"He'll be there" - Quad niggle won't keep Botić out of ALM semfinal
Western United have needed monitor a quad niggle suffered by hattrick hero Noah Botić as they prepare for their ALM semifinal but coach John Aloisi has no doubts he’ll be ready to go against City.
Western United have been forced to manage a quad niggle suffered by hattrick hero Noah Botić as they prepare for their A-League Men semifinal with Melbourne City but coach John Aloisi has no doubts he’ll be ready to fire on Friday evening.
In what looks like being his final game at Ironbark Fields before making a free-agent move to Europe, Botić struck in the 20th, 31st, and 62nd minutes to power his side to a 3-2 win over the Reds, saying after the game that, if this was his final game in Tarenti, then it had “been a pleasure”.
Perhaps more pertinent to this week’s opening leg against City – both games of the tie set to be played at AAMI Park, with United nominally the home side this week – was his revelation to Network Ten post-game that he’d picked up a knock to his quad, immediately leading to questions as to his availability.
But while City boss Aurelio Vidmar will have to contend with the absence of Samuel Souprayen and is “50-50” to be without Socceroo right back Nathaniel Atkinson, Aloisi said that Botić, riding that goalscoring high, was raring to go.
JDL Media is committed to keeping its reporting on Australian football away from paywalls.
If you’re in a position to, please consider supporting this coverage at Ko-Fi.
“He's excited to have another finals game. How can you not be excited after you just scored a hat trick and you're feeling good about yourself?” said the coach. “He'll be there.
“And it's not only him, the rest of the boys are all excited about this game. They're always good games against City, no matter what time of the year, whether it's finals time or if it's a normal league game. So we know it'll be tough. We know they're a good side, but I'm looking forward to it.”
Gradually having built up his minutes over the past three years, going from 915 to 1337 to 1899 over the past campaigns, Botić experienced a breakout season in 2024-25, netting 14 goals across league and final play, alongside six assists.
Beyond making a move overseas feel like a fait accompli – reports from Germany suggest he’s come onto the radar of Bundesliga outfit St Pauli, the home of Jackson Irvine and Connor Metcalfe – it’s a form guide that has thrust him into contention for a Socceroo call-up. As he was in March, it’s believed Botić has been included on the extended list from which Popovic will select his final squad for World Cup qualifiers against Japan and Saudi Arabia next month.
The striker also shapes as crucial for United’s hopes of a second title in club history, netting an 87th-minute penalty in their last win over City on the opening day of the 2023-24 season. Aloisi did acknowledge, however, that any further heroics from the 23-year-old striker would have to come from a less-than-100% base.
“We had to take care of him a little bit this week, because there is something there, but it's not major -- so he's available,” said the United boss. “He did feel something, but it wasn't a tear or anything that's too major.
“It's not really a risk, [he'd play] even if it was regular season. There's always a risk -- there's a risk when I cross the road. He's there. He's trained the last two days, and he feels good.
“It's two legs as well. So you know, if it were a major risk, we wouldn't get him involved in this first game. We’d just leave him for the second game.”
JDL Media is committed to keeping its reporting on Australian football away from paywalls.
If you’re in a position to, please consider supporting this coverage at Ko-Fi.
United will, however, be without the services of James Donachie after the veteran defender limped off in just the 14th minute with an adductor injury. Fortunately for the 32-year-old, initial fears that his season was over have proven to be misplaced, with Aloisi declaring him in contention to return for next week’s second leg.
Tate Russell appears set to start at right back in Donachie’s absence, with Tomoki Imai set to kick inside and start next to teenage sensation Dylan Leonard.
“Tomoki, that's his natural position anyway, and he and Dylan have formed a good partnership,” said Aloisi.
Finishing just a point back of City at the end of the regular season, United and City would appear to be pretty evenly matched coming into Friday. Both sides won 14 games during the regular season, with United proving one of the league’s most freescoring sides with 55 goals and City fielding its most miserly defence with 25 conceded.
Vidmar’s side does hold the edge on the season series, winning their first meeting 1-0 and the return leg 2-0 but, given that it’s now been more than five months since the two clashed, both coaches have cautioned against trying to draw too many lessons or conclusions from their recent history.
“It's a completely new fixture,” said the United boss.
“We know them well, and I'm sure Aurelio really knows us, as well. We played against them twice in preseason. We played against them twice, early in the season. You can take away their movements and what they do, but both teams have completely changed in personnel as well as confidence.
“They've had a good back end of the season, like us. It'll be a good game. Both teams are confident that they can get the result, and both teams, I think, will go at each other pretty hard. I don't think we'll be open, open, but I think it'll be a good contest.”