Sydney Claim Ultimate Victory

Sydney FC have won their second A-League Premiership, beating Melbourne Victory 4-3 on penalties after the game finished locked up at 1-1 after 120 minutes. Mark Bridge netted an amazing goal after Rodrigo Vargas thought he had scored for the Victory at the other end, but Adrian Leijer equalized with nine to go as the game went into extra time. But Sydney left-back, Byun, was cool under pressure to slot home the winning penalty and send of retiring captain, Steve Corica, with a Premiership medal.

Clint Bolton was the hero though in his last match for the Sky Blues, saving one and watching Kevin Muscat hit the post as the Victory capitulated at the final hurdle.

Sydney though, might count themselves lucky to have won after the Victory pushed them all the way in the final five minutes of normal time after Sydney looked unbeatable at 1-0 up.

However it was the news that former Victory-man, Seb Ryall, had won the right back position over Shannon Cole, who started on the bench, which won early headlines. Meanwhile, Melbourne were arguably at full strength with Archie Thompson, Carlos Hernandez and Robbie Kruse leading a potent attack.

The game started with Muscat offering youngster, Chris Payne, some early attention. Both teams tried to find their passing game in the initial minutes as a few shots were fired by Sydney.

In the 14th-minute though, Melbourne suffered a major setback as Archie Thompson tore his anterior cruciate ligament, forcing him to make way. Young Costa Rican Martin Angullo stepped in for the influential striker.

However the first half really had limited chances for both teams in a period where the ball spent most of the time being battled in midfield.

But it was after the break when the game’s momentum began to pick up.

It took all of sixty-one minutes for the majority of Etihad Stadium to go from jubilation to shock. A cross from Melbourne resulted in Rodrigo Vargas tapping the ball past Clint Bolton in goal, but the linesman was on the mark, correctly ruling it out for offiside.

Bolton was aware of the situation though, unlike the Victory – who completely switched off. Byun ended up with the ball and fed Alex Brosque down the left hand channel. Vargas attempted to block the Socceroo’s cross but all he could do was deflect the ball high into the six-yard box. Langerak was left retreating, and Mark Bridge easily headed in to put Sydney into the lead. It was the second time Bridge had scored in an A-League Grand Final.

And minutes later, Payne should have finished the game off. Brilliant Brosque exploded into the penalty area and unselfishly squared for the waiting Payne. But he scuffed his shot well wide with the goal at his peril. You got the feeling that if Sydney didn’t kill the game, that miss might come back to haunt them.

It nearly did too, as in the 81st-minute, a quick free kick by Muscat led to the Victory equalizer. Delivering into the box, Adrian Leijer swooped on a sleeping Simon Colosimo to head in for 1-1.

The former Fulham-man should have won it for Melbourne as well, firing an easier free header over the top from a corner, with minutes remaining.

There was time for one more test for Bolton, Hernandez hitting a decent free kick, but the keeper making sure the game would go beyond the distance.

Extra time, as it does these days, ceased Melbourne’s momentum, and was really a pointless half hour of extra football.

Hernandez though nearly scored in the last minutes as he scrambled through the FC defence but fell over the ball as he went to shoot.

But it went to penalties.

The ‘reliable’ Muscat went first, but this time he found the upright, even with Bolton beaten. Colosimo and Brebner both scored before Langerak produced a blinder to stop Shannon Cole’s effort. But it was Bolton’s save from Angullo that allowed Byun to win it.

It caps a historical year for Sydney as they ‘did the double’ by winning both the Premier’s Plate and the Championship.

Colosimo picked up the Joe Marston Medal for best on field, as on-field captain, Terry McFlynn lifted the premiership trophy with now-retired club captain, Steve Corica.

Melbourne, meanwhile, will have to drown their sorrows of a first ever Grand Final lost on a plane to Japan as they gear up for a Asian Champions League match with Kawasaki.

Sydney will now hope some of their now championship-winning team will decide to stay at the Football Stadium come next season, but for now its congratulations to the Sky Blues, 2009/10 A-League Champions!