“We deserve to be in the grand final,” John Alosi boomed to the Western United dressing room, his voice raised to take command of a space that had burst into rapturous chants of his name as he entered.
Earlier, the 46-year-old was sprinting onto the field and pumping his fists in celebration before being grabbed in a bear hug by his players. In the foreground, Connor Pain and Dylan Wenzel-Halls were sliding on their knees towards the United fanbase assembled in AAMI Park’s grandstand, celebrating the 98th-minute goal that lifted them to a 4-2 aggregate lead over Melbourne Victory and secured a place in the title decider against Melbourne City.
