Melbourne Victory and Macarthur FC have both advanced to the semi-finals of the Australia Cup, setting up exciting clashes with their Isuzu UTE A-League rivals.
Melbourne Victory 4-0 Moreton City Excelsior
Melbourne Victory cruised into the semi-finals with a dominant 4-0 victory over NPLM QLD side Moreton City Excelsior. New recruit Nikos Vergos was a standout, scoring twice, while Nishan Velupillay and Kasey Bos also found the net. Vergos, who joined Victory from Panathinaikos and Olympiacos, has now scored in consecutive matches, making a strong case for a regular spot in the starting lineup.
Despite a stellar season last year under Tony Popovic, where he netted 18 goals and helped Victory reach the Grand Final, Bruno Fornaroli has seen less action this season. New head coach Patrick Kisnorbo has preferred Vergos, with Fornaroli coming off the bench in recent games.
Kisnorbo praised Vergos for his performance, noting, “Niko has been adjusting well and is being rewarded for his hard work.” Victory’s high-scoring form continues as they look forward to facing Adelaide United in the semi-finals. The team has scored four goals in each of their Australia Cup games so far and will host Adelaide at AAMI Park on Saturday.
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Macarthur FC 1-0 Oakleigh Cannons
Macarthur FC secured their spot in the semi-finals with a narrow 1-0 win over Oakleigh Cannons, thanks to a goal from Valere Germain and crucial saves from goalkeeper Filip Kurto. Germain, who also scored twice in the Round of 16, netted the only goal of the match early on.
Kurto, a standout performer, made several key saves to keep Macarthur’s lead intact, including remarkable stops from Asad Kasumovic and Oliver Kubilay. Macarthur’s defense held firm despite Oakleigh’s persistent attacks, setting up a semi-final clash with NPLM VIC rivals South Melbourne.
Macarthur FC previously won the Australia Cup in 2022, and their solid performance this year indicates they could be on track for another successful campaign.
