Melbourne Victory has claimed an upset International Champions Cup win, downing Italian champions Juventus after a penalty shoot-out.
An extraordinary goal from the centre circle might have won it for Juventus, before Victory winger Jai Ingham levelled eight minutes from time to force spot kicks.
Victory gloveman Lawrence Thomas won it for the A-League side, saving efforts from Roman Macek and Stefano Padovan for a historic 4-3 win on penalties for Kevin Muscat’s side.
The success was a first triumph for Victory against a touring international side.
The late drama came in contrast to a sluggish first half on a grey and cool Melbourne night.
On a sullen occasion in desperate need of a spark, little-known Spaniard Carlos Blanco provided it.
The defender gathered Thomas’ long kick and perfectly weighted his shot from just in front of the half-way line into the net.
Just 23,174 attended the International Champions Cup opener between Australia and Italy’s biggest clubs, meaning the match was played without atmosphere at the cavernous MCG.
Making matters worse, Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri left two of his few senior players in attendance, Medhi Benatia and Miralem Pjanic, on the bench all night.
Those that paid premium prices for the less-than-glamour friendly instead saw seven teenagers from Juventus’ youth side among 20 players used.
A drab first half saw Daniele Rugani hit the post and Victory striker Besart Berisha force Juventus gloveman Neto into a sharp save.
Acting Juventus captain Kwadwo Asamoah and Argentinian star Paulo Dybala were among the Serie A champions biggest contributors before they were hauled off among eight half-time changes.
The Juventus youth squad brought more fight, challenging Victory with fast movement.
Their goal gave the Old Lady a deserved lead, but Kevin Muscat’s side weren’t to be denied.
Working with half-chances all evening, Ingham made his count.
The 22-year-old substitute gathered George Howard’s lay-off and turned before sending a neat finish inside the back post.
Victory fell behind in the shoot-out when Carl Valeri’s first shot was saved by substitute goalkeeper Emil Audero, but Muscat’s side recovered to take the honours.
It was 16-year-old Seb Pasquali who slotted Victory’s fourth and ultimately decisive penalty, delighting Muscat.
“It was a big night for him,” he said, before downplaying the result.
“It was exciting for the younger players that were out there … it was an honour and a privilege to be playing such a powerhouse of world football.”
Allegri praised Victory for their endeavour.
“Tonight, they showed their worth as a club,” he said.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
Also worth mentioning that the A-League has now survived for almost half of the life of the NSL, which is a noteworthy milestone.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
Here is Fox's top 5 from last Sunday: 1. LIVE: AFL PORT ADEL V GWS FOX FOOTY - 208,000 2. LIVE: NRL DRAGONS V TIGERS FOX SPORTS 1 - 196,000 3. LIVE: NRL SHARKS V KNIGHTS FOX SPORTS 1 - 166,000 4. LIVE: AFL HAWTHORN V RICHMOND FOX SPORTS 3 - 151,000 5. LIVE: F1: HUNGARY RACE FOX SPORTS 5 - 134,000
Bondy
Guest
It must be miserable following AFL its such a limited sport, very restricted and limited ..
Bondy
Guest
Marty Is aussie rules an Olympic event ? . Lol Lol ...
Midfielder
Guest
Punter May I offer some advise, don't respond to most AFL posters there desire is never to enter into open and thoughtful debate their main desire is to boast of their owe superiority, derail, and often abuse, criticise and confuse ... You will save a lot of time... simply don't read them... the only one I read is MF because despite his preferred code push he does enter often into reasonable debates... the others or other as i think has no intention of anything other that than arguing... Don't read and don't give a stuff what they say it totally meaningless more often than not. BTW your South Gosford FC are looking very strong.... BTW Danny, Bernie, Matty S, then the coaching stuff, Arnold, Clarky, and Crowly ...
Punter
Guest
Mark, it's a friendly game & Juve didn't bring out their superstars. Last year I visited the fair city of Melbourne to see Ronaldo, Totti & other Real Madrid & Roma superstars play. This year I didn't even watch it on TV. So what was this telling me again?
Punter
Guest
BigAl, again I think you have the same confusion as MF, this again tells me AFL is big in Adelaide, Melbourne & Perth. Not sure what else this is saying.
BigAl
Guest
Punter, here's another one for your steely analysis - stumbled on it just now while browsing Crikey... Top five pay TV programs: 1)AFL: Port Adelaide v GWS (Fox Footy) – 208,000 . . Not too shabby a result for a city where no-one can afford Foxtel versus a city that doesn't care ????
Mark
Guest
The numbers make the obvious point that there wasn't a lot of interest in the Victory vs Juve game. Which is not at all surprising. I would be interested to know what the TV figures for last year's ICC games were.
Punter
Guest
Thanks Mark, I have no idea whether the Swans were on FTA or Fox, i should have read MF's post more closely. Just makes MF's post more useless, as there facts he provided nothing to compare.
Fadida
Guest
Are we surprised local football codes got better figures? They were after all playing competitive games. Perhaps Martyn and his AFL mates should use preseason friendly figures to compare ie what was the ratings for Pies v Crows in a meaningless pres season friendly? I thought so.... I'm also pretty sure we can't really compare given no international club sides exist to come and play an AFL friendly!
Mark
Guest
It's not a true comparison. Sydney vs Carlton was on both FTA and Fox, while Storm vs Roosters was only on Fox. You can't make any meaningful comparison of the Fox numbers when one was also on FTA and the other wasn't.
BigAl
Guest
So who was this . . .AFL mover and shaker ? - Plugger Lockett? Cazaly?? or someone -you-just-made-up...
Midfielder
Guest
Waz So not getting Football mentioned in the media is preferred ... he did not say major ... BTW the decision to replace the round waste paper bins with square ones at FFA HO was done on environmental grounds and with a view to enhance football...
SVB
Guest
Midfielder It's part of Mister Football's isolationist policy. Isolate yourself from the rest of the world, and claim 'superiority' in your own little world. Why try to compete with the actual best athletes in the world, when you can invent your own little game which no one else plays, and claim to be the best in that. So clever :)
Midfielder
Guest
SVB Actually we should be very proud of how Hal has survived ... post Hal starting the following unforeseen events have happen and yet we keep growing. Big Bash Massive increase in spending on Football squads by, USA, China, Japan, Korea, India and the Middle East. Basketball moving to a summer time slot.
Midfielder
Guest
SVB Strange this obsession to continually brag about the AFL almost to put us in our place... Last week was in a business meeting and the other person is a hard core rusted on Swans fan from Melbourne many years ago. He started going on about something the AFL were doing and he believed Football people would be interested and a tad worries.... He got a shock when I said most Football people don't think about or watch what the AFL do we simply don't care ... we get upset when you continually tell us how much we need to understand the 'Australian Game" and how superior the "Australian Game is" .. He challenged me and said that the AFL fan looks at what other codes are doing and why should we not be as concerned.... he almost died when I said when you have over 400 million players across over 3 million clubs and around 35 million + teams over 150 countries have professional leagues and 210 countries play ... in NSW and QLD we just don't care or even think about AFL as I said except when they keep hounding us ...
SVB
Guest
Sorry Mister Football, but there is nothing special about being a big fish in a small pond. No amount of parochial, chest beating is going to change that. I'm sure someone can supply us the rating figures for Canadian Football in Canada.
Punter
Guest
This shows AFL is very big in surprise, surprise, surprise in Melbourne, Adelaide & Perth. The only true comparison is; Storm (in a city that doesn't care) v Roosters - 297k Swans (despite being 'biggest club in Sydney', in a city that doesn't care) v Carlton - 132K
Bondy
Guest
Martyn Is aussie rules are fully professional sport or is it semi professional ? ...