Key midfielder Zinédine Machach will miss both legs of Melbourne Victory’s A-League semi-final against the Wellington Phoenix after being served a two-match ban.
Machach (28) was sent off in the 37th minute of Victory’s elimination final win against Melbourne City on Sunday, for kicking out at opponent Leo Natel.
The A-League Match Review Panel (MRP) has ruled Machach committed the offence of “assault on a player (e.g. violent conduct when not challenging for the ball) or against any other person other than a match official, including an attempted assault.”
Unless Victory appeal to the independent disciplinary and ethics committee by 4pm (NZT) on Tuesday May 7, the suspension will stand and the Frenchman will miss the semi-finals.
Main photo: Zinédine Macach (8) is Victory’s second-leading goalscorer this season with seven goals.
In the other semi-final, between Sydney and the Central Coast Mariners, Sydney will be without defender Curtis Good for the first leg after he was given a one-match ban for his dismissal against Macarthur in the elimination final.
Meanwhile, ticket sales for the second semi-final at Wellington’s Sky Stadium have already exceeded 10,000 with the Phoenix urging fans to get behind their side’s quest to win their first-ever trophy.
The record home crowd for a Phoenix game in the capital is 32,792 when they beat the Newcastle Jets 3-1 on March 7, 2010.
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Semi-final fixtures
Semi-final 1, first leg
Game to be played on Friday May 10, 2024
Sydney v Central Coast Mariners
Allianz Stadium, Sydney, 9.45pm (NZT)
Semi-final 2, first leg
Game to be played on Sunday May 12, 2024
Melbourne Victory v Wellington Phoenix
AAMI Park, Melbourne, 6pm (NZT)
Semi-final 1, second leg
Game to be played on Saturday May 18, 2024
Central Coast Mariners v Sydney
Industree Group Stadium, Gosford, 9.45pm (NZT)
Semi-final 2, second leg
Game to be played on Saturday May 18, 2024
Wellington Phoenix v Melbourne Victory
Sky Stadium, Wellington, 6.30pm (NZT)
Grand final
Game to be played on Saturday May 25, 2024
Winner semi-final 1 v winner semi-final 2
Highest-ranked semi-final winner to host game
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