrigo 90+3′.
