Latest news with #RoderickMiranda
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Melbourne City edge crosstown rivals to win A-League title
Yonatan Cohen (C) celebrates after scoring the goal which secured Melbourne City's victory in the A-League grand final against Melbourne Victory (William WEST) Israeli 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. Advertisement 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." Advertisement 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. Advertisement 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. Advertisement 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. But their steely defence held up as City erupted in jubilation when the whistle sounded. tl/mtp
News.com.au
24-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
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.
News.com.au
19-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Melbourne Victory centre-back Brendan Hamill ruptures anterior cruciate ligament in his knee
Experienced Melbourne Victory defender Brendan Hamill is facing several months on the sidelines after rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in his side's 1-0 A-League semi-final first-leg loss to Auckland FC. Hamill was forced off the field in the 56th minute of Saturday night's match at AAMI Park, with the Victory on Monday confirming the worst fears of the player and the club. 'Hamill will undergo reconstructive surgery in the coming days, and the club will continue to provide support to Brendan leading into next season,' a Victory statement said. Hamill is contracted to the Victory until the end of next season, but now faces the prospect of not playing again until the latter stages of the club's 2025-26 campaign. The 32-year-old centre-back had been a late inclusion in the Victory's starting team on Saturday after a hip injury sidelined captain Roderick Miranda. Hamill, who has made a combined total of 180 A-League appearances at four clubs, not only replaced Miranda in the Victory's 11, but was also wearing the captain's armband in the Portuguese import's absence. The Melbourne side will now be sweating on Miranda's fitness ahead of this Saturday night's second-leg in Auckland, where the Victory face the tough task of overcoming their first-leg defeat to reach the May 31 grand final. Meanwhile, Perth Glory will host Italian giants AC Milan in pre-season friendly on July 31 at HBF Park. Glory chief executive officer Anthony Radich said AC Milan was a 'big drawcard' in Perth, having also last year played a match in Western Australia last year against fellow Italian top-flight outfit Roma. 'From a football point of view, we are looking forward to pitting our wits against such high-quality opponents as part of our preparations for the 2025-26 A-League campaign and I know our players will relish the challenge,' Radich said.
