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South Melbourne beat Melbourne Victory on penalties to win the 2026 Australia Cup final, the first NPL club to lift the trophy since the competition began in 2014.
18+ T&C's Apply. What are you really gambling with? Chances are you're about to lose. Set a Deposit Limit For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
18+ T&C's Apply. What are you really gambling with? Chances are you're about to lose. Set a Deposit Limit For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
#AD 18+ T&Cs Apply Imagine what you could be buying instead. For free & confidential support call 180 0858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
South Melbourne won the 2026 Australia Cup final. The NPL Victoria club beat A-League side Melbourne Victory 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw at AAMI Park on Saturday 10 October, in front of a record crowd of 29,911. The final was goalless after 90 minutes, Denis Genreau put Victory ahead in extra time, and Max Mikkola levelled with three minutes left to force a shootout that South goalkeeper Javier Lopez won. South are the first NPL club to lift the trophy since the competition began in 2014.
Australia Cup final result at a glance
| Detail | Result |
|---|---|
| Match | South Melbourne 1-1 Melbourne Victory (South Melbourne won 4-3 on penalties) |
| Competition | Hahn Australia Cup 2026, final |
| Date and venue | Saturday 10 October 2026, AAMI Park, Melbourne |
| After 90 minutes | 0-0 |
| Goals | Genreau (Victory, 95′), Mikkola (South Melbourne, 117′) |
| Penalty shootout | South Melbourne 4-3 Victory |
| Man of the match | Javier Lopez (South Melbourne), Mark Viduka Medal |
| Attendance | 29,911 (a sellout and a record crowd) |
| Coaches | Sinisa Cohadzic (South Melbourne), Giovanni Savarese (Victory) |
| Broadcast | Network 10 and Paramount+ |
How the Australia Cup final unfolded
Ninety minutes in front of a sellout crowd settled nothing. It finished 0-0 and went to extra time, where the A-League side struck first. Denis Genreau put Victory ahead in the 95th minute with an improvised half-volley that hit the crossbar and bounced over the line, and the goal stood after a VAR check. With 25 minutes left, South needed a response.
It came with three minutes of extra time to play. Max Mikkola equalised for South Melbourne in the 117th minute, and the final went to a shootout.
That is where Javier Lopez took over. The South Melbourne goalkeeper saved Harrison Sawyer’s penalty, which was ruled to have come with Lopez off his line, so Sawyer had to retake it. Lopez saved the retake too. South scored every penalty they took, and Victory captain Jason Davidson, with a kick he had to score to stay alive, sent it over the crossbar. South won the shootout 4-3, and Lopez was named man of the match and received the Mark Viduka Medal.
Key moments
| Time | Moment | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 90′ | Full time, goalless. The final goes to extra time. | 0-0 |
| 95′ | Genreau (Victory) half-volleys in off the crossbar. VAR confirms the goal. | 0-1 |
| 117′ | Mikkola (South Melbourne) equalises three minutes from the end of extra time. | 1-1 |
| 120′ | Extra time ends level. The final goes to penalties. | 1-1 |
| Shootout | Lopez saves Sawyer, the kick is retaken and he saves it again. Davidson misses over the bar. | Pens 4-3 |
The road to the final: how both clubs got there
South Melbourne needed to beat two A-League clubs to win the cup, and they did it in a Round of 32 upset and then in the final.
| Round | South Melbourne | Melbourne Victory |
|---|---|---|
| Round of 32 | Beat Adelaide United 2-1 | Beat Kingborough Lions United 4-0 |
| Round of 16 | Drew 3-3 with Fremantle City, won 3-1 on penalties (round of 16 tips) | Drew 1-1 with Western Sydney Wanderers, won 3-2 on penalties |
| Quarter-final | Beat Preston Lions 2-1 (quarter-final tips) | Beat APIA Leichhardt 1-0 |
| Semi-final | Beat Lions FC 3-1, Bul Juach hat-trick (semi-final tips) | Beat Sydney FC 2-0 |
| Final | 1-1, won 4-3 on penalties | 1-1, lost 4-3 on penalties |
What the result means
A first for the NPL. Every previous Australia Cup and FFA Cup winner came from the A-League. South Melbourne, a former National Soccer League powerhouse that played at the 2000 FIFA Club World Championship under Ange Postecoglou, broke that run from NPL Victoria. They had never reached a final before this year. Check the Australia Cup hub for the updated honour roll.
Another final lost for Victory. Victory won the cup in 2015 and 2021, then lost the 2024 final to Macarthur FC and this one to South Melbourne. All four of those finals were played at AAMI Park.
A continental spot. South Melbourne technically earn a place in next season’s AFC Champions League Two by winning the cup.
What it tells punters about the cup
The point we made in our final preview held up: a draw at full time was live, and extra time and penalties were in play. This final was level after 90 minutes, which is why it matters whether a market pays on 90 minutes or on the result after extra time. South also won two penalty shootouts on the way to the trophy, against Fremantle City and Victory, and beat two A-League clubs, a reminder that the market’s respect for A-League status can be too generous in a one-off knockout. Our Australia Cup hub has the full round-by-round guide.
What is next
The A-League Men season kicks off on Friday 16 October with the Sydney Derby, and Victory will be looking to put this one behind them. Our A-League tips hub has the early-season picture, and our A-League premiership odds page tracks the title market.
Where to bet on Australian football
Compare A-League and cup markets across the best soccer betting sites in Australia.
#AD 18+ T&Cs Apply Imagine what you could be buying instead. For free & confidential support call 180 0858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
18+ T&C's Apply. What are you really gambling with? Chances are you're about to lose. Set a Deposit Limit For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
18+ T&C's Apply. What are you really gambling with? Chances are you're about to lose. Set a Deposit Limit For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
18+ T&C's Apply. What are you really gambling with? Chances are you're about to lose. Set a Deposit Limit For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
#AD 18+ T&Cs Apply Imagine what you could be buying instead. For free & confidential support call 180 0858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
18+ T&C's Apply. What are you really gambling with? Chances are you're about to lose. Set a Deposit Limit For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
Exclusive 365AUCODE referral code: bet365 does not offer bonus codes in Australia and this referral code does not grant access to offers.18+ T&C's Apply. What are you really gambling with? Chances are you're about to lose. Set a Deposit Limit For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
- Australia Cup final tips and preview
- Australia Cup hub: dates, honour roll and how the cup works
- A-League round-by-round predictions
- Football multi tips
Australia Cup final result FAQs
Who won the 2026 Australia Cup final?
South Melbourne won the 2026 Australia Cup final, beating Melbourne Victory 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw at AAMI Park on Saturday 10 October 2026.
What was the score in the Australia Cup final?
It was 0-0 after 90 minutes and 1-1 after extra time. Denis Genreau scored for Victory in the 95th minute and Max Mikkola equalised for South Melbourne in the 117th. South Melbourne won the penalty shootout 4-3.
Who scored in the Australia Cup final?
Denis Genreau scored for Melbourne Victory in the 95th minute and Max Mikkola scored for South Melbourne in the 117th minute. Nobody scored in the first 90 minutes.
How did the penalty shootout go?
South Melbourne won it 4-3. Goalkeeper Javier Lopez saved Harrison Sawyer’s penalty, which was retaken because Lopez had moved off his line, and then saved the retake. Victory captain Jason Davidson missed over the bar with a kick he had to score.
Who was man of the match in the Australia Cup final?
South Melbourne goalkeeper Javier Lopez was named man of the match and won the Mark Viduka Medal after saving Harrison Sawyer’s penalty twice in the shootout.
Is South Melbourne the first non-A-League club to win the Australia Cup?
Yes. South Melbourne, from NPL Victoria, are the first NPL club to win the trophy since the competition began in 2014. Every previous winner was an A-League side.
How did South Melbourne reach the Australia Cup final?
They beat Adelaide United 2-1 in the Round of 32, Fremantle City on penalties in the Round of 16, Preston Lions 2-1 in the quarter-finals and Lions FC 3-1 in the semi-finals, before beating Melbourne Victory on penalties in the final.
Does South Melbourne qualify for the AFC Champions League Two?
South Melbourne technically earn a place in next season’s AFC Champions League Two by winning the Australia Cup.
How many people attended the Australia Cup final?
A record crowd of 29,911 attended the sellout final at AAMI Park.
Where can I read the Australia Cup final preview?
Our Australia Cup final tips page has the preview, how both clubs reached the final and the betting angles.