What a great advertisement for the A-League at AAMI Park, as Melbourne Victory have beaten the gallant Adelaide United for the chance to meet Sydney and play for a spot in the Grand Final.
» Click here to read the full match report
Final score
Melbourne Victory 2
Adelaide United 1
Melbourne Victory and Adelaide United meet in the second of the Elimination Finals at AAMI Park. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 6pm (AEST).
After a wonderful win in the Asian Champions League mid-week, Melbourne Victory come into this sudden death clash with all the confidence in the world.
They have been one of the form teams of the A-League competition in recent times and find themselves only one step away from a Grand Final qualifier against Sydney.
Adelaide have plugged away through the second half of the regular season, winning games they needed to win without doing anything spectacular.
This is their chance to make a real statement and manager Marco Kurz’s new firm approach might just give them the resolve they need to pull off the upset.
Most will feel that the Victory have the weapons to win this one, with Leroy George in sparkling form and a defence that is working well in unison.
However, the youthful exuberance of Jordan Elsey, Nikolay Mileusnic and Ryan Kitto will be difficult to manage.
This is one of the most passionate match-ups in the A-League with so much history and frankly, violence between these two Clubs. Whatever does unfold, it will be played with aggression and commitment.
The winner of the match will go through to face Sydney FC in a semi-final for a spot in the grand final.
On the other side of the draw, Melbourne City have already progressed to a semi-final meeting with the Newcastle Jets after their win over the Brisbane Roar on Friday night.
Prediction
The Victory will find a way to get past the Reds tonight in a typical clash between these two old rivals.
Melbourne Victory 2, Adelaide United 1
Catch all the action on The Roar live coverage from 6pm (AEST).
chris
Guest
Ok KJ we get it : )
KenoathCarnt
Guest
Lol come on seriously...
Stuart Thomas
Expert
That Stevo, is what life is all about. Brilliant.
Stevo
Roar Rookie
Well done Stuart! Have yourself another ginger beer :)
Stuart Thomas
Expert
What a great advertisement for the A-League at AAMI Park, as the Victory have beaten the gallant Adelaide United for the chance to meet Sydney and play for a spot in the Grand Final. It was a game worth savouring and one where there was little between the two teams for most of the night. When that is the case, it takes a real champion to stand up and produce some magic, but a little more on that later. The opening minutes were obviously cagey with little time or space available to the players yet things opened up more quickly that many would have predicted, The first half didn't produce any goals yet did indicate that they were coming, as both teams played with the attacking vigour befitting an Elimination Final. Nikola Mileusnic latched onto a long and quickly played free kick to nudge the opening goal past Lawrence Thomas in the 57th minute. It was a brilliant and opportunistic goal and the Reds were in the lead. It stunned the Victory crowd and the Reds were buoyant. The question of whether the visitors would sit too deep and allow Victory to respond was answered soon after, as Kosta Barbarouses found space on the right and crossed for Leroy George to head home the equaliser six minutes later. Adelaide's lead had been short lived and the game proceeded to ebb and flow from one end to another for the next twenty minutes. As extra-time loomed: cometh the hour, cometh the man as Barbarouses once again provided the cross for talisman Besart Berisha to convert a stunning chance in the box. As slow and out of touch as he has looked at times throughout the season, Berisha chose the finals to remind everyone that he is indeed the man and whether you are City, Sydney or Newcastle, you may have to answer to him in the next few weeks. The goal came in the 89th minute befitting the drama and poetry of the man's career. It was beautiful to watch. Adelaide will know they had a chance and fell at the last hurdle and the Victory will now prepare for a big blue in Sydney next week. What a night for Australian football and what a wonderful victory for Melbourne who march on to the last four. Final Score Melbourne Victory 2 Adelaide United 1
Buddy
Guest
Knockout football - sudden death gives you a different type of game.
Griffo
Roar Guru
That would be something Kanga, especially the indifferent form that Victory have been in for parts of this season.
Nick Symonds
Guest
Who needs the EPL when you can have this? Berisha's goal was more beautiful than Ronaldo's...or Zidanes'.
Griffo
Roar Guru
...and just cutting to a scene of Berisha walking around the pitch with his son and daughter. His son with 'Daddy' on his #8 shirt does an attempt at his Dad's overhead goal - obviously reliving the moment. What a memory for Berisha and his family :-)
Buddy
Guest
Tense but fun, thanks Stuart.
Griffo
Roar Guru
Berisha talking about living to score in those sort of moments. That is some moment to send your team through.
Kangajets
Guest
That was a proper semi final Victory will beat Sydney next week Great goal by berisha Terrible decision not to send off Valeri This is why we have finals m Bugger the boring premiership
Griffo
Roar Guru
Jets vs City Sydney vs Victory A Melbourne Derby for a Grand Final is a real possibility. The NSW teams will have something to say about that 8-)
Buddy
Guest
I’ve heard 3 and 4 year olds come out with worse than that!
Stevo
Roar Rookie
Good contest. We’re on track for an all Melbourne granny.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
What as stunning game and a brilliant goal to seal it. Thanks for being on board for the game tonight. Match report to follow in fifteen minutes.
Kangajets
Guest
Victory will beat Sydney next Sunday
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Full Time 90' - It is over and the Victory have won it.
Melbourne Victory: 2 Adelaide United: 1
Griffo
Roar Guru
Now it is :twisted: It's a Big Blue for a spot in the Grand Final!
Stuart Thomas
Expert
95' - Troisi off and Sanchez on for Victory.
Melbourne Victory: 2 Adelaide United: 1