Besart Berisha scores stunning goal for Melbourne Victory in A-League finals

A stunning late bicycle kick by Besart Berisha has helped Melbourne Victory to an A-League finals win over Adelaide.

Paul Izzo of Adelaide United watches Besart Berisha’s bicycle kick fly into the net. Picture: Getty

Cometh the hour cometh Besart Berisha.

The veteran striker produced one of the greatest goals in A-League finals history to steer Melbourne Victory into a replay of last season’s grand final against Sydney FC next week.

With the elimination final heading for extra time, Berisha launched himself into a bicycle kick that snuck in at the left post in the 89th minute to give Victory a 2-1 win over Adelaide United at AAMI Park.

BESART BERISHA, THIS IS INSANE!!! 🔥🔥🔥

🎥: @FOXFootball #MVCvADL #ALeagueFinals pic.twitter.com/bsXbjkeJw7

— Hyundai A-League (@ALeague) April 22, 2018

Berisha has been renowned for always rising to the occasion and he didn’t let anyone down on a stage he thrives on.

“This is why Victory brought me to the club. I love this time of the season,” Berisha said. “I am never afraid in finals, it is my job to score goals.

“I am just happy to win it for the fans and my teammates.”

Adelaide will go out battered but not bowed after a great effort. Sadly, however, their record of never having won a final outside of Adelaide continues. They have also never beaten Victory in a finals game.

A slow burner of a game really came to life in a pulsating second half in which all three goals were scored.

Adelaide made one change to the side that beat Western Sydney last week in the final game of the regular season, with captain Isaias returning after being rested, because he was on seven yellow cards and one more would have seen him miss this game.

And it was clear just how important the Spaniard is to the Reds as much of Adelaide’s play revolved around him, particularly in the opening 20 minutes when they looked the more impressive against a surprisingly tentative Victory.

United dominated the possession in that period but didn’t create too many clear cut chances. The first of them came from a corner from the left, which saw Ersan Gulum glance a header wide of the post on 10 minutes.

Both sides were playing typically, cagey finals football with space at a premium which meant key players like Leroy George (Victory) and Johan Absalonsen (Adelaide) were tightly marked and not given much chance to show their attacking wares.

Victory’s best chance came on 32 minutes when George managed to get free after being released by Kosta Barbarouses. He raced into the box only for Ben Garuccio to make a stunning last ditch tackle to rob him of the ball when he was in a great scoring position.

The home side probably had the best of the last 15 minutes of the first half as United started to drop deeper and deeper in defence.

In the end, Victory dominated 59 per cent of the possession for the half, but had little to show for it.

Victory certainly started the second half much better than the first. The ball movement was quicker and they pushed up more on the Reds defence. The determination in their football was evident when captain Carl Valeri went in hard on a tackle and was given a yellow card on 51 minutes. He was perhaps fortunate it wasn’t a straight red.

The game then burst to life during a six minute period in which both sides traded goals.

It was Adelaide who struck first, thanks to some quick thinking from Isaias, who opted to play a quick free-kick deep in his own half over the top of the home defence.

The ever alert Nikola Mileusnic used his pace to break free, get to the edge of the box then poke the ball past advancing goalkeeper Lawrence Thomas on 57 minutes.

The result may not have gone our way... but let's just appreciate the ball from @isaias_sc8 and finish by @nmileu. #AUFC #MVCvADL #ALeagueFinals

🎥 @FOXFOOTBALL pic.twitter.com/4QzQy6Gy5M

— Adelaide United FC (@AdelaideUnited) April 22, 2018

The home crowd, stunned into silence after that, were soon in fine voice when George was on the end of a Barbarouses cross from the right to head home into the top left corner of the net.

George almost turned provider in the 69th minute when he burst through to the edge of the box and laid a pass into the path of Besart Berisha, whose shot was superbly cleared by Izzo but 20 minutes later there was no stopping the Albanian’s brilliant bicycle kick as Victory advanced to a ‘Big Blue’ final.