A-League finals results and news: Mesmerising Arzani fires Victory into A-Leagues semi finals
A mesmerising, match-winning display from Socceroos winger Daniel Arzani has sent the Victory through to the A-League’s semi-finals with a 2-1 win over Western Sydney Wanderers.
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A mesmerising, match-winning display from Socceroo winger Daniel Arzani has sent the Melbourne Victory through to the A-League’s semi-finals with a 2-1 elimination final away from home over Western Sydney Wanderers.
Arzani’s magic on the wing created both of the Victory’s first-half goals to keep alive their hopes of a fifth A-League title and first championship since 2018.
After early season turmoil that saw Patrick Kisnorbo flee, new manager Arthur Diles’ team will now take on Premiers Plate winners Auckland, in their inaugural season, in a two-legged semi-final series with the first game to be played at home on the weekend.
Western Sydney’s superb 12 game undefeated run to the finals however has ended abruptly and the frustrations showed as manager Alen Stajcic and Diles exchanged unpleasantries on the full-time whistle.
That’s despite looking reinvigorated as a club this season with nearly 17,000 fans turning out to support the team at home, under former Matilda’s manager Stajcic’s, superb stewardship.
And if not for a wayward effort from marquee signing and former World Cup winner Juan Mata in the final ten minutes, they may have taken Melbourne to extra-time at least.
The boisterous Wanderers crowd were diluted somewhat early on however as the Victory took the lead just seven minutes in courtesy of the first instalment of pure Arzani class.
The Socceroos winger was afforded too much room by the Wanderers defence as he cut in-field from the right, but he capitalised on that with a deft cross to find Kasey Bos in plenty of space in the 18-yard box.
The 21-year-old did the rest for his third goal in as many games and the elimination final advantage for Melbourne.
Western Sydney would draw level 15 minutes later through in-form striker Zac Sapsford.
The lively frontman made a daring run to get on the end of a delightful through ball from Brandon Borello and smashed it home with a first-time effort.
Arzani would then take centre stage again just before half-time to help restore Victory’s lead.
Now stationed on the left-hand side, the 26-year-old jinked past two Wanderers defenders and drew in a third before crossing for Frenchman Zinedine Machach to slide the ball home and make it 2-1.
It was a reminder from the 26-year-old of what he can still provide the national team and Socceroos boss Tony Popovic, who put him on notice publicly back in January, would have been suitably impressed.
Western Sydney showed some endeavour in the second half but they failed to test the Victory defence enough, side from the late Mata chance that fell kindly to the Premier League great that he blazed over the bar from 15 yards out.
DAZZLING DANIEL
His 2018 World Cup campaign was a far bigger announcement of his talents but that was a long time ago and Daniel Arzani provided another stark reminder of what he can do on the finals stage.
In January he was given a public dressing down by Socceroos coach Tony Popovic and it seems to have done the trick.
He was clearly the best player on the park, creating both Victory goals, and is now right in the frame for a national team starting spot come the final two group stage World Cup qualifiers in June.
ZAC ATTACK
The quartet of Milanovic, Segecic, Goodwin and Botic have dominated the future prospects and Socceroo call-up chat recently and perhaps it’s time for Zac Sapsford to join them. The Wanderers striker’s equaliser was his ninth goal of the season. He has pace, versatility, runs all day and most importantly is proving to be a lethal finisher.
THE WEST IS BACK…FOR NOW
A 12-game undefeated run coming into the finals has build some old school atmosphere and vibes around Western Sydney and that went up a level again with 16,399 fans in attendance. More is possible of course but the RBB have been building back to their best days amid all of that to create a wonderful backdrop for their team over the last three months.
The challenge for Western Sydney now is to build on that after their swift finals exit.
BOTIC BRACE SENDS WESTERN UTD TO SEMI
Noah Botic fired a hat-trick as Western United recovered from a nightmare start to beat Adelaide United and set up an A-League semi-final against Melbourne City.
Just the third men’s treble in Western’s history saw them come from behind at Ironbark Fields after an upset had been threatened when Luka Jovanovic struck inside three minutes.
The Adelaide striker, deputising for joint golden boot winner Archie Goodwin, sidelined by a hamstring injury, found space inside the penalty area to firmly head in Javi Lopez’s precise cross.
This, as it turned out, was an ill-advised red rag to a bull, and the direction of traffic quickly shifted, with the turnaround completed shortly past the half-hour mark.
Botic’s curler, finding the far corner via the unfortunate Bart Vriends, levelled matters when Adelaide, through some scrambled defence, were hoping the danger had passed. It, led by Botic, was just getting going.
Angus Thurgate’s swirling ball forward was gathered by the impish Riku Danzaki, who gave Botic the ingredients to produce a first-time, left-footed finish at the near post.
A third unanswered goal, completing Botic’s first senior hat-trick, proved critical for not only securing him the matchball but the team’s progression, as Stefan Mauk gave the visitors faint hope during the closing exchanges.
NOAH BOTIC IS ON FIRE - SPREAD THE WORD 🙌😮â€ðŸ’¨
— Isuzu UTE A-League (@aleaguemen) May 9, 2025
The @wufcofficial star notches a hat-trick in the Elimination Final. He's just inevitable 🚀
📺 Watch #WUNvADL live and exclusive NOW on Paramount+ pic.twitter.com/enbjunpOOB
WESTERN MAKE GOOD ON BAD BEGINNING
Adelaide’s opening act indicated the Reds had rested well thanks to their round 29 bye, but they would not last the distance.
Contrastingly, Western did not have a kick up to Jovanovic’s opener, with this serving as a much-needed wake-up call.
From the moment they fell behind, it was wave after wave of green and black attacks.
There was a Matthew Grimaldi rebound correctly ruled out for an offside in the build-up, and Michael Ruhs - through a one-on-one and a free header - could have scored twice before Botic wrestled the tie in Western’s direction, taking his goal tally to 15 for the campaign.
.@AdelaideUnited pull a goal back thanks to Stefan Mauk! 🫡🔴
— Isuzu UTE A-League (@aleaguemen) May 9, 2025
He gives the Reds a glimmer of hope in the Elimination Final. Is a comeback on the cards?!
📺 Watch #WUNvADL live and exclusive NOW on Paramount+ pic.twitter.com/ZZpzC8yeji
CARL VEART: OVER AND OUT
Adelaide lost their first elimination finals match under Carl Veart’s stewardship in his final game as their manager.
His departure was announced in April and appeared scheduled for the first weekend of May when they ended 2024/25 by winning one in 11. Instead, back-to-back Sydney FC losses saw the Reds cling onto sixth.
However, the 54-year-old’s stay of execution was almost as short-lived as his team’s lead in Tarneit.
MELBOURNE CITY MATCHUP NEXT
John Aloisi’s side, the highest-ranked elimination final winner, courtesy of finishing third, will do battle with their Victoria neighbours over the next two weekends.
It is, though, doubtful they will be able to stage a home semi-final at Ironbark Fields, with the likelihood that both legs will be played at AAMI Park.
This was the venue for each of their regular-season clashes, during which City claimed two victories to nil.
Originally published as A-League finals results and news: Mesmerising Arzani fires Victory into A-Leagues semi finals
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