A-League semi final: Melbourne Victory into grand final after beating Auckland
Melbourne Victory have qualified for a second successive A-League grand final, ending Auckland FC's dream debut season with a 2-1 aggregate semi-final win.
Trailing 1-0 after last weekend's first-leg in Melbourne, the Victory defied the odds in front of more than 29,000 Auckland fans at Go Media Stadium on Saturday with a 2-0 second-leg win.
Frenchman Zinedine Machach and veteran Socceroos marksman Bruno Fornaroli – recalled to the starting side at the expense of Greek striker Nikos Vergos – each scored second-half goals to ensure the next Saturday night's grand final will be an all-Victorian affair in Melbourne between the Victory and either Western United or Melbourne City.
The two goals have also given Victory the chance to make amends for the heartbreak of last season's grand final, when they were beaten 3-1 in extra-time by Central Coast after leading 1-0 until the dying stages of normal time.
Victory captain Roderick Miranda said it was a 'really special' win against the premiers.
'A lot of people … they wrote us off,' Miranda told Sky Sport New Zealand.
'We've been through ups and downs … (but) we showed that we are here against a really tough team to beat.
'Commiserations to Auckland. They were the best team during the season.'
However, the Victory will probably need to win the decider without the services of Socceroos attacker Nishan Velupillay, who suffered a seemingly serious lower leg injury late in the first-half on Saturday.
Despite Velupillay's second-half absence, the Victory weren't to be denied, with Machach giving the visitors the second-leg with a 55th-minute shot that deflected off Auckland defender Nando Pijnaker on its way past wrong-footed goalkeeper Alex Paulsen.
It was the Victory's first goal in four matches against the Black Knights this season.
Five minutes later, Fornaroli put the Victory 2-0 ahead on the day and 2-1 on aggregate with a composed finish after being fed by the superb Jordi Valadon.
Auckland had the ball in the back of the net soon after through Logan Rogerson but elation soon turned to despair, with the cross that led to Rogerson's header ruled to have crossed the by-line before floating back into play.
The hosts also had a stoppage-time chance to level scores 2-2 on aggregate after Victory goalkeeper Jack Duncan dropped a cross from substitute Callan Elliot.
Pijnaker was first to the loose ball, but his goal-bound shot was cleared to safety by Victory defender Josh Rawlins.
Tense contest
Tempers erupted in the 43rd minute after a heavy challenge from Machach on Auckland winger Marlee Francois.
Auckland goalkeeper Paulsen ran from his penalty area to get in the face of Machach, leading to a melee involving a host of players from both teams.
Referee Alex King was eventually able to defuse the situation, with Paulsen booked for inciting the matter.
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