MELBOURNE: Archie Thompson’s headed in the winner four minutes into extra time after teammate Mark Milligan’s equalized with a 91st-minute penalty to give the Melbourne Victory a 2-1 win over the Perth Glory in the first round of the A-League playoffs Friday.
Japanese winger Ryo Nagai gave the Glory a 1-0 lead in the 15th minute, but Shane Smeltz missed a penalty, which would have put the result beyond doubt for the Glory in the 87th minute.
Perth played with 10 men after defender Steve Pantelidis was sent off for his foul on Melbourne’s Andrew Nabbout’s in the box, which resulted in Milligan’s leveling penalty.
The Victory will play the Central Coast Mariners in next weekend’s semifinals. First-place Western Sydney will play the winner of Sunday’s elimination final between defending champions Brisbane and Adelaide United.
Melbourne Victory advance in A-League playoffs
