One of the most anticipated games in the history of Australian football takes place on Saturday night, as South Melbourne and Melbourne Victory face off in the Australia Cup Final. BeforeYouBet has you covered with our preview for the historic clash!
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Australia Cup Final: Preview & Betting Tips
AAMI Park, Saturday 10th October, 7:35pm AEDT
Road to the Final
South Melbourne: 2-1 vs Adelaide United, 3-3 (3-1 on penalties) vs Fremantle City, 2-1 vs Preston Lions, 3-1 vs Lions FC
Melbourne Victory: 4-0 vs Kingborough, 1-1 (3-2 on penalties) vs Western Sydney, 1-0 vs APIA Leichhardt, 2-0 vs Sydney FC
Match Preview
Victoria’s two most famous clubs. The NSL and NPL giant South Melbourne FC, four time A-League champions Melbourne Victory meet each other for the first time in a competitive fixture. It’s a dream matchup for the Australia Cup Final, could this be the first time an NPL side wins the cup?
Victory will be looking for their third Australia Cup title after wins in 2016 and 2021 while this is the first time South Melbourne have got to the Final, and only the third time an NPL side has made it to the Final.
South Melbourne have been the highest scoring team in the tournament and will need to continue to be brave against the Victory. The bright lights shouldn’t scare South Melbourne, who won the Australian Championship Final last year against Marconi.
The Victory have been the best balanced team across the Australia Cup scoring the equal second most goals (8) and conceding just one goal, the equal second fewest. Their goal difference of +7 is comfortably the best goal difference, and they should be full of confidence coming into this Final.
Melbourne were excellent in their 2-0 Semi Final win over Sydney FC, putting together a ruthlessly efficient performance. They were the better side for the entirety of that clash and if they can replicate that performance, they’ll be holding up the cup on Saturday night.
The big question for South Melbourne will be if their defence can hold up across 90 minutes against an outfit with the quality that Victory possess. Their one game against an A-League side during this cup run, saw them concede three goals.
How South Melbourne approaches this game will likely dictate how this game turns out. If they sit back and try to absorb pressure, Melbourne Victory will grind them down and win the game comfortably. However if they play aggressively and take the game to Victory, they will have a chance to win the game.
Bul Juach holds the key for South Melbourne, with the striker scoring a Cup high five goals. South Melbourne needs him to fire if they are to pull off an upset in this match.
Match Prediction
Melbourne’s consistency across their cup run has been outstanding and if they can control the possession battle, they should be able to get good looks at goal against a South Melbourne defence that does look vulnerable under pressure.
Ultimately there’s a reason an NPL side has never won the Australia Cup, there is simply just too much quality for Victory to not come out on top in a game of such consequence. Melbourne Victory will grind their way to a win, taking home their third Australia Cup.
Melbourne Victory (Normal time)
$1.72 (1.5 Units)
