The Isuzu UTE A-League Grand Final between Melbourne City vs. Western United will take place at AAMI Park on Saturday, May 28 from 7:45pm on Channel 10, Paramount+ and 10 Play.
Semi Final recap – Western United
After an epic semi-final battle between Western United and Melbourne Victory, Western United took the win 4-1 on the night, 4-2 on aggregate.
Western started the better of the two teams, and they levelled the tie in the 18th minute when Alexsandar Prijovic headed home from a sumptuous Connor Paine cross.
It took a moment of high quality to bring back Victory’s advantage in the tie.
In-form Jake Brimmer levelled the score on the night, in the 37th minute, with a brilliant free-kick that gave Jamie Young no chance in the Western goal.
In the 42nd minute, Victory thought they should have had a penalty when Roderick Miranda was felled by Joshua Risdon, and Western thought they had scored a second deep in first half injury time when Dylan Wenzel-Halls headed home after a Leo Lacroix flick on, only to find the flag raised for offside.
It was 1-1 at the break, 2-1 to Victory on aggregate.
Western went back in front on the night and levelled the tie again in the 49th minute when Prijovic bagged his second, sliding in to get on the end of a superb Wenzel-Halls cross. Like the Serbian’s first goal, there was nothing Ivan Kelava could do in the Victory net.
And Prijovic was involved again when Western United took a 3-1 lead on the night in the 78th minute, going up 3-2 in the tie. His knock down was met by Lachlan Wales whose shot was deflected by Miranda past a helpless Kelava.
Western sealed the win when Wenzel-Halls tapped into an empty net in the ninth minute of injury time, booking their place in a first A-League Grand Final.
Semi Final recap – Melbourne City
Melbourne City won through to the Isuzu UTE A-League Grand Final after a 2-1 extra time win over Adelaide United in a cagey and fractious semi-final, second leg at AAMI Park.
Melbourne City started brightly but it was the visitors who looked to dominate possession and get a foothold in the game.
In the 28th minute a Craig Goodwin cross found the head of George Blackwood but a sprawling Tom Glover pushed it wide.
Adelaide shot stopper Joe Gauci saved an Andrew Nabout shot from distance in unconvincing fashion in the 38th minute.
The last action of a goalless first half saw a glancing Jamie Maclaren header from a Taras Gomulka freekick comfortably saved by Gauci.
Adelaide took the lead in the 48th minute with a glorious goal from midfielder Zack Clough. Picking the ball up on the right side and driving into the box, he sent a right foot volley into the top left corner, with Glover a spectator in the City goal.
City brought themselves back into the game with a 74th minute goal from substitute Marco Tilio. Arriving late at the back post, Tilio stooped to head in a Nabout cross and bring relief to the City fans.
Rostyn Griffiths had a great chance for City in the 85th minute from a Scott Jamieson corner but it came at him too quickly to adjust and he sent it over off his knee.
And although both teams continued to create chances and throw everything at each other the score remained 2-1 to Melbourne City.
How to watch the A-League Men’s Finals
All A-League Men’s finals matches will be broadcast live on Paramount+. Paramount costs $8.99 a month and offers free seven-day trials for new customers. Channel 10 will also be showing every game live via their main channel or 10 Bold. All finals matches will also be free to watch via Network 10’s streaming service 10 Play.