The 2024 Australia Cup Semi-Finals were confirmed on Saturday as two former champions advanced against two Member Federation outfits who had previously beaten A-league opposition.
Macarthur FC survived a valiant Oakleigh Cannons, while Melbourne Victory proved too good for Moreton City Excelsior.
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Oakleigh Cannons FC - 0
Macarthur FC - 1 (Valerie GERMAIN 2’)
Macarthur FC withstood a barrage from NPL Men’s Victoria champions Oakleigh Cannons at the Home of the Matildas to make the Semi-Finals of the Australia Cup.
The visitors grabbed the lead within two minutes as Valerie Germain raced onto a through ball, found himself clean on goal, slotting the opener with a smart finish.
Despite finding themselves behind, the Cannons remained a threat as they probed for good shooting chances in the first half.
As Oakleigh went into the break, they had registered three shots on target, while Germain’s strike for the Bulls was their only effort on target so far.
Oakleigh carried on their pressure and almost grabbed the equaliser straight after halftime, as Asad Kasumovic drew a top reaction save from Filip Kurto.
Kurto was called into another superb stop just after the hour mark when Oliver Kubilay’s well-struck long-ranger looked destined for the top corner but the goalkeeper tipped it over.
Oakleigh’s pursuit of an equaliser moved into the final five minutes. However, the Bulls kept their shape well with Tomislav Uskok and Matthew Jurman cutting out several deliveries into the box.
Germain’s early goal proved decisive as the Bulls held on to earn a clash with treble-chasing South Melbourne in the Semi-Finals.
The only other time Macarthur made the Semi-Finals of the Cup, they went on to win the competition in 2022.
Moreton City Excelsior FC - 0
Melbourne Victory FC - 4 (Nikos VERGOS 10’ 20’, Kasey BOS 31’, Nishan VELUPILLAY 66’)
A flying first half for Melbourne Victory guided the side to a 4-0 win over Moreton City Excelsior at Perry Park.
Victory took less than 10 minutes to take the lead when Daniel Arzani whipped in a left-sided free-kick that Nikos Vergos glanced with his head into the goal.
The hosts returned fire 16 minutes in as Marques Walters hit a fierce half-volley from the right of the box that Victory goalkeeper Jack Duncan had to parry away.
Four minutes later, Victory doubled their advantage, which started with Zinedine Machach forging a path through the middle of the pitch.
The midfielder played the ball into the right of the box for Jordi Valadon, who stood a cross up to Vergos; the striker nodding in off the left post.
Vergos' second made it three goals in his last two Cup matches for his new team.
The ruthless visitors added their third goal just after the half-hour mark.
A giveaway from Moreton City allowed Kasey Bos to play a one-two with Vergos, with the former subsequently sending a low finish past City’s goalkeeper Nathan Foster.
Victory’s blistering first half saw them enter the sheds with a commanding lead over their opponents and halfway towards a place in the Semi-Finals.
City started the second half with promise as they held the ball high in the Victory half as the lively Walters made inroads down the right wing.
However, the away side soaked up this pressure and struck with their fourth goal soon after the hour mark.
Vishan Velupillay broke in behind down the right and lifted the ball over the onrushing Foster to continue his outstanding Cup form (five goals and two assists in three matches).
Victory saw out the remaining minutes to confirm their place in the Semi-Finals, where they will face original rivals Adelaide United.
The final two places in the Australia Cup 2024 Semi Finals are on the line this Saturday, with two Cupset kings against A-Leagues opposition.
Oakleigh Cannons face Macarthur FC in a 2022 Semi Final rematch. And later on, Moreton City Excelsior will seek to repeat their performance against Perth Glory in the Round of 16 when they take on Melbourne Victory.
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Oakleigh Cannons FC v Macarthur FC
Date: Saturday 14 September 2024
Time: 3:00 pm (AEST)
Venue: Home of the Matildas
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Oakleigh extended their run by edging out NPL Men’s Victoria rivals Heidelberg United on penalties in the Round of 16.
After taking the lead early in the second half through Jordan Hall, a late penalty to Heidelberg and a goalless extra-time period sent the match to penalties, where the Cannons prevailed 4-1.
Oakleigh then went on to win over Avondale FC in the NPL Men’s Victoria Semi Finals to advance to the Grand Final against Australia Cup Semi Finalist South Melbourne.
The Cannons secured a 1-0 win to lift the NPL Men’s Victoria title after previously losing out in the Dockerty Cup Final to the same opponents.
Emlyn Wellsmore scored the Grand Final winner and in addition to his spectacular strike against Sydney FC in the Round of 32, he has made the joint second-most successful dribbles in the competition, completing eight across his two matches so far.
At the other end of the pitch, no player has made more interceptions in the Australia Cup than Oakleigh Cannons’ Brodie Boyce, who is joint-top with eight.
This tie will be a rematch of the Semi Final in 2022 when Macarthur FC defeated Oakleigh on their way to ultimately lifting the trophy.
Only three players from the Bulls’ starting eleven in that 5-2 victory are still currently in the squad.
Jake Hollman, Ivan Vujica and Tomislav Uskok all started, while Filip Kurto and Jed Drew were on the bench.
Daniel De Silva, who recently returned to the club, was not in the squad for that match, however he featured prominently in their successful 2022 campaign.
The Bulls were made to work for their Quarter Final spot, coming from behind in a seven-goal thriller to defeat Newcastle Jets in the Round of 16.
Two goals down after 20 minutes, Valere Germain’s brace and two superb strikes from Marin Jakolis saw Macarthur through 4-3.
Jakolis’ second half double within four minutes of each other was his first two goals in Macarthur colours but it's not just on the scoresheet where the Croatian has made an impact.
He has also recorded the joint-most accurate final third passes in the competition (44), with midfielder Luke Brattan’s 40 also ranking fourth for Macarthur.
Oakleigh have already knocked off Macarthur’s Sydney rivals Sydney FC in this competition, giving the Bulls something to think about ahead of Wednesday.
Moreton City Excelsior FC v Melbourne Victory
Date: Saturday 14 September 2024
Time: 6:00 pm (AEST)
Venue: Perry Park
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Moreton City Excelsior pulled off one of the great Cupsets in Australia Cup history in the Round of 16 as they came from two goals down to defeat Perth Glory.
The Glory were one of the teams to watch heading into the Round of 16 with two high-scoring wins against A-Leagues opposition and a two-goal lead over Moreton City on the night.
However, Marques Walters and Benjamin Holliday clawed the hosts back into the game and a red card for Perth before halftime set up an exhilarating second half.
Joseph Scott nodded in the winner with five regular minutes to play to create history for the newly amalgamated club.
Excelsior also advanced through to the NPL Men’s Queensland Semi Finals, getting past Peninsula Power 4-3.
Walters bagged another goal against the Power to take his tally in the competition to 22 while also being the second-highest goalscorer in the Australia Cup Final Rounds with three.
In the Grand Final against Lions FC, Moreton City went down 1-0 at Suncorp Stadium, conceding on the stroke of halftime.
Victory strolled into the Quarter Finals with a 4-0 win over NWS Spirit and are shaping up to be one of the favourites to go all the way.
They put together patterns of incisive play as winger Nishan Velupillay notched a brace in an all-around excellent display. Ryan Teague and new striker Nikos Vergos also got on the score sheet.
The side carried on their form into last weekend with a 3-0 friendly win over Goulburn Valley Suns as they continue to gel under new Head Coach Patrick Kisnorbo.
Through the first two rounds, Velupillay’s four goals and two assists made him the joint highest with Hume City's Aamir Abdallah for goal involvements.
Three of Velupillay’s four goals have come from outside the box and he remains the only player to have scored more than one from outside the 18 yard area in the competition so far.
Conversely, Moreton City’s Nathan Foster has made the joint-most saves from shots outside the box with five.
This game features two sides that have shown their attacking prowess and the two top goalscorers in Velupillay with four, and Marquez Walters with three, going head to head.
