‘Lost for words. I’m rattled’: Hero keeper saves FOUR pens, scores one in A-League final madness

Melbourne Victory goalkeeper Paul Izzo was the hero as his side progressed to the next round of the A-League finals series with a penalty shootout success over Melbourne City at AAMI Park on Sunday night.

Izzo saved three penalties in the shootout and drilled one home himself as the Victory won it 3-2 after scores had been locked at 1-1 at the end of normal time and after 30 subsequent minutes of extra-time.

“I’m still lost for words – I’m rattled,” Izzo told broadcaster Ten after his elimination final heroics.

“We just kept going, kept believing and whatever happened, happened.

“I’m sorry I don’t know what to say.”

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Izzo said Victory had done a session practising penalties at training, but his own effort was disastrous and he thought he had blown his chance at getting a call up in the shootout.

“We had a session during the week and I shanked one … but then the boss looked at me and I was like ‘all right’,” he said.

“Fake it til you make it I guess.

“If you look confident then you’re going to be confident.”

Izzo also saved a penalty during normal time to deny City star Tolgay Arlsan.

However, City still took the lead in the 29th minute through Samuel Souprayen.

Worse was to follow for the Victory when their French star Zinedine Machach was sent off for kicking out at City’s Brazilian winger Leo Natel.

However, the Victory wouldn’t give up and equalised in the 88th minute through substitute Nishan Velupillay.

City also finished the contest with 10 men after defender Curtis Good, in what would prove to be his final match for the club, was sent off for a second bookable offence with two minutes of