Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
AAP
AAP
Anna Harrington

Melbourne Victory ready to spoil Auckland's big party

Victory coach Arthur Diles is happy to play the role of party-pooper at Auckland's Go Media Stadium. (Con Chronis/AAP PHOTOS)

Injury-hit Melbourne Victory are ready to crash Auckland FC's party and snatch an unlikely A-League Men grand-final berth.

Victory will head to Auckland's Go Media Stadium on Saturday trailing 1-0 and needing to pull off a mighty comeback in front of a packed, hostile crowd against Steve Corica's premiers.

But coach Arthur Diles has one message: bring it on.

"Steve's done a remarkable job there and they are there for a reason, and it's our job to try and knock them off their perch," he said. 

"It's backs to the wall for us, guaranteed, but there's a big party waiting there to be spoiled and we've got to do everything we can to spoil that party.

"I don't think many people gave us a chance a few weeks ago against Western Sydney, they were the in-form team of the competition at the time, scored the most goals playing at home, a lot of fans behind them. 

"This is no different for us. And absolutely, why not? We'll be ready for that come Saturday."

Logan Rogerson's goal two minutes after half-time proved the difference last Saturday

Goal
Auckland celebrate Logan Rogerson's goal in the first leg that separates the teams. (Rob Prezioso/AAP PHOTOS)

"We just have to win the game and we wanted to do that last week, but you always knew there's a second leg. Now there's no second leg. This is it," Diles said.

"One-nil down, for me, is not a scoreline that we need to fear.

"Irrespective of previous results against them, performances have always been solid and that's a pleasing thing for us, gives us confidence and belief in our football, but in little moments we have to be better. 

"Like I said to the players earlier in the week for 96 minutes last week we showed good discipline, but they showed it for 97."

Young attacker Alex Badolato is determined to help Victory reach a grand final against either Melbourne City or Western United.

"It's more so about creating our own party for ourselves to be honest more than spoiling theirs," he said. 

"We've been fighting all season for this moment and it's more about us than it is worrying about anything they've got to do."

Victory will have to do it without Brendan Hamill, who tore his ACL on Saturday, and first-choice goalkeeper Mitch Langerak (foot).

Skipper Roderick Miranda (hip) and full-back Kasey Bos (heel) will have to prove their fitness.

What happened to BJ and guys like Mitch just galvanises the team even more," Badolato said. 

"We want to win, especially for BJ, like, that's obviously terrible. 

"We want to work together and win for him and hopefully carry on to the rest of the season."

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.