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A-League Grand Final 2020: Sydney FC win over Melbourne City off Rhyan Grant’s ‘nipple’

It took exactly 100 minutes for a goal to break the deadlock in the A-League Grand Final and it may well be the ‘Nipple of God’.

Andrew McMurtryAndrew McMurtry
@AndrewMcMurtry
6 min read
August 31, 2020 - 5:08AM
Sydney FC celebrate winning the title.
Sydney FC celebrate winning the title.

The A-League Grand Final has delivered an absolute cracker of a game with Sydney FC defeating Melbourne City 1-0 to win a third championship in four years.

The Sky Blues become just the second club in the A-League’s 15-year history to win back-to-back titles but it was the closest of performances.

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After the longest of seasons thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, the teams could not be split after 90 minutes, needing added time to break the deadlock.

In the 100th minute, it took something special to break the deadlock with Rhyan Grant’s nipple coming to the rescue.

He made the difference, chesting in a goal after a perfect cross from Luke Brattan before pulling his jersey over his head in celebration.

Rhyan Grant celebrates the first goal of the Grand Final.
Rhyan Grant celebrates the first goal of the Grand Final.

Fox Football commentator Brenton Speed said “How clever is that finish, using his head to use his chest to finally beat Tom Glover”.

“This is a superb ball, nothing more, nothing less, from Luke Brattan,” Andy Harper added. “Eyes up, receives it open, sees the channel, has to drop it right on the nipple, on Rhyan Grant’s nipple, into the back of the net.”

Post-match, Grant’s smile was huge as he was asked about the goal.

“It was nice, maybe a little bit lucky with it, but I thought put the keeper off with the chest rather than the head and it looked like it worked so happy days,” he said.

“We weren’t at our best but that’s a Grand Final, it was end-to-end at times, a bit cagey so we just had to ride that out and make sure when we got our chances we took them and thankfully we got that goal and then held them out. City were very good but we got a bit lucky I reckon.”

Grant was also named the Joe Marston Medal winner for player of the match.

Brattan was in tears as well after the match, paying tribute to his sister Holli-Mia, who was diagnosed with Mixed Phenotype Acute Leukaemia late last year.

“I had a tough year off the field but the boys welcomed me with open arms and kept my mind of things off the field. It’s a bit emotional but hello to my sister back home and it’s quality.”

City were gallant in defeat, even getting a goal taken off them by VAR in the first half and getting more shots on.

It was Melbourne City’s first A-League Grand Final and the players were left heartbroken by the loss.

Agony and the ecstasy.
Agony and the ecstasy.

The win sees Sydney FC further cement themselves as the A-League’s best franchise, having won a record fifth championship to go with a record fourth premiers title in 2019-20.

VAR DRAMAS ROCK A-LEAGUE GRAND FINAL

City have had the better of opportunities early in the opening half but two hugew VAR calls have ensured it’s 0-all at the break.

City had the first seven shots on goal with one kicked off the line by defender Ryan McGowan after Craig Noone beat Sydney goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne.

City then looked to have scored through defender Harrison Delbridge in the 18th minute only for it to be disallowed when Lachlan Wales was ruled to have blocked the view of Redmayne.

Wales was ruled to have blocked the view of Redmayne.
Wales was ruled to have blocked the view of Redmayne.

Mark Bosnich said: “This is going to be a very tough decision. If you look at it right there, he’s directly in front of Redmayne. It could be argued that so are the Sydney players but if you watch here, as he strikes, he’s directly in front of him.”

City’s Jamie Maclaren at halftime hit back at the decision.

“I don’t think that Lachie was in Redmayne’s view, he was five yard to the right,” he said. “But the decision’s been made, we have to move on, but I don’t think it was right.”

Sydney also felt like they had the right to feel aggrieved when Adam Le Fondre was taken down in a challenge in the box as Curtis Good crashed into the striker.

The VAR cleared it but it was a divisive decision.

Former Sydney FC striker Alex Brosque even said he initially thought it was a penalty but was happy with the decision.

“When I’ve seen the replays, it looks like Alfie planted his feet to initiate contact and wait for the defender to bump into him and it didn’t really happen,” he said.

Mark Bosnich agreed that it was “100 per cent right”.

Melbourne City have started brilliantly in the A-League Grand Final but Sydney FC fans won’t let them, forget where they’ve come from.

Starting in the A-League as an expansion club as the Melbourne Heart in the 2010-11 season, the club was bought by the City Football Group, who also own Manchester City and teams across the world, in mid-2014 and rebranded as Melbourne City.

But as both teams couldn’t be wearing light blue jerseys, City reverted to the old Heart jersey.

The Cove wouldn’t let that escape early in the game.

DAGGER HANGING OVER A-LEAGUE JUGGERNAUT

Sydney FC are favourites to win a third title in four years with the Sky Blues’ head coach Steve Corica backing his “big-game players” to give the team a key advantage over first-times Melbourne City in the A-League Grand Final.

Sydney have once again been dominant in 2019-20, sealing the premiership with four games left after the interrupted season.

The Sky Blues have plenty of experience with seven of their starting line-up against Perth were involved in last year’s final while Socceroo Ryan McGowan and German playmaker Alex Baumjohann have brought a wealth of European experience in their first campaign.

But just how long this will last remains to be seen with the team set to be placed under plenty of pressure as salary cap pressures due to COVID hit hard.

In the rest of the league, it’s estimated 70 players will come off contract as of Tuesday morning.

The Daily Telegraph reported while Sydney have their entire squad on deals at least until the end of next year, “with an anticipated slashing of the salary cap incoming, with players to again be asked to accepted reduced wages, there’s a fear that those contracts will effectively become null and void – with many of the league’s stars angling for overseas moves.”

One such player reportedly looking overseas is striker Adam Le Fondre, who was the second highest goal scorer of the season with 21 behind City‘s Jamie Maclaren who had 23.

Le Fondre has been strongly linked to a move to Indian Super League team Mumbai City FC.

Le Fondre in action in the A-League semi-final.
Le Fondre in action in the A-League semi-final.

While Sydney FC chairman Danny Townsend said the team was “as stable as we‘ve ever been”, Le Fondre admitted the league is not in the same shape.

“The uncertainty for the league is for everyone to see,” Townsend told News Corp.

“What happens in the future happens, but for the time being I’m focused on football for Sydney and going back-to-back.

“I don’t think it’s been a distraction for me. I’d be doing a disservice to the boys if I think about other things when I’m obviously trying to win the GF with the boys.

“All the players, we’re not really too focused on what’s next – we’re thinking of the right now and the here and now, that’s the most important thing really.”

Sydney FC skipper Alex Wilkinson said there is no chance he‘ll finish up regardless of the result, despite now being 36 and having debuted in the league’s very first game.

Alex Wilkinson gives a thumbs up to the crowd.
Alex Wilkinson gives a thumbs up to the crowd.

Sydney FC will be looking to become just the second club in the A-League’s 15-year history behind the 2011-12 Brisbane Roar.

Corica said experience would be the difference if the Sky Blues can come away with the title.

“It definitely helps. Big-game players, they’ve got the experience,” Corica said.

“They’ve been there before. A lot of them played in the game last year.

“It definitely plays a part but you just have to back up on Sunday and make sure we obviously get the tactics right and put on another performance like that.”

In contrast to Sydney’s success, Erick Mombaerts’ City are in their first Grand Final, looking to emulate Roar, who also won on their maiden appearance, under former Australia coach Ange Postecoglou in 2011.

But he said only a win on Sunday would make their season a success.

“We have done a very good season, it’s a first time to reach a final but now we have one more game to win,” Mombaerts said.

“It’s not enough to reach the final. Now it’s very important to expect to win this.”

– with AFP

Originally published as A-League Grand Final 2020: Sydney FC win over Melbourne City off Rhyan Grant’s ‘nipple’

Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/football/a-league/aleague-grand-final-2020-sydney-fc-vs-melbourne-city/news-story/911ed436b678b41191b6744f588fe9d9