Melbourne Victory secured safe passage to the next round of the Hahn Australia Cup on Sunday evening, beating first-time entrants Kingborough Lions United 0-4 in the Round of 32.
Giovanni Savarese’s team, led from the touchline by Andrew Durante, as the A-League Men’s Head Coach awaits regulatory endorsement of his U.S. pro licence, delivered a business-like performance to defeat the NPL Tasmania opposition at Kitchen Centre Park.
In front of 2,875 spectators, including a vocal contingent of travelling supporters and former player Bruno Fornaroli, who attended a pre-match meet and greet, first-half goals from Philipp Ziereis and Matthew Grimaldi put Victory in a commanding position.
The Boys in Blue extended their lead and confirmed their spot in Thursday’s Round of 16 draw as they netted twice more, courtesy of a sharp touch and finish from Santos with just over an hour played and through Jelacic in the final minute of regulation time.
Team News
In a repeat from the fixture against Caroline Springs George Cross, Ziereis was the only new face in from minute one of the tie. He lined up in the middle of defence alongside Jason Davidson, who took the armband, with Jack Duncan given the nod in goal behind them. Recent recruits Tom Lockyer, Harry Sawyer and Harry Shillington, as well as Mikey Ghossaini and Jack Mihailidis fresh from signing their first A-League contracts, were amongst the available substitutes.
As reported in the build-up, Denis Genreau (viral infection) and Nishan Velupillay (post-World Cup leave) were unavailable for selection.
Match Action
The chosen centre-back partnership would hit it off right away, combining for the opening goal inside a quarter of an hour. Grimaldi’s deep corner was headed back into the danger zone by Davidson, and Ziereis, smartly reading the play, was on hand to convert from close range.
Conceding brought Kingborough out of its shell, but Eli Luttmer’s header was an easy grab for Duncan, and Greg Downes’ long ranger, although travelling at a rate of knots, flashed wide of the upright. Then, after being fouled himself, a Joel Badger free kick was deflected behind off Louis D’Arrigo.
Phase after phase of Victory attacking would soon resume; it was, though, the Lions through Eli Wright and Solomon Tebeje who went closest before the visitors doubled up. Joshua Inserra’s wedged pass gave D’Arrigo something to chase, and his cutback from the byline was tucked away by an unattended Grimaldi.
Half-time: Kingborough Lions United FC 0-2 Melbourne Victory
Santos was a real livewire at the start of the second 45 and after an attempted curler refused to bend back toward the target, he recalibrated his radar to add a third. Patient build-up play, sped up by a Jelacic ball that was touched on by Charles Nduka, culminated in the Brazilian depositing an accurate shot that kissed the post on its way in.
Despite the scoreline, Kingborough, qualifiers by winning the 2026 Milan Lakoseljac Cup, remained present in the battle, and Duncan had to get behind a low Badger effort.
Determined to couple the win with a clean sheet, a series of Victory changes ensured the levels remained high, and two of these, Sawyer and Shillington, had the next opportunities to strike blocked.
It was instead a starter who ensured the first period tally was matched late on. Jelacic applied a full-stop to a prolonged corner sequence, finding the bottom corner off his left foot.
Match Details
Kingborough Lions United FC 0
Melbourne Victory 4 (ZIEREIS 14′, GRIMALDI 40′, SANTOS 62′, JELACIC 90′)
Kingborough Lions United FC starting XI: 1. Nicholas O’CONNELL (GK), 2. Eli WRIGHT, 4. Bagat BEYONG, 6. Hugo SCHWARZ, 7. Joel BADGER, 9. Noah MIES (14. Rowan PITT 74′), 10. Eli LUTTMER (C), 11. Solomon TEBEJE (16. Esteban MIRANDA 46′), 17. Owen VERDOUW (3. Ryan COOK 81′), 20. Badley LAKOSELJAC (15. Joe MCSHANE 81′), 24. Greg DOWNES (5. Peter RAVITSAI 75′).
Substitutes not used: 31. Lochie SCHOFIELD (GK), 19. Tristen GALT,
Booking: BADGER 3′, WRIGHT 49′.
Melbourne Victory starting XI: 25. Jack DUNCAN (GK), 16. Joshua INSERRA, 4. Philipp ZIEREIS, 3. Jason DAVIDSON (C), 18. Franco LINO (36. Harry SHILLINGTON 61′), 8. Jordi VALADON, 6. Louis D’ARRIGO (29. Mikey GHOSSAINI 69′), 23. Keegan JELACIC, 14. Matthew GRIMALDI (26. Jack MIHAILIDIS 78′, 11. SANTOS (22. Xavier STELLA 70′), 44. Charles NDUKA (9. Harry SAWYER 78′).
Substitutes not used: 1. Jack WARSHAWSKY (GK), 15. Tom LOCKYER.
Booking: ZIEREIS 21′.
