Melbourne City boss John Van't Schipp has praised his team's commitment and courage after his injury ravaged side went down 3-0 to Melbourne Victory in the semi final derby.

Van't Schipp also paid tribute to Kevin Muscat's team whose clinical efficiency and finishing was enough to book a place in the decider next Sunday.

Throughout the match City lost three key players in Aaron Mooy, Harry Novillo and David Williams within the first 60 minutes and struggled to find a way back into the game afterwards.

However Van't Schipp was thoroughly impressed with his side's performance, "The effort of the boys, we could not say anything of that. They made a game of it, going 2-0 behind did not make it easy. Getting three players injured of the quality of Aaron and Harry, who was playing very well, David also (was touch). They are very attacking minded players."

"The amount of chances we created, 3-0 was a big difference in what we saw in the park," the City boss said, whilst admitting that " Victory were clinical."

Van 't Schipp said his team still believed it could get back into the match if it had been able to score.

"We had enough chances to win the game, but it's about getting the goal at the right moment. If you make it 2-1 everything is possible. But the chances we got, we didn't take. We created a lot of pressure but we know that Victory is dangerous on the break and they were clinical."

Although the defeat on Friday may have been disappointing for players and fans of Melbourne City, their overall season was something of a successful one. Making the semi finals and defeating an impressive Wellington Phoenix has been a dramatic improvement of last season, where they finished bottom, and Van't Schipp praised his side for this amazing feat.

- by Joshua Kerr