Hat-trick hero Botic sends Western into ALM semis

[Pelican Press 0]

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Hat-trick hero Botic sends Western into ALM semis

Western United will meet Melbourne City in the A-League Men semi-finals after star striker Noah Botic’s hat-trick inspired a 3-2 elimination final comeback win over Adelaide.

John Aloisi’s charges will meet City in back-to-back legs at AAMI Park after beating the Reds – in what proved departing Adelaide coach Carl Veart’s final game – in a pulsating encounter before 3078 fans at Ironbark Fields.

It was third-placed United’s first men’s final at their Tarneit base, and they won’t play there again this season.

Reds striker Luka Jovanovic, deputising for injured golden boot winner Archie Goodwin, headed Adelaide in front after just three minutes.

But Botic’s deflected strike in the 20th minute put Western level, then he delivered the lead 11 minutes later.

On his finals debut, Socceroos aspirant Botic sealed his first senior hat-trick with a wonderful finish in the 63rd minute, with Tony Popovic’s assistant Hayden Foxe among those watching on.

Botic, 23, is just the third United ALM player to score a hat-trick, and the youngest of five finals hat-trick scorers in league history.

Stefan Mauk gave Adelaide a pulse in the 79th minute but Western held their nerve.

The hosts’ night was soured by an injury to veteran centre-back James Donachie, who suffered an adductor strain and was immediately substituted for Tate Russell in the 13th minute.

Things were looking peachy for Adelaide, who just sneaked into sixth place ahead of Sydney FC, when Javi Lopez whipped a wicked cross into the near post, where Jovanovic beat Matt Sutton with a wicked bullet header.

The goal kicked Western into action and they dominated proceedings.

Their goal arrived when an attempted Adelaide clearance deflected off Rhys Bozinovski and toward Botic, who neatly turned and shot.

The ball took a deflection off Bart Vriends to beat Max Vartuli.

For Western’s second, Bozinovski brilliantly won possession from Ethan Alagich in the middle of the park, drove forward and worked the ball to Angus Thurgate.

The midfielder unleashed a wonderful cross-field ball to Riku Danzaki, who flicked it on for Botic to take a touch and beat Vartuli at his near post.

For Botic’s third, Danzaki slipped the striker through on the edge of the box and he took a touch before rifling home with his left.

Adelaide revived their night when Dylan Pierias burst down the right and whipped in a cross, with Mauk steaming in at the back post to score.

Vartuli brilliantly denied Hiroshi Ibusuki in the 83rd minute but Adelaide couldn’t conjure an equaliser.

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