Western force: Aloisi’s team down Melbourne City to rule A-League at third attempt

Just three seasons after playing their first A-League game Western United are Australia’s champions, John Aloisi’s team scoring twice in the first half against Melbourne City to snatch a match winning lead that they rarely looked like surrendering.

The Western suburbs club have a small fan base and have yet to develop their own home ground. They have been without their talismanic Italian forward Alessandro Diamanti for much of the season, but that has not stopped them going all the way.

In winning the grand final in front of more than 22,000 fans at AAMI Park, they have become the first team since Melbourne Victory in 2018 to win the championship from outside a top-two finishing position in the regular season.

Western went in as underdogs - and coach John Aloisi says the bookmakers might have lost considerable money when his charges pulled off the upset.

“Not even tonight were they tipping us, $5 (odds) they gave us. If I could bet - I am not a betting man - I would have put so much money on us. They must have lost a shitload of money tonight,” Aloisi joked.

Western United’s Alessandro Diamanti and former player Andrew Durante.Credit: Getty Images

The former Socceroo striker is one of the most iconic figures in Australian sport after his World Cup penalty heroics 16 years ago, but he said in the lead up to this match that winning with Western as a coach would equal any of the emotions he felt that fateful night in the shoot out win over Uruguay in 2005.

He confirmed that straight after the final whistle.

“It does, it does, it really does. Where the club has come from ... it’s only three seasons old, to be able to do what we did not only tonight but from the beginning of the season is amazing.”

Man of the match Aleksandr Prijovic agreed with his coach after winning the Joe Marston Medal for best on ground.

“It’s very nice, individual awards are important but they are achieved as a team. Everything went our way today....not many believed in us, probably a lot of people lost a lot of money today, but this is life.″⁣

Star power: Aleksandar Prijovic of Western United.Credit: Getty Images

BIG MAN, BIG GAME - BIG IMPACT
Serbian striker Aleksandar Prijovic scored two goals and contributed an excellent assist as Western United romped past Victory 4-1 in last weekend’s semi-final, afterwards declaring that he was very much the man for the big occasion.

“I have played in Champions League and in World Cup, so big matches are what I like,” he said post game with extreme confidence.

And he proved it again in the biggest game of all on Saturday night as Western United raced to an early lead.

He might not have gone on the scoresheet for the opening goal, but he might as well have.

It was his aerial threat and presence from a second minute Ben Garuccio corner that allowed him to contest for the cross, causing consternation in the City defence and leading to Nuno Reis’ heading past his own goalkeeper.

A moment to savour: John Aloisi.Credit: Getty Images

He showed his predatory instincts and football smarts once more on the half hour mark when he struck the crucial second goal. He had drifted into an offside position but was alert enough to stay alive to the situation when Connor Pain’s shot was blocked and then rebounded into his path, allowing him to smash a shot past Tom Glover.

The initial decision was to disallow his effort, but after a VAR check referee Chris Beath ruled the ball had hit a City defender on the way through to Prijovic, playing him onside, so the goal stood.

Prijovic said: “When I came in the beginning, [coach] John [Aloisi] told me finals were the most important thing and I had to be ready for that.

“We were very sure in the final that we were going to win.“

Goalkeeper Jamie Young was overjoyed. “It’s hard to put into words right now ... I’m just so proud to be at this club. One of the best days of my life.”

Swiss defender Leo Lacroix, who was convinced by Alessandro Diamanti to join the club, said: “I’m very happy for the club, for all my teammates, for my family that came with me and supported me.

“We dreamed this moment and today we turned this dreaming into reality. We did it and we are very happy.”

Aleksandar Prijovic was pivotal.Credit: Getty Images

HEADS UP
City’s former Arsenal defender Carl Jenkinson was lucky not to see red just as half-time approached when he clashed with Western winger Pain. The pair shoved and pushed and then Jenkinson looked to have headbutted his much smaller opponent. Luckily for him, the VAR, after a long look, gave him the benefit of the doubt. It had been a night to forget for the Englishman as Pain had been one of Western’s prime movers and had played a key role in the second goal.

SHOT SHY
City had a lot of possession in the opening half and that suited Western - who traditionally employ a low block marshalled by Swiss international Leo Lacroix. What also suited John Aloisi’s team was the lack of threat the champions offered. They huffed and puffed but were rarely able to create any clear openings and the half-time shot count - seven to Western, one to City, was a reflection of how ineffective they had been.

Leo Lacroix: marshalled Western’s defence expertly.Credit: Getty

Unsurprisingly, the winner of the Joe Marston Medal for player of the match was Prijovic.