Melbourne Victory reached the A-League Men’s grand final after an epic semi-final win over Wellington Phoenix, with Chris Ikonomidis scoring the decisive goal in extra time.
The match took place at Sky Stadium on Saturday, witnessed by a record crowd of 33,297 cheering for the Phoenix.
The game was intense from the start. Phoenix had a chance to score when they were awarded a penalty in the second half, but Melbourne’s goalkeeper Paul Izzo made a crucial save. Victory thought they had won after Adama Traore’s powerful shot in the 82nd minute, but Phoenix’s substitute Oskar Zawada scored an equalizer in the 99th minute, sending the match into extra time.
In the extra time, Ikonomidis scored from a corner, giving Victory the lead. Despite Phoenix’s best efforts, they couldn’t score again. Victory’s defense held strong, securing their place in the grand final.
Victory’s reward is a chance to win their fifth title next Saturday. If Sydney FC defeats Central Coast in the other semi-final, Victory might even host the grand final. This win also offers Tony Popovic, Victory’s coach, an opportunity to win his first title after several near misses with other teams.
Phoenix had an incredible season, marked by dramatic moments and a strong fan following, but they remain without any silverware.
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