A-League finals: Melbourne City through to Grand Final after defeating Sydney FC

Sydney FC will have to take the long road to claim this year’s A-League title after a horror tackle in the opening 20 minutes cost the Sky Blues dearly against Melbourne City.

Rhyan Grant of Sydney FC faces off against Richard van der Venne.

VAR had been at the centre of A-League semi-final between Melbourne City and Sydney FC – and it was only right it delivered the pivotal decision in Friday night’s second leg.

Sydney midfielder Max Burgess was sent from the pitch in the 19th minute for a horror challenge on Marco Tilio, following a VAR review.

From there, it only became a nightmare for the Sky Blues with Melbourne City now eyeing off a second A-League crown in three seasons in the June 3 decider.

Curtis Good broke the Sydney resistance in the 37th minute with a downward header into the far corner from Valon Berisha’s perfectly placed corner.

Sydney defender Jack Rodwell added to his side’s woes in the 58th minute when he turned an Andrew Nabbout cross into the back of his own net before Tilio made it 3-0 in the 67th minute with a powerful strike.

Richard van der Vanne put the icing on the cake in the 82nd minute with a wonderful curling strike.

Max Burgess’ tackle on Marco Tilio.

VAR PUT TO PERFECT USE

Sydney midfielder Max Burgess will be thinking about his red card for the months to come.

Burgess was given his marching orders after a horror studs up challenge on City starlet Marco Tilio, which collected the youngster just below the knee in the 19th minute.

Referee Evans initially showed Burgess a yellow for the challenge before changing his decision after a VAR review.

Replays showed he simply had no choice but to send Burgess from the AAMI Park pitch.

Even Socceroos manager Graham Arnold, who was in attendance, winced at the challenge which occurred in his direct line of sight from the stands with broadcast cameras capturing his reaction.

Marco Tilio celebrates his goal.

SYDNEY’S POOR MELBOURNE RUN CONTINUES

Melbourne City’s dominant home form over the Sky Blues stretches back almost five years after Friday night’s result.

Sydney has not defeated the premiers at AAMI Park since November 2018.

Meanwhile, City has not lost a game at the ground when it has been a home fixture since February 2022.

City has also lost just one of its last nine matches against Steve Corica’s men.

It was an example of why the system is applauded when it’s used the right way.

Joel King charges in to a tackle on Callum Talbot.

A GOOD TIME FOR DROUGHTS TO END

Curtis Good’s opening half header marked his first goal of the season and it couldn’t have come at a better time.

City had chances to score earlier in the half, highlighted by Jamie Maclaren’s header off the post, but you could sense the tension ease around AAMI Park as the ball struck the back of the net.

At the other end, it was also the first time City goalkeeper Tom Glover hasn’t picked the ball up out of his own net since January.

That will give coach Rado Vidosic plenty of confidence after he made changes to his defence – with three centre backs selected – for the second leg.

Originally published as A-League finals: Melbourne City through to Grand Final after defeating Sydney FC