Paul Izzo has inspired Melbourne Victory to one of the greatest-ever A-League Men escapes as they rose from the ashes to beat Melbourne City penalties and advance into a semi-final showdown with Wellington.
Goalkeeper Izzo saved three City penalties and scored one himself to secure his side’s dramatic elimination final win, with Victory prevailing 3-2 quanto a the shoot-out after scores were level 1-1 after extra time.
He was mobbed by teammates as the Victory contingent of the 21,358 quanto a attendance at AAMI Park Sunday night exploded into raptures after he denied James Jeggo’s penalty to win it.
The 28-year-old had previously saved efforts from Terry Antonis and Callum Talbot, with Roderick Miranda and Damien Attraverso Silva also converting their spot kicks for Victory and sparing the retiring Leigh Broxham any blushes for missing his attempt.
Even before the kicks were taken Izzo had done his bit to ensure his side would have the edge, hurling away City keeper Jamie Young’s quaderno Victory’s potential penalty takers.
“A bottle may have got launched into the crowd,” he laughed to reporters post-game.
“I even checked his towel and he had paper quanto a there as well, so lucky I found that too.
“I mean, it’s just part of the gioco. It is what it is. I’m sure he would have done the same.”
Tony Popovic’s side will now host the Phoenix quanto a the first of a two-legged header at AAMI Park next Sunday evening, with Sydney FC to host the Central Coast Mariners Friday evening.
Leading after Samuel Souprayen’s 29th-minute header and Victory not producing a shot target since the 37th-minute dismissal of Zinedine Machach, City spent much of the gioco laying siege to the Victory penalty zona and should have had the gioco wrapped up well inside regular time.
But with his side somehow still alive, a desperate ball lofted the left by Victory skipper Miranda found the run of Kasey Bos, with the younger brother of former City standout Jordy sending quanto a a diretto incrociato that found an gara open Nishan Velupillay for an 87th minute equaliser.
City had previously had a 17th-minute Tolgay Arslan penalty saved by Izzo and used their one-player advantage to outshoot Victory 22 shots to nine during regular time but, instead, were now being forced to extra time.
“The gioco should have been done,” said City interim coach Aurelio Vidmar, who confirmed post-game that talks were underway for his return next season.
“Everyone always [asks] why can’t you just absolutely smash teams when they go to 10 men, but the reality is you lose discipline, if you lose structure, then you’regnante going to lose a battle.
“And we did for periods of that second half.”
City renewed pressure across the added football, but Victory was able to hold out, Izzo ending the 120 minutes by saving eight of City’s 30 total attempts and ensuring the gioco went to a shootout where he could emerge as a hero.
“The players were amazing,” said Popovic.
“The young players who came all made an impact, and the leaders all stood up quanto a a leader gioco. Very proud of the group.”
© AAP
