Coming off the back of their worst season in the A-League Men, not much was expected of Melbourne Victory in the 2021 Australia Cup campaign.
Having to qualify to even make the Round of 32 after finishing bottom of the ladder, Victory went through an exhilarating, tantalising campaign.
With youth preferred throughout the first few rounds, they battled hard to make the competition, before defeating two NPL Men clubs in tight contests.
Suddenly, Victory found themselves in the Quarter-finals, and with the Tony Popovic rebuild taking shape, they prospered from the playoffs to win their second Australia Cup trophy.
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Playoff
It very nearly went wrong for Melbourne Victory before they’d even entered the competition, with their last placed A-League Men finish seeing them take on Perth Glory in a playoff match to enter the Australia Cup Finals.
An early stunner from Lleyton Brooks inside the first minute gave Victory the perfect start, but Perth responded halfway through the second half thanks to Joshua Anasmo, with Melbourne playing a predominately academy side.
From there, neither normal nor extra time could separate the sides, and Melbourne Victory’s spot in the Round of 32 was to be decided on a penalty shootout.
With the sides tied 3-3 heading into the fifth kick, a strong save from Jerrad Tyson then gave Anthony Leban the chance to win the match.
Stepping up with confidence, the youngster placed a calm, accurate penalty into the back of the net, getting Victory into the Australia Cup Finals by the skin of their teeth.
Round of 32
Leban was the hero once more in the Round of 32 as the kids shone once more, with a last-gasp penalty seeing Melbourne Victory through past a resilient Adelaide City.
The NPLSA side thought they’d found the opener in the 11th minute, but was denied by the offside flag, before some great saves from Jerrad Tyson and some poor finishing in front of goal prevented them from finding the net throughout the match.
Just as City were ruing missed chances with the game destined for extra time, positive dribbles from Will Wilson and then Luis Lawrie-Lattanzio won the A-League Men's side a penalty and the chance for a place in the Round of 16.
From 12 yards, Leban - already a penalty hero - made no mistake, powering a precise spot kick into the bottom left corner, and Melbourne Victory were through.
Round of 16
Melbourne Victory then travelled to Queensland to face off against the Gold Coast Knights, where a 2-1 victory after extra time secured their spot in the Quarter-finals.
There were early chances for both sides, but it was the Knights who took the lead in the 28th minute, with Cai Tipaldo netting a header off an inswinging corner, putting the NPL Queensland side in the lead.
However, four minutes into the second half, a hardy Victory side constructed their response, with an incisive pass from Nishan Velupillay finding Lawrie-Lattanzio in behind, who calmly converted to equalise the scores.
The sides couldn’t be separated in regular time, but a 96th-minute stunner from Wilson in extra time became the winner, as the young midfielder found the top corner with a beautiful strike.
Quarter-Finals
In the Quarter-finals, Victory were set to face their toughest challenge yet, with the eventual Champions taking on Adelaide United - the most successful side in Cup history.
Melbourne Victory threatened on multiple occasions to begin the match, but it was Adelaide who took the lead, with talisman Craig Goodwin finding the opener with a trademark freekick.
However, Victory responded with a set piece of their own, as an inch-perfect cross in from Jake Brimmer was tapped home by Joshua Brillante, giving Melbourne a lifeline in this match.
They took that chance with both hands, as Francesco Margiotta netted a 79th-minute penalty to secure a Semi-Final birth for the Navy Blue side.
Semi-Finals
Curiously, Melbourne Victory’s Semi-final clash was the only match that they won by more than one goal, with the eventual Champions running riot in a late flurry against Wellington Phoenix.
Playing at home for the first time in the tournament, Victory was first to concede, with Gary Hooper finishing a one-on-one to give Wellington Phoenix a 39th-minute lead.
It took to the 65th minute for the home side to find a leveller, but they did in style, as Brillante netted his second goal of the tournament with a low drive from just outside the box.
Nicholas D’Agostino then netted in the 80th minute to put Victory ahead, before late goals from Folami and again D’Agostino secured Melbourne not only a memorable 4-1 victory, but a place in the Australia Cup Final 2021
Australia Cup Final 2021
In the Grand final, Victory faced off against the Central Coast Mariners, looking to complete their journey by lifting the prestigious Cup in front of their home fans at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium.
Victory was the more lively side throughout the first half and much of the second, impressing with their high intensity and direct attacking play.
It took until the 70th minute for the home side to find their breakthrough, but it was well worth the weight, with Jason Davidson netting a stunning freekick well worthy of the opening goal of any final.
With the Mariners piling more and more players forward in pursuit of an equaliser, Melbourne Victory capitalised with an astonishing strike for Chris Ikonomidis sending the home fans into raptures.
The goal proved highly necessary, with a last-minute strike from Oliver Bozanic earning the Mariners a goal back, but it was Victory who lifted the trophy, completing an emotional, gripping journey from the Playoffs to Australia Cup winners.
Australia Cup 2024 Playoffs Match Schedule
Tuesday, 23 July 2024
Brisbane Roar FC vs Perth Glory FC
Kick-off: 7.00pm local / 7.30pm AEST
Venue: Darwin Football Stadium at Larrakia Park
Wednesday, 24 July 2024
Newcastle Jets FC vs Western United FC
Kick-off: 7.00pm local / 7.30pm AEST
Venue: Darwin Football Stadium at Larrakia Park
Tickets: Via Ticketbo from 3.30pm local / 4.00pm AEST on Tuesday, 28 May.
Ticketing Details
Tickets for each match of the Australia Cup 2024 Final Rounds Playoffs are $20 Adults, $12 Concession* and $50 Family.
*Concession Card Holders, Senior Card Holders, Students
**Children 3 years and under free unless occupying a seat
Tickets: Via Ticketbo from 3.30pm local / 4.00pm AEST on Tuesday, 28 May.
Australia Cup 2024 Final Rounds Playoffs Proudly supported by:
- H on Mitchell Apartment Hotel & The Smith Hotel - the official accommodation partners of the Australia Cup 2024 Playoffs.
- Thrifty Car and Truck Rental Darwin - the official vehicle partner of the Australia Cup 2024 Playoffs.
- Northern Territory Major Events Company - Supporting a diverse range of events that represent our unique character and Territory culture ntmajorevents.com.au
