Melbourne Victory is the first team through to the quarter-finals, following a tight match against Western Sydney Wanderers that required penalties.
Melbourne Victory prevailed against Western Sydney Wanderers in a dramatic penalty shootout, courtesy of three penalty saves from goalkeeper Jack Duncan.
Western Sydney looked to get off to a fast start against their opponents.
Aydan Hammond wriggled his way into two good opportunities within the first seven minutes, but he couldn’t get a shot off.
Victory came close in the 10th minute through Keegan Jelacic, who had his effort cleared away from inside the box by Wanderers defender German Ferreyra.
The first half proved to be a competitive encounter. The teams were eager to chase down any loose ball to find a breakthrough.
Despite plenty of endeavour from both teams, they went into the sheds with the deadlock still to be broken.
In the 52nd minute, the Wanderers came forward through Hammond again, with his first-time strike from the right of the area flying narrowly wide of the far post.
The Wanderers continued to build momentum and in the 78th minute, Angus Thurgate dragged an effort wide of the left post from outside the box.
Seven minutes later, a well-timed interception from Anthony Pantazopoulos allowed the defender to play Hammond into the left channel, who cut inside and drew a top save from Victory goalkeeper Duncan.
Western Sydney could not find a breakthrough, leaving the teams to contend with extra time.
It took just seven minutes after the restart for the first goal of the match, and it fell the way of Melbourne Victory.
A right-wing ball caused chaos in the box, where Charles Nduka rattled the bar, before substitute Harrison Sawyer reacted fastest to blast home a close-range effort.
It was Sawyer’s first goal since joining Victory from Western Sydney’s cross-town rivals Macarthur.
Five minutes later, the Wanderers struck back to level the scores through Nic Milanovic, who fired an outstanding free-kick from the edge of the box into the goal.
Neither side could find a winning goal in what remained, leaving penalties to decide the first place in the quarter-finals.
Duncan was the hero of the shootout for the away side.
The goalkeeper saved efforts from Dylan Scicluna, Awan Lual and Alex Gersback to ensure Melbourne Victory progressed through to the next round.
