The Bentleigh Greens will be searching for another FFA Cup semi-final appearance in the competitions short history, as they take on the Melbourne Victory at home. Follow all the thrilling live scores and highlights on The Roar from 7:30pm (AEST).
Bentleigh had an incredibly dominant run through the preliminary rounds, scoring 17 goals to one across their four games before they began to struggle and just stumble onto the back foot.
A highly entertaining affair against MetroStars in the Round of 32 saw the Greens sneak through in a penalty shoot-out, before just passing Devonport in the last round with an extra-time thriller.
They’re coming up against their first A-League team of the tournament tonight, though, and will need to break out one of the biggest upsets in FFA Cup history to unseat the reigning champions.
Despite the strong start to their campaign, the Greens have been toughing it out in the last few weeks.
Along with the two aforementioned extra time wins, they’ll also be coming into this one off the back of a disappointing 3-1 quarter-final exit from the NPL ten days ago.
On the other side of the park, the Victory have had a very comfortable, albeit short, run in this year’s cup.
A confidence building 3-1 win against the Newcastle Jets in the Round of 32 was followed up by a slightly more anxious one goal victory over last year’s underdog runaways, Hume City.
Melbourne haven’t played nearly as much football as Bentleigh in since the end of the 2015/16 A-League season, but they’ve come into the tournament with a very strong chance of going back-to-back.
Victory coach Kevin Muscat is certainly not taking the matchup lightly despite coming into the fixture as heavy favourites.
“We’re going to have to perform well to reward ourselves with a win,” Muscat said.
“We go up against a team that’s well organised and well coached, and from our perspective, our attitude’s got to be right.”
Prediction
It’s always going to be hard to go past an A-League side against an NPL team, especially when that side is the defending champion, and they have the competition’s all-time leading goal scorer Besart Berisha leading the charge.
The Greens have proven themselves as serious contenders in the past, having made the semi-final back in the inaugural 2014 competition, and dominated like few other teams could in the prelims.
Victory won’t get a walk in the park here, but they should be able to use their experience and durability to stave off a valiant Bentleigh outfit.
Victory to win 2-0
Scott Pryde
Expert
Aint that the truth
robert mue
Roar Rookie
HI PUNTERS,If i gave a no. of matches can i get predictions from the Gurus here?
Connor Bennett
Editor
Thanks for joining The Roar this evening, make sure to stick with us for all the FFA Cup semi-final action coming up in the coming weeks, and the beginning of the 2016/17 A-League season on the 7th of October.
Connor Bennett
Editor
Elsewhere in the FFA Cup, Canberra Olympic have incredibly just won their quarter-final with an injury time spot-kick that was taken by their goal keeper of all people. http://www.theroar.com.au/2016/09/27/canberra-olympic-vs-green-gully-ffa-cup-quarter-final-live-scores-blog/
Connor Bennett
Editor
If you'd all like to take a quick look at my pre-game prediction.... I have to do that because I so rarely get them right!!
Connor Bennett
Editor
FULLTIME The final whistle blows and Kevin Muscat lets out a sigh of relief. It wasn't a pretty game for the Victory, especially in the opening half, but the A-League side brought their experience and skill to the table late in the game to take the win. It was two goals in four minutes during the second half that did the job for Melbourne. Bentleigh Greens – 0 Melbourne Victory – 2
Connor Bennett
Editor
90' +3 Berisha in the box again... but he's taken down this time!! But no penalty given!! That's a lucky call for Bentleigh and Archibald after the replays show a pretty blatant change of direction from the defender and a solid hip bump to bring Berisha down. Bentleigh Greens – 0 Melbourne Victory – 2
Connor Bennett
Editor
90' +1 Berisha nearly makes it three!! The Greens are opening up through the midfield and the Albanian has some good space inside the box, driving it hard and low towards the left corner, but he just hits the woodwork and the left post denies him. Bentleigh Greens – 0 Melbourne Victory – 2
Connor Bennett
Editor
90' +3 minutes of stoppage time Bentleigh Greens – 0 Melbourne Victory – 2
Connor Bennett
Editor
89' Substitution for the Victory. Nick Ansell is coming on for Carl Valeri as the clock winds down Bentleigh Greens – 0 Melbourne Victory – 2
Connor Bennett
Editor
87' Melbourne are dominating possession now much the same way they did at the start of the game, enjoying about 80% of ball in the last ten minutes, the same number as the first 10 minutes of the fixture. Bentleigh Greens – 0 Melbourne Victory – 2
Connor Bennett
Editor
85' Troisi to Rojas inside the box... WHAT A SAVE!!! Rojas was given a perfect ball from Troisi in front of goal and the former has time for a touch before firing off, but Scott makes a superb reflex save down low to keep the scoreline from inflating. The Greens gloveman has had a very good game tonight despite the two goals. Bentleigh Greens – 0 Melbourne Victory – 2
Connor Bennett
Editor
84' Scott screaming orders at his troops as he looks for numbers off the goal kick. The Greens, unfortunately, are just looking unmotivated now and it's showing in their play. Too many of them have just given up on the contest. Bentleigh Greens – 0 Melbourne Victory – 2
Connor Bennett
Editor
82' Corner coming up now for the Victory. Troisi sends in a very nice curling looping ball... but everyone's somehow missed it. There was a header and a right foot volley in there that both should have connected, but the ball just sails through untouched towards the opposite sideline. Bentleigh Greens – 0 Melbourne Victory – 2
Connor Bennett
Editor
81' Into the final ten minutes now. The Greens have really looked beaten since conceding that second goal as the Victory continue to press forward into dangerous territory. Bentleigh Greens – 0 Melbourne Victory – 2
Connor Bennett
Editor
79' YELLOW CARD Oh a very nasty looking tackle there. Broxham goes down in a bit of pain after that one. Liam McCormick goes into the tackle with a very reckless studs-up effort into the shins of Broxham and the ref barely takes a breath before producing the card. Bentleigh Greens – 0 Melbourne Victory – 2
Connor Bennett
Editor
78' Bentleigh on the edge of the Melbourne box now with a real chance to wrestle themselves back into this match,. Ibrahim tries to cross, but doesn't get any height on it and finds two enemy defenders. Bentleigh Greens – 0 Melbourne Victory – 2
Connor Bennett
Editor
76' The Greens beginning to look a bit lost at the back now, throwing the hands up in the air as another loose ball flies over the sideline for a Victory throw in deep inside the Bentleigh half. Bentleigh Greens – 0 Melbourne Victory – 2
Connor Bennett
Editor
75' A very loose cross from the Victory's right edge, floating over the back of everyone and over the back line for a goal kick. Bentleigh Greens – 0 Melbourne Victory – 2
Connor Bennett
Editor
73' A quick counter for the Victory is quickly dealt with by the Greens, who make a substitution, bringing on Liam McCormick. Melbourne also make a change with Austin coming off. Bentleigh Greens – 0 Melbourne Victory – 2