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Courier-Mail
an hour ago
- Sport
- Courier-Mail
Melbourne streets turned red as A-League's fans set flares, taunt police
Don't miss out on the headlines from Sport. Followed categories will be added to My News. The streets of Melbourne have been turned red and yellow, with rowdy soccer fans setting of flares to a strong police presence amid the A-League decider. Incredible photos have captured the chaotic scenes, with soccer fans descending on AAMI park to watch the showdown between Melbourne Victory and Melbourne City FC. No one has been accused of any wrongdoing. Picture: NewsWire / Diego Fedele Members of the Public Order Response Team with Victoria Police arrive outside a pub where hundreds of Melbourne Victory football fans gather ahead of the A-League final. Picture: NewsWire / Diego Fedele Crowds of fans bundled up in soccer scarfs appeared to be taunting officers, who turned out in big numbers ahead of the match. Some shouted anti-police chants, The Herald Sun reported. Past matches between the two teams have erupted in chaos, including in 2022 where about 150 spectators stormed the field. Goalkeeper Tom Glover was allegedly struck in the head with a metal bucket during the incident. Some were handed down life bans following the match. No one has been accused of any wrongdoing. Picture: NewsWire / Diego Fedele Police are out in force. Picture: NewsWire / Diego Fedele Victoria Police CBD acting commander Zorka Dunstan said some fans barred from attending Saturday night's big game following 'reckless' behaviour earlier in the year. 'The majority of supporters do the right thing and create an incredible environment for everyone in attendance, including families,' Mr Dunstan said in a statement ahead of the match. 'However, at times this year we have seen a very small group of supporters engage in reckless and anti-social behaviour. Police are set to maintain a strong presence throughout Saturday night. Picture: NewsWire / Diego Fedele 'Due to their actions, some of these people are barred from attending this Saturday's big game. 'We don't want this small group to tarnish the event for the rest of the soccer community.' He said those in Richmond — particularly on Swan St — could expect a 'strong and dedicated police presence throughout the entire night'. 'There will be an unbelievable atmosphere on Saturday night as two traditional Melbourne rivals meet in the Grand Final for the first time,' Mr Dunstan said. 'The bumper crowd can expect to see plenty of police on the way to the game and at the ground itself.' Soccer fans allegedly lit flares under a Swan St bridge on the way to a game just two weeks ago.
The Age
3 hours ago
- Sport
- The Age
‘Looks like he went 15 rounds with Mike Tyson': Leckie leads City to title despite horror injury
Melbourne City star Mathew Leckie put his body on the line to lead his side to the A-League championship and he won the Joe Marston Medal as best player because of it. Leckie had his nose taped to his face and he played in that condition for the bulk of the second half, making a host of vital plays in the unexpected role of a midfielder. City won the grand final 1-0 on a first-half goal from Israeli international Yonatan Cohen in front of more than 29,000 fans at AAMI Park. Leckie spent much of the post-game in the team's medical room after opting to play on after having his nose slashed open after an accidental boot to the face. He was able to celebrate with his teammates and accept his medal and the A-League's 'golden toilet seat' trophy, but City coach Aurelio Vidmar and City officials both said once he removed the tape, his nose 'blew up' and is potentially broken. Leckie put on a fearless display, blocking a goal-bound shot from Victory's Zinedine Machach in the first half and giving his side a speedy, physical presence in midfield. 'I didn't feel dizzy or get that sort of concussion feel,' Leckie told Channel 10 post-game. 'I didn't see the replay, so I don't know, but I've heard I will probably look like a different person tomorrow, but if we came away from this game with a loss and I look like this it would sting a bit, but it is all worth it now. 'I have probably got two hours in a doctor's room now, but we will see how it goes.' It is unclear if he will be able to join the Socceroos for their must-win qualifier against Japan in Perth on Thursday night and in Saudi Arabia next Wednesday morning. The Socceroos are yet to name their squad, but Leckie was expected to be one of the grand final players to join the team. 'He looked better before. I think he has gone 15 rounds with Mike Tyson – he's pretty banged up,' Vidmar said. 'I don't think it is concussion. He got studded on the face, he's got cuts and he may have even broken his nose, but I don't know at this stage. 'He was enormous tonight for us. We let the Ferrari out of the garage, and he just played an incredible game.' Leckie had a horror season battling hamstring and calf injuries, which kept him to just 15 games, and he made his only start of the finals series in the grand final. 'He had a lot of issues this year, [and] a lot of issues going into the grand final, but he's such a tough competitor, a guy who always wants to win and he deserved that medal. He fought to the death.' City hoped to get between 45 to 60 minutes from Leckie, given the additional running involved in his midfield role, but he played the full game. Vidmar admitted he couldn't be sure Leckie could take his place in the Socceroos squad, if named in the squad. Socceroos players are expected to head to Perth on Sunday. Victory and Socceroos midfielder Nishan Velupillay is also in doubt after he ruled himself out of the grand final due to an ankle injury. City captain and Socceroos left-back Aziz Behich is a friend and long-time teammate of Leckie, and he heaped praise on his fearless display. 'I've known him for a long time and it doesn't surprise me he stayed out there,' Behich said. 'I know what type of character he is, and what he's done tonight. To, literally, put your whole body on the line for the boys and this football club – we couldn't have done this without him, and it's a credit to him.' Latest posts 12.21am That's all for tonight That's all we have for you tonight everyone. Thanks so much for joining us and please check back later in the week for more Socceroos and Matildas coverage as both national teams will be in action. Please have a lovely evening and bye for now. 12.13am 'He looks like he's gone 15 rounds with Mike Tyson': Leckie puts nose, body on line for title By Roy Ward Melbourne City star Mathew Leckie put his body on the line to lead his side to the A-League championship and he won the Joe Marston Medal as best player because of it. Leckie had his nose taped to his face and he played in that condition for the bulk of the second half, making a host of vital plays in the unexpected role of a midfielder. City won the grand final 1-0 on a first-half goal from Israeli international Yonatan Cohen in front of more than 29,000 fans at AAMI Park. Leckie spent much of the post-game in the team's medical room after opting to play on after having his nose slashed open after an accidental boot to the face. He was able to celebrate with his teammates and accept his medal and the A-League's 'golden toilet seat' trophy, but City coach Aurelio Vidmar and City officials both said once he removed the tape, his nose 'blew up' and is potentially broken. Leckie put on a fearless display, blocking a goal-bound shot from Victory's Zinedine Machach in the first half and giving his side a speedy, physical presence in midfield. 'I didn't feel dizzy or get that sort of concussion feel,' Leckie told Channel 10 post-game. 'I didn't see the replay, so I don't know, but I've heard I will probably look like a different person tomorrow, but if we came away from this game with a loss and I look like this it would sting a bit, but it is all worth it now. 'I have probably got two hours in a doctor's room now, but we will see how it goes.' It is unclear if he will be able to join the Socceroos for their must-win qualifier against Japan in Perth on Thursday night and in Saudi Arabia next Wednesday morning. The Socceroos are yet to name their squad, but Leckie was expected to be one of the grand final players to join the team. 'He looked better before. I think he has gone 15 rounds with Mike Tyson – he's pretty banged up,' Vidmar said. 'I don't think it is concussion. He got studded on the face, he's got cuts and he may have even broken his nose, but I don't know at this stage. 'He was enormous tonight for us. We let the Ferrari out of the garage, and he just played an incredible game.' Leckie had a horror season battling hamstring and calf injuries, which kept him to just 15 games, and he made his only start of the finals series in the grand final. 'He had a lot of issues this year, [and] a lot of issues going into the grand final, but he's such a tough competitor, a guy who always wants to win and he deserved that medal. He fought to the death.' City hoped to get between 45 to 60 minutes from Leckie, given the additional running involved in his midfield role, but he played the full game. Vidmar admitted he couldn't be sure Leckie could take his place in the Socceroos squad, if named in the squad. Socceroos players are expected to head to Perth on Sunday. Victory and Socceroos midfielder Nishan Velupillay is also in doubt after he ruled himself out of the grand final due to an ankle injury. City captain and Socceroos left-back Aziz Behich is a friend and long-time teammate of Leckie, and he heaped praise on his fearless display. 'I've known him for a long time and it doesn't surprise me he stayed out there,' Behich said. 'I know what type of character he is, and what he's done tonight. To, literally, put your whole body on the line for the boys and this football club – we couldn't have done this without him, and it's a credit to him.'
New Straits Times
6 hours ago
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Melbourne City edge crosstown rivals to win A-League title
MELBOURNE: Forward Yonatan Cohen proved the hero as Melbourne City claimed the bragging rights over crosstown rivals Melbourne Victory with a 1-0 victory to lift the A-League title on Saturday. In front of a sell-out crowd of 29,902 at AAMI Park, Cohen scored in the 10th minute before the disciplined City shut down Victory with gritty defending in a nerve-jangling second-half. City claimed their second title having reached the grand final for the fifth time in the last six years. "It's amazing to do it against our rivals," City defender Nathaniel Atkinson said. "We got that early goal and we knew with our defence that we could keep a clean sheet." It was a bitter disappointment for Victory, who lost at the final hurdle for the second straight season to once again fall short of equalling Sydney FC's record of five titles. "It's really tough to be in this position two years in a row," Victory defender Roderick Miranda said. "We had chances in the beginning, but in the second-half they defended really well." The powerhouse clubs had never previously met in a grand final since the A-League replaced the National Soccer League in 2005 as Australia's top football competition. The blockbuster decider was a tonic for a competition that has been mired by financial strain and declining popularity since the Covid-19 pandemic. A heavy police presence was visible before the game as opposing supporters marched through the streets and set off flares, but there were no reports of violence. Amid a febrile atmosphere inside the stadium, Victory made the early running with striker Daniel Arzani providing headaches for City's defence. But City, entering with an unbeaten eight-game streak, pounced against the run of play on their first foray forward. Max Caputo's bullet rifled off the upright and straight to Israel international Cohen, who hammered the third fastest goal in A-League grand final history. City continued to threaten on the counterattack and a powerful header from Mathew Leckie was on target until a desperate dive from goalkeeper Jack Duncan came to Victory's rescue. The tireless Arzani tried to will an equaliser for Victory, but he had little room to weave his silky skills against the swarming City defence. Cohen opened the second-half with a wickedly curling strike from the edge of the box only for Duncan to produce another outstanding full-stretched save. Tensions flared between the teams as City missed several golden opportunities to end Victory's resistance.
Hindustan Times
7 hours ago
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Soccer-Early Cohen strike earns Melbourne City A-League title in derby clash
* Yonatan Cohen's 10th minute goal wins title for City * City claim the A-League championship for the second time * Club previously won the title in 2021 MELBOURNE, - Melbourne City lifted the A-League Championship for the second time in the club's history on Saturday as a 1-0 Grand Final win over crosstown rivals Melbourne Victory secured the title for Aurelio Vidmar's side. Yonatan Cohen's 10th minute strike ensured the City Football Group-owned outfit shaded a tense all-Melbourne clash - the first derby meeting in the decider in the league's 20th season - to add the title to their only previous win in 2021. "The derby is always like this, it was always going to be physical out there," said City defender Nathaniel Atkinson. "We knew if we matched them with the fight, we could let our football do the talking, and once we got that goal we knew, with our defence, that we could keep a clean sheet." City weathered Victory's early pressure in front of almost 30,000 fans at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium to take the lead, Cohen reacting quickest to beat Jack Duncan from close range after Max Caputo's effort had come back off the crossbar. Mathew Leckie threw himself at full stretch to block a goal-bound strike from Victory's Zinedine Machach 10 minutes later to maintain the lead, and the Australia international was denied at the other end when his header was gathered on the line by Duncan. Victory, also runners-up in last year's decider, pushed to pull level before the interval, with City goalkeeper Patrick Beach diving to his right to save another Machach attempt while Roderick Miranda headed Daniel Arzani's freekick wide. Duncan had to be at his sharpest to keep out Cohen's curling effort from distance a little over a minute after the restart and, as the half approached the midway point, Caputo snatched at his attempt when he had the time and space to double the lead. Cohen should have put the result beyond doubt with 14 minutes remaining when, unmarked, the Israel international headed harmlessly across the face of the Victory goal. That miss was to prove academic as City kept their neighbours at bay to win the championship, having finished second behind Auckland FC in the regular season standings earlier this month. "It's really tough being in this position for two years in a row, but hopefully next year we can go again," said Victory captain Miranda. "They had one chance in the first half and scored and in the second half they defended really well. But this is football."
The Age
7 hours ago
- Sport
- The Age
Tensions boil over in A-League grand final
Tensions boil over in A-League grand final We're sorry, this feature is currently unavailable. We're working to restore it. Please try again later.
