A-League Grand Final: All the action from the Sydney FC v Melbourne City decider
It was a decider that had everything but a bag of goals, an overtime deadlock breaker from Rhyan Grant giving Sydney FC victory in the A-League Grand Final, but should City feel hard done by after VAR controversy?
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Sydney FC have overcome a heroic performance by Melbourne City’s Tom Glover to go back to back and deliver a historic fifth grand final triumph to secure their place as the greatest football team in Australian history.
An extra-time winner to the club’s favourite son Rhyan Grant broke Melbourne City hearts on Sunday night and delivered a 1-0 win and fifth A-League title for powerhouse Sydney FC.
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It took 100 minutes, but the Socceroos right back came up with the moment that mattered – chesting home a sensational Luke Brattan cross to finally breach City’s defence and put one past Glover, who enjoyed a tremendous night in goal.
For much of the night, it appeared nothing could be done to crack Glover’s resolve, with the Olyroos shotstopper producing a remarkable eight saves – while his opposite, Andrew Redmayne, was also outstanding, though most of his stops were routine rather than spectacular.
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But Sydney wouldn’t be denied in their pursuit of a record fifth grand final win – which secures their status as the greatest football club in the land, sparking wild celebrations with Grant mobbed by teammates on the final whistle and was later bestowed the Joe Marston Medal for best afield.
In the end, the chance arrived ten minutes into extra time with Sydney’s mulleted energiser bunny proving the man of the moment.
“You could see when he was out a couple of games, we really missed him,” Sydney coach Steve Corica said of Grant.
“He’s come back at the right time and been sensational all year. He’s the best right back in the country.”
In a gripping and at times controversial contest, the two teams couldn’t be split in regulation time – thanks in part to several contentious decisions which left each side fuming at the halftime break.
City believed they’d opened the scoring after just 18 minutes when defender Harrison Delbridge drilled low and hard past Sydney’s Redmayne.
But they were robbed moments later when VAR – brought back for the finals series after being absent post COVID-19 shutdown – was called on, and found winger Lachlan Wales in an offside position in front of Redmayne.
City striker Jamie Maclaren was furious at the decision, declaring it the wrong call, but Sydney had their own gripes with referee Chris Beath after a first-half penalty shout by Adam le Fondre was waved away.
Described as “100 per cent” a penalty by Sydney coach Steve Corica, Le Fondre was clattered by Curtis Good in the box. Beath was unmoved, and a VAR check found nothing to overturn.
Socceroos great Robbie Slater said Beath had made an error and that Sydney had been unlucky not to be awarded a penalty.
“100 per cent penalty,” said Slater.
“Because his next touch is a strike at goal to probably score. He’s got that one wrong Chris Beath.”
Sydney flicked the switch early in the second half, with midfield star Milos Ninkovic threatening to break the game open with a handful of stunning chances in 90 seconds.
The Serbian veteran produced a delightful flick to offer a chance to Adam le Fondre, and then came Sydney’s best chance of the match when he was through one-on-one with Glover – only to have the City gloveman produced the save of the match.
Glover did everything within his power, but it wasn’t enough.
The loss continues City’s shocking record in big games, but there can be no accusations of a choke here – they showed their new-found resolve time and again, with the likes of defender Curtis Good, Glover and livewire Wales showing they belong on the biggest stage.
VAR CONTROVERSY HITS A-LEAGUE GRAND FINAL
The controversial return of VAR hit the A-League grand final early, with both Melbourne City and Sydney fuming over first-half decisions.
City were robbed of the game’s opening goal when Harrison Delbridge’s 18th minute strike was rubbed out after a VAR check – while Sydney striker Adam le Fondre’s penalty shout 10 minutes later was waved away both by the referee and by the video system, to the disbelief of the Sky Blues.
City dominated the opening exchanges and looked to have their reward in the form of a long-range goal from Delbridge – who drilled home from outside the box in the 18th minute.
But, after awarding the goal, referee Chris Beath turned to the Video Assistant Referee — brought back for the finals series after being absent since the league’s resumption in July — and replays showed City winger Lachlan Wales was in front of goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne in an off-side position.
City star Jamie Maclaren wasn’t happy at the half-time break: “I don’t think Lachie was in Redmayne’s view he was five yards to the right, but the decision’s been made, we have to move on, but I don’t think it was right,” Maclaren said on the Fox Sports coverage.
VAR doesn’t mind being involved in an @ALeague Grand Final..
— Daniel Garb (@DanielGarb) August 30, 2020
What a horrible call. #aleaguegf
— Oli Murray (@Oli_Murray) August 30, 2020
Proof that VAR is a waste of time. 2 decisions, both wrong #aleagueGF
— david middleton (@kingscrossexile) August 30, 2020
Nine minutes in and already more action than last year’s 😴fest #ALeagueGF
— Ben McKay (@benmackey) August 30, 2020
Ten minutes later and it was Sydney’s chance to moan about the referee when le Fondre was clattered into by Curtis Good – prompting frantic pleas for a penalty, all of which were waved away.
“That’s a penalty, eight days a week,” Andy Harper said in commentary.
Socceroos great Robbie Slater said Beath had made an error and that Sydney had been unlucky not to be awarded a penalty.
“100 per cent penalty,” said Slater.
“Because his next touch is a strike at goal to probably score. He’s got that one wrong Chris Beath.”
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CORICA ADD MORE SILVERWARE
Sydney FC coach Steve Corica has hailed his champion team after another heart-stopping grand final victory confirmed their status as the best in Australia to cap off an ‘amazing’ season.
At the end of an incredible 120 minute contest with Melbourne City, won 1-0 thanks to an extra-time winner to Rhyan Grant, Corica etched his name into the record books as one of the greatest coaches in A-League history.
It’s an incredible achievement, considering he’s just two years into his life as a coach – but in that time he’s won a Premiers’ Plate and two titles.
And in truth, he’s had his finger prints on everything Sydney FC has ever done, from scoring the winner in their first championship to taking over the clipboard in recent times.
And after Sunday’s triumph, Sydney’s fifth on the biggest stage – a feat unmatched in the history of Australian football – Corica showed how much it meant to both the club and himself after an extraordinary season, in which he navigated a COVID-19 shutdown and late-season slump.
“Amazing. It’s been the longest season ever. I’m just so proud of these boys for not only winning the premiership but the championship as well,” Corica said.
“We wanted it. We were desperate for it, to go back-to-back. It’s been a tough year but an amazing one in the end.
“They’re all very special. This one, obviously going back to back and becoming the most successful club in Australian history at the moment with five championships is great.”
Corica said his confidence never wavered, despite entering the finals on the back of a five-game winless streak.
“There was never any doubt about our belief of what we could do,” he said.
“I know you (the media) doubted us towards the end of the season, but these players… we work with them every day.
“They’re champions. They deserve to have won both trophies this year and it’s full credit to them.
“Once we started the semi-final, obviously they flicked the switch back on. Very focused to get what we wanted to achieve this season.”
CITY ‘NOT FAR’ FROM GLORY
So close, but yet so far for Melbourne City. And potentially the biggest battle is still to come.
For a group so frequently derided as big-game chokers, Sunday night’s result will be a bitter pill to swallow.
But coach Erick Mombaerts said his team deserve to hold their heads high after a best-ever season, a first grand final and passage into the Asian Champions League from next season.
Mombaerts wants silverware for City – and believes it could arrive next season. But whether he’ll be around to lift it remains the most troubling question facing the beaten grand finalists.
“It’s a great season, without trophy, but it’s a great season. The team has progressed and it’s also to play this kind of game, grand final, final of cup,” Mombaerts said.
“Maybe next season Asian Champions League will help the team to re-channel the level.
“Maybe we didn’t have the experience of this grand final. Now we have this experience and I’m sure we’ll learn about experience and we’ll come back stronger.
“We played the game we wanted to play. I’m very proud of the performance of our team, especially we started very well in the first half. We pressed well, took some good chances. In 90 minutes we played really well.
“Maybe we didn’t take some risk in the final third in shooting, finishing. But I want to congratulate my players because they did very well today.
“I wanted to win this trophy… but we have increased a lot. It’s one step, and maybe next step after.
“We’ve showed we are not so far now. We are close to their level, with another style. I’m sure in the future we will challenge more.”
The concern for City is that much of their improvement can be credited to Mombaerts – who may have coached his last game for the club, with a decision expected in the next few days.
The Frenchman has repeatedly refused to confirm whether he will stay beyond the grand final, because of COVID-19 concerns. He’s also been strongly linked to a move back home with French Ligue 2 club Troyes AC.
“Honestly it’s not the moment to answer this question now,” Mombaerts said when quizzed on his future post-match.
“I just want to talk about a game and my first idea at the moment is to support my players and my staff.
“I don’t want to speak about myself and my situation. It’s too early. We’ll see in a few days, but at the moment my mind is only focused on the game.”
Originally published as A-League Grand Final: All the action from the Sydney FC v Melbourne City decider