Melbourne Victory is set to face APIA Leichhardt in the Hahn Australia Cup Quarter-Final on Wednesday, August 19, at 7:30pm AEST. The match will take place at Leichhardt Oval, marking a significant encounter between one of the last two remaining Isuzu UTE A-League teams in the tournament and the current leaders of the NPL New South Wales.

Recent Performances

APIA Leichhardt advanced to this stage by defeating Sydney United 58 in the Round of 16, winning through a penalty shootout. Similarly, Melbourne Victory secured their place in the quarter-finals by overcoming Western Sydney Wanderers, with goalkeeper Jack Duncan making headlines by saving three penalties during the shootout.

This upcoming clash will be the first between the two clubs since their meeting in the 2018 Australia Cup. The winner will earn a spot in the Semi-Final against Sydney FC, who triumphed over SD Raiders on Tuesday night.

Coaching and Player Highlights

Giovanni Savarese, who has recently taken over as Melbourne Victory’s A-League Men’s Head Coach, has enjoyed a successful start, leading the team to victory against Western Sydney Wanderers. This match was his first on the touchline, having previously overseen a win against Kingborough Lions United from the coaches’ box. Savarese will be pleased with the determination shown by his players, especially given the challenging playing conditions that limited the flow of the game.

Harry Sawyer made a notable contribution by scoring his first competitive goal for the club during extra-time at Marconi Stadium, while Duncan's exceptional performance in the penalty shootout was crucial for Victory's progression to the quarter-finals.

Quarter-Final Squad

The squad for the quarter-final includes Louis D’Arrigo, Jason Davidson, Jack Duncan, Denis Genreau, Michael Ghossaini, Matthew Grimaldi, Brendan Hamill, Joshua Inserra, Keegan Jelacic, Franco Lino, Tom Lockyer, Jack Mihailidis, Charles Nduka, Malik Olukhale, Clerismario Santos Rodrigues, Harrison Sawyer, Harrison Shillington, Xavier Stella, Jordi Valadon, Jack Warshawsky, and Philipp Ziereis.

As Melbourne Victory prepares for this crucial match, the team will aim to build on their recent successes and continue their journey in the Australia Cup.