The Victory Academy have fallen 2-4 to Western United on the final day of the VPL1 season.
Summary
A healthy crowd packed Hume City Stadium for the final day of the VPL1 season, with Victory already securing the league title and promotion to the NPLM Victoria after last weekend.
An early chance went Western United’s way in the 6th minute, but Christian Siciliano was up to the task, keeping United’s shot at bay and the scores level.
Another chance came United’s way in the 10th minute, however, this time the ball found the back of the net and Western took an early lead on the final day.
The pressure didn’t stop from United after they doubled their lead only 10 minutes later.
The 0-2 lead for Western didn’t last long when Kayne Razmovski cut the lead in half after putting away a chaos ball in the six-yard box in the 22nd minute.
The match refused to slow down on the final day after a brilliant run from Jack Mihailidis ended in an equally brilliant finish to level the scores at 2-2 in the 28th minute.
Siciliano was asked to save big in the 30th minute when a shot from outside the box looked to land in the bottom corner, but the keeper was up for the challenge, pushing the ball out for a corner instead.
Adem Duratović had a chance in the 33rd minute to give Victory their first lead of the match, but the striker’s curling shot missed just wide of the post.
A chaotic first half ended 2-2 with Western United needing all three points for a chance at promotion.
Both teams started the second half with intent, but it was United who struck first with a curling shot from outside the box in the 54th minute.
Western once again doubled their lead, finding the back of the net in the 74th minute.
The full-time whistle blew, and United ended the day 2-4 victors, however, with Preston Lions winning their fixture, United will remain in the VPL1.
The post-match celebrations began as Victory lifted the VPL1 title, in what was an incredibly successful campaign for our Senior Academy.
Our boys in blue will play in Victoria’s premier division next season, the NPLM Victoria.
VPL1 2024 Round 26
Melbourne Victory 2
Western United 4
Melbourne Victory U23s starting XI: 40. Christian Siciliano 28. Riley Foxe 4. Damien Bozinovski 27. Nikolas Čevizović 32. Jordan Hoey 6. Kayne Razmovski 21. George Karvounis 16. Jack Mihailidis 14. Austin Ganino 9. Adem Duratović (C) 13. Tommaso Minutoli
Subs: 1. Yona Sultan 17. Victor Muhindo 22. Dimi Palatsides 25. Zander Kapaklis 34. Marc Petheriotis 11. Daniel Lazarevski
