ALTONA Magic has progressed into the Foxtel Cup Grand Final after defeating the Melbourne Knights 4-3 in penalties at Knights Stadium.

The visitors, with nothing to lose and all to gain, came into this match full of confidence and form, undefeated in their last five games.

Melbourne Knights got off to a dream start opening the scoring after just seven minutes, some very poor defending from the Altona back four gifted Kiratzoglou the ball in the area, the veteran midfielder making no mistake slotting his half volley under Jevdjevic and into the bottom corner.

Altona took some time to find its feet in the game, and they had to wait until the 24th minute for their first attempt at goal.

Carl Recchia’s free kick took a deflection but did not trouble Savas Ozdemir in the Knights goal.

Minutes later former Knights Henry Fa’Arodo set up veteran striker Michael Curcija, who unleashed a powerful drive that beat Ozdemir but not the post.

The Knights wasted a golden opportunity to double its lead in the 32nd minute, Andrew Barisic beat the offside trap however the Knight’s top goal scorer could not beat Bojo Jevdjevic in the Magic goal.

Joe Spiteri also spurned a glorious chance to score a minute later, when he could only direct his header directly at the goalkeeper following a free kick from Watson.

Agim Sherifovski and Phillip Riccobene continued to find time and space on the wings, but lacked the quality crosses to cause any damage as the Knights went into the half time break unfortunate not to extent their one goal lead.

In the second half the tempo increased a few notches, Andrew Barisic saw his effort sky over the bar following a Knights counter attack, but it was the visitors who made all the early running.

The Magic desperate to equalise squandered a golden chance in the 56th minute, Henry Fa’Arodo’s effort was blocked by some last ditch Knights defending, the ball rebounded to Todd McSorley who could only sky his effort from 10 yards out.

Altona piled on the pressure as the home side put numbers behind the ball, in the 61st minute Esala Masi set up Curcija who forced a save from Ozdemir, before a Riccobene cross a minute later was met by Fa’Arodo who also forced a save from the keeper.

The pressure did pay off just moments later, Masi laying the ball of for Carl Recchia to drive his shot past Ozdemir and get the goal the visitors deserved.

It got worse for the Knights in the 79th minute, key player Ivan Franjic went down in extreme pain in what looked like a hamstring injury forcing the Knights to reshuffle their midfield.
As extra time loomed either side could and should have won the game.

Esala Masi again causing a nuisance upfront set up Recchia whose shot was blocked, as Pece Siveski followed up by blazing over the bar.

In injury time Cameron Watson released Barisic into space, however the striker deciding to shoot immediately caused him to scuff his shot wide.
Extra time took its toll on the tiring players, as chances were few and far between.

In the 104th minute Cameron Watson’s cross was met by Jamie Cumming who watched agonisingly as his header was cleared off the line.

Henry Fa’Arodo scooped his shot wide after being set up by Curcija, but it Jedjevic who again kept the Magic in the game. Kiratzoglou broke down the left wing, his cross was met by Watson with Jedjevic pulling off a point blank save and forcing the game into penalties.

The Knights got off to the worst start at Jedjevic saved Watson’s effort first up, and Michael Curcija made no mistake to hand Altona the advantage.

Ozdemier got the Knights back into the shootout saving Recchia effort, however Joe Spiteri handed the advantage straight back to Altona with a poor penalty.

There was to be no fairytale comeback for the Knights this time as Mladenovic and Kalmar coolly converted their spotkicks to book the Magic a spot in the Grand Final.

The Melbourne Knights and Heidelberg Warriors will battle it for the chance to take on Altona in the final when they meet next week in what will be a blockbuster encounter.

Penalty Sequence (Knights first penalty)
Cameron Watson (MK) SAVE (0-0)
Michael Curcija (AM) GOAL (0-1)
Andrew Barisic (MK) GOAL (1-1)
Carl Recchia (AM) SAVE (1-1)
Alex Kiratzoglou (MK) GOAL (2-1)
Slave Bozinovski (AM) GOAL (2-2)
Joe Spiteri (MK) SAVE (2-2)
Doug Mladenovic (AM) GOAL (2-3)
Steve Iosifidis (MK) GOAL (3-3)
Nicholas Kalmar (AM) GOAL (Altona win 4-3)

Match Stats
Shots: MK 10 AM 16
Target: MK 7 AM 8
Corners: MK 6 AM 2