Izzo was the hero on Sunday night, doing it all in the penalty shootout to keep Victory’s season alive

Goalkeeper Paul Izzo saved the day for Melbourne Victory, doing it all in an epic penalty shootout to keep Victory’s title dreams alive while Melbourne City will miss the grand final for the first time in three years.

Max Hatzoglou

@MHatzoglou

5 min read

May 5, 2024 - 9:50PM

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MAY 05: Victory celebrate after they defeated Melbourne City in a penalty shootout during the A-League Men Elimination Final match between Melbourne Victory and Melbourne City at AAMI Park, on May 05, 2024, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Jonathan DiMaggio/Getty Images)

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Melbourne Victory goalkeeper Paul Izzo has become a hero of Australian football after a stunning four penalty saves and a goal to power his side to a 3-2 win on penalties in one of the greatest finals in A-League history.

Izzo pulled off multiple game-saving stops, including three in penalties, to power Victory to an incredible win after being a player down for more than 80 minutes in the extra-time thriller at AAMI Park on Sunday.

It was a stunning Nishan Velupillay goal in the 88th minute which sent the crowd wild as Victory levelled the score with City at 1-1.

Earlier in the elimination final, City’s Samuel Souprayenn headed home the opener from the back post.

City almost scored the winner in the 93rd minute through substitute Callum Talbot, only for Izzo to deny the shot.

Victory had a chance to pull off a miracle win in the 120th minute before going to penalties although City defender Zane Schreiber made a clearance a metre away from goal just before Kasey Bos tried to tap it home.

Paul Izzo has made himself an instant cult-hero at the club. Picture: Getty Images

And of course it was Izzo who was the deciding factor in the game, diving to his right to deny James Jeggo’s penalty attempt with his third save of the shootout.

“I’m still lots for words I’m rattled,” Izzo told broadcaster Ten.

“We just kept going, kept believing and whatever happened happen.

“I’m sorry I don’t know what to say.”

Izzo said Victory had done a session practicing penalties at training, but his own effort was disastrous and he thought he’d blown his chance at getting a call up in the shootout.

“We had a session during the week and I shanked one … but then the boss looked at me and I was like ‘alright’,” he said.

“Fake it til you make it I guess.

“If you look confident then you’re going to be confident.”

Victory defender Roderick Miranda said Izzo “was a hero” following his top-notch performance.

An all-time classic Melbourne derby. Picture: Getty Images

“He kept us in the game while we were losing 1-0,” he said post-game on Paramount+.

“Amazing performance, that’s why we are here, sometimes we need some help with some players.

“Tonight we needed the help of Paul Izzo, he stepped up in the penalties, he was amazing.”

City dominated for large parts of the game, winning shots (30-16), possession (65 per cent) and corners (14-7).

The dramatic game saw a second red card given in the 120th minute when Curtis Good was sent off from a second yellow after a tackle on Velupillay.

Izzo didn’t know what to say after his stellar performance as he went on to say it was sparked by the “spirit of the team.”

How far can Victory go? Picture: Getty Images

“Before the game, we thought, we have got this far, it started all those months ago in pre-season, it can’t end now, we just kept going and kept believing and whatever happened, happened.”

We knew going into half-time, we said it’s going to be a dog fight.

“There’s been instances this season where we have gone down to 10 men and we have got a result.

“Everyone was sick and tired of the draws and the draws and the draws but that’s what it gets you.

“It gets you these moments because we stick together and grind out a result.”

It will be Tony Popovic’s side which will host Wellington next Sunday in the first of the two-legged semi-final.

The result means City won’t feature in the grand final for the first time since 2019.

Victory goalkeeper Paul Izzo was outstanding on Sunday. Picture: Getty Images

IZZO THE HERO

What an extraordinary start to the game it was for Victory goalkeeper Izzo, pulling off a penalty save just after he had already stopped a strong City attempt.

After diving to his right to stop a Natel shot bound for the top right corner in the 16th minute, City had another strong chance three minutes later.

But Izzo’s right glove was there to stop the Tolgay Arslan penalty attempt to the bottom left corner.

“Izzo with another magnificent stop,” Simon Hill said on commentary.

“That is outstanding goalkeeping because that had a fair bit of pace on it from Arslan, that is just a really good save.”

Izzo then capped off his stunning half with strong stop from another Natel attempt to try and curl around his left.

The three top saves came after a nervy start where City forward Maclaren intervened on the keeper in the opening minute of the game as he tried to pass a ball out from goals.

The highlights for Izzo continued when he pulled off another top save, denying Callum Talbot in the 93rd minute.

Then he denied Natel again this time in the 113th minute with his ninth save of the game.

“Leo Natel is going to have nightmares about Paul Izzo tonight, he has answered everything he has thrown at him,” McBreen said.

He then scored the third penalty of his side’s shootout to lead his team to a stunning win.

Nishan Velupillay equalised in the 88th minute. Picture: Getty Images

LATE DRAMA

Victory were down and out, playing with 10-men, City had it all going their way until Velupillay nailed a glorious Kasey Bos cut-back into the back net in the 88th minute to make it 1-1.

Bos had made a stellar run on the left edge, getting passed City defence before lovely ball near the penalty spot for Velupillay to score with Victory ninth shot of the game.

At the same time, City had put 22 shots and were dominating.

Then everyone thought a miracle was about to happen at AAMI Park when referee Alex King went to VAR to confirm that Matthew Leckie had handballed the ball inside the box.

As King walked back onto the pitch to give his final verdict, he said “before the handball, there is an offside offence.”

It was Victory’s Damien Da Silva who was caught offside before heading the ball into Matthew Leckie, denying the Big V a win for the ages.

Instead the game went to extra time.

Tensions overflowed during the game. Picture: Getty Images

COSTLY RED CARD

A brain fade from midfielder Machach made life a whole lot tougher for Victory as they went to 10 men after the 37th minute.

It was a silly left foot which he lashed out towards the face of City’s Leo Natel. The pair were both challenging to win the ball just prior to the incident.

Before the “violent conduct” to get sent off, Natel made the most of a push in the back from Machach which put him on the ground.

He even blindly flicked his right leg Victory’s way while on the ground which prompted Machach to retaliate although he took it a step too far, resulting in the send off.

“He lashes out with his left foot,” Daniel McBreen on Paramount+.

“Someone who has been so inspirational and so much of a leader for the group this year, it is just a petty little kick out.

“He let the emotions get the better of him for a fraction of a second and it’s cost his team dearly.”

It was a feisty opening half with the red card incident resulting in majority of players coming together in a push and shove.

City had three of the four yellow cards in the opening 45 minutes.