Victory keen for final redemption

Melbourne Victory can erase some of the painful memories of losing last season’s A-League grand final by winning Sunday night’s Australia Cup decider against Macarthur FC.

Having led the Central Coast Mariners deep into the 2023-24 A-League finale, the Victory were eventually beaten 3-1 in extra-time in what was to be Tony Popovic’s final game in charge of the club.

Under captain Roderick Miranda and new coach Patrick Kisnorbo, the Victory have bounced back with impressive Australia Cup form and are determined to lift some silverware this weekend at AAMI Park.

“We have a chance to start the (new) season in best way possible with a trophy in our hands, but we still have 90 minutes, or plus, to show on the pitch that we are the better team,” Miranda said.

“We have a chance of getting a trophy but we are still in the early process (under Kisnorbo) of big things ahead of us.”

The winner of the final will also qualify for the 2025-26 AFC Champions League Two competition.

Kisnorbo said the chance of playing in Asia was an added incentive.

“We want to play against the best and compete with the best,” the Victory mentor said.

“It (the Cup final) is an opportunity for us to do that, but we need to just focus on the game first. We know we have to work really hard.”

With new Socceroos coach Popovic set to on Friday announce his squad for next month’s FIFA World Cup qualifiers against China and Japan, good performances in the final could help the selection chances of players from the Victory and the Bulls.

“(Popovic) will pick his team, but the more we have as a club involved around the Socceroos, it’s great,” Kisnorbo said.

“I’ll be happy for the players that can get recognised for their efforts.”

Australia Cup final

Melbourne Victory v Macarthur FC

Sunday, AAMI Park, 7.10pm