Optimum Sports : Melbourne Victory Over Hume

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Melbourne Victory are on track for an unprecedented triple crown after defeating a gallant Hume City 3-0 in their FFA Cup semi-final.

The grassroots club caused Victory headaches all night but the A-League giants reached the final thanks to Besart Berisha’s 41st minute penalty and late goals to Kosta Barbarouses and Jason Geria at AAMI Park on Wednesday night.

Their prize is a 7 November date with Perth Glory at the same venue when Kevin Muscat’s side could add the knock-out cup to their 2015 A-League premiership and championship trophies.

In front of an animated crowd of 6,575, Hume City showed they weren’t making up the numbers as the sole National Premier League club in the last four of the competition.

Their relentless running and commitment to defence troubled the Australian champions, with goalkeeper Chris Oldfield defying Victory time and again. Driven by captain Nick Hegarty and with former Victory winger Theo Markelis prominent, City came closest to an early opener.

On eight minutes, Markelis’ cross was blocked inside the box by the outstretched hand of Jason Geria at close quarters. Referee Ben Williams left his sense of occasion in his pocket with his cards, signalling immediately for play on.

Hume continued to push, with Matthew Hennessey heading a curling Jai Ingham ball wide.

At the other end, Oldfield improved his reported chances of an A-League contract with Central Coast Mariners with a string of fine saves from Jesse Makarounas and Berisha.

The former Liverpool youth keeper couldn’t stop Berisha from the penalty spot however, when Williams judged Brad Walker’s tug of the Albanian’s shirt as a foul.

Victory, enjoying the lion’s share of possession, also dominated the shots tally but Hume weren’t done. Victory keeper Danny Vukovic denied substitute Souheil Azagane from a one-one-one chance and then Markelis from a free-kick.

With Hume players – without a competitive game for five weeks – cramping on all corners of the pitch, Barbarouses lashed home from Berisha’s pass.