Melbourne Victory have lost French star Zinedine Machach for both legs of their A-League semi-final against Wellington Phoenix after the attacking midfielder was suspended for two matches for violent conduct.
Machach was sent off in the first half of the Victory’s weekend elimination final at AAMI Park after kicking out at Melbourne City’s Brazilian winger Leo Natel.
Despite Machach’s dismissal, the Victory ended City’s season after winning a penalty shootout that was required after scores were locked at 1-1 at the end of normal time and extra time.
However, the Melbourne club will be without Machach for Sunday’s first-leg semi-final battle against the Phoenix at AAMI Park, as well as the following Saturday’s second leg in Wellington.
Football Australia’s independent match review panel ruled that Machach’s offence required the minimum sanction of two games for 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”.
The Victory has until 2pm on Tuesday to decide whether to appeal the suspension by referring the matter to the independent disciplinary and ethics committee.
City defender Curtis Good, who was sent off in extra-time in his side’s loss for a second bookable offence, received a one-match suspension.
However, Good’s A-League career is over, with the experienced centre-back heading to a yet-to-be-announced overseas next season.
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