Might as well have the one match thread for the four semi final games.

Tuesday victory vs western at Aami 

Wednesday Adelaide vs city at coopers 

saturday victory vs western at Aami 

Sunday city vs Adelaide at Aami 

what’s everyone’s predictions heading in?

Bump 

I'm happier to face City than Victory.

While we haven't lost to City this season, it's taken some late miracles and Glover brain fades to achieve that.

City are at least full rested after their ACL campaign now so it's going to be a hell of a fight

GO AUFC & WU

From a Victory POV, i think we have the slightly easier opponent. But I think it'll be a derby GF. 

2 legged semi finals are weird. 

On paper Victory should be too strong for the Lost Boys but if they can draw or lose by a single goal  tomorrow night then WU will worry them leading into the second match.

Adelaide outplayed CCM ,especially catching them on the fast break,and cleverly fouling them when they threatened,Can they repeat the game plan against City over two legs? Definitely possible especially if Glover is having one of his "special" games.Goodwin and Yengi could really test him and Bernado is a real threat as a sub.

 I think a Victory v Adelaide GF is a distinct possibility.

I'm hoping Brook finally gets his goal - he's looked dangerous every time he's played, but his end product isn't quite there for some reason. Loved watching AU's young lads play this season & Goodwin was robbed not winning the Tobin Medal 

How does the scoring work for these games? Is it just goal aggregate at the end of the two games with the second game going to pens if the aggregate is equal? Hope they aren't doing that thing where away goals are worth double.

AU would be my pick to be leading after the first game. Over the last month or so, AU have been way better at converting their chances compared to where they were at the start/mid season. They are still making errors here and there but as long as they are converting those chances it should make up for errors. MC will be well rested, but haven't been convincing in their last few games. They only scraped in with the premiership via an own goal and a set piece. MC will need to be much better in these finals. They obviously have the quality, but I predict an uphill battle in the second game. I'd pick Gauci over Glover in a shoot out. Goodwin to have his shot saved. 

MV obviously have the advantage against WU. Well rested and pretty much two home games for MV. WU have been defensively strong but not great upfront. I don't think it'll be high scoring but MV in too good of a form to not pick them to win. That being said, I'd pick Young over Kelava in a shoot out.

Please tell me that Western's home game tonight is not at AAMI park. Otherwise, what is the point of 2-legs or the 'away' goals rule in that matchup?

I assume the APL would want victory in the final. 

Any other GF match up wouldn't sellout AAMI park. 

Bloody Lowy's

It’s actually a very stupid situation we’re in. Two games at Aami park what a joke the fan experience would be better for everyone if it was in Geelong. I really want the a league to succeed but I can’t defend western United or MacArthur anymore they are bringing the league down and taking the piss 

What would happen if AC Milan and Inter drew each other in a champions league semi final??

There's no away goal rule.

Not easy finding this information, but the 'away goal rule' does not apply in these semi finals.
Semi finals winners determined by aggregate scoreline over two matches.
Which (I could be wrong but) would mean that a penalty shootout would only occur in the second game if the aggregate is a draw after the 90+30 minutes.

But is that due to this season's matchup? Or has that always been a thing?



That has happened twice in the UCLs history, the first being when AC Milan went on to win it in 2003.
The A-League hasn't had 2-Leg finals for 10 years, yet in its first season of reintroduction we have a Melbourne matchup at the same ground.

Looking at ticket prices:

WU are charging more for tonight's game than MV is charging on Saturday.
$28 for GA tonight, $25 for GA on Saturday.

AU are charging more for tonight's game than MC is charging for Saturday.
$31 for GA tonight, $30 for GA on Sunday.

But both teams represent milan. Western is supposed to be representing west of melbourne they shouldn’t be playing at Aami 

Going for MV & AU in the semis.
But I'd rather be wrong about the AU v MC result than the MV v WU result.

Well the initial complaints was that the same venue will be used for both legs of the semi finals. 

But the complaint is now about western United not playing in a venue that is not located in their catchment area now??
Ok. You should've said that in the first place instead of raising the issue about the "fan experience"

Also not to mention that, given the A-L format, an AAMI Park Melbourne matchup is far more likely to occur than the Milan derby (especially since the UCL draws teams in the Round of 16 and Quarter-Finals).

Here we go 

Brimmer having a great game & now scores. Kilkenny playing well for WU

Victory's time wasting this season has been an utter utter disgrace.

I haven't hated Victory this much in years 

Opposition coaches have had a go at him. 
Fans obviously. 
Now finally refs are wise to it. 
Too little too late.

There's no honour in winning the way they do

Wales and Pain is a fairly weak wing combo for a team that's done as well as WU really.

Both OK players but the rest of the top 4 have much better wingers 

That was a great hit by Brimmer.

Been saying it for months now-

APL want a Victory v City GF. The other traditional rivalries in the league (The Big Blue/ The Sydney Derby/ F3D) have gone stale and the APL want to milk the emerging Melbourne derby for all its worth.

They also want the narrative about the Victory's amazing turnaround from wooden spooners just a season ago to GF contestants against the team who smashed them last year. Plus, take a shot every time they talk about how great it is to see Melbourne, after the COVID lockdowns and empty stadiums, with a sold out stadium in full voice.

Melbourne Melbourne Melbourne Melbourne Melbourne Melbourne Melbourne Melbourne

Melbourne Melbourne

Melbourne

....

Melbourne.

Are you suggesting they did anything to get what they wanted?

You're certainly implying it so I'm curious what that is... 

Brimmer has improved so much, hes 24 and after close to or over 100 a-league games and he looks like an different player to the one that started his a-league career (hint benefit of regular match minutes), great strike to go into the 2nd leg.

The fact that its no away goals will make it interesting, usually teams just close off but you cant really do that efficiently especially from evidence in the UEFA Champions League so I think it will be an interesting 2nd leg.