AFTER a record-breaking campaign, Sydney FC have been crowned A-League champions, beating Melbourne Victory 4-2 in a penalty shootout in Sunday’s Grand Final.
Following one of the most thrilling and hotly contested finals in competition history, we take a look at how each player fared.
SYDNEY FC
Danny Vukovic – 8
The man in pink was the hero of the day, producing the decisive save in the shootout, denying Marco Rojas to set up a winner for Milos Ninkovic — we’re guessing Michael Zullo and Alex Wilkinson will forgive him for flattening them earlier in the game. He could not have done much to stop Besart Berisha’s goal.
Rhyan Grant - 8
Grant enjoyed a strong night in the back and was a regular outlet going forward. Most importantly he was there to rifle in the equaliser after Berisha’s desperate goal-line clearance.
Alex Wilkinson – 7
Guilty of leaving too much space between himself and his partner at the back for Victory’s opener, Wilkinson otherwise enjoyed a strong game. He had the composure to make a key tackle on Jai Ingram with minutes to go before the penalty shootout but then botched his spot kick.
Jordy Buijs – 7
Like Wilkinson, his positioning for Berisha’s opener was poor. He bounced back from that, and played an important part in Sydney’s equaliser, keeping the ball alive to tee up David Carney for the shot that led to the goal. Limped off with an injury in the 116th minute.
Michael Zullo – 6
Provided Sydney FC an outlet on the left in the first half, forcing a save from the keeper and sending in a gorgeous cross that almost led to an own goal inside the first 20 minutes. He was solid in defence and a handy contributor going forward.
Josh Brillante – 8
Like most of the team, Brillante struggled to find his rhythm in the first half against an energetic and hard pressing Victory outfit, but was superb in the second-half, giving the likes of Ninkovic and company a platform from which to attack. The introduction of David Carney was key, but Brillante’s performance in the second half turned the match.
Brandon O’Neill – 6
Lost the midfield battle in the first half but helped turn the tide in the second half when he rediscovered his composure.
Filip Holosko – 4.5
Holosko foolishly earnt a yellow card by grabbing James Troisi by the face and for the most part he failed to make his presence felt – though he did produce one big chance for the Sky Blues in the first half, dribbling his way into the box before cutting back a delightful low cross, only for Georgievski to make a crucial interception. Skied a big – though difficult – chance to equalise before being substituted for Carney.
Alex Brosque – 6
The Sydney captain pressed well and caused Victory trouble with his direct running but for the most part was kept quiet.
Milos Ninkovic – 7
Aside from one flashpoint after being fouled by Leigh Broxham, Ninkovic was subdued in the first half. In the second, when Sydney FC took the ascendancy the Johnny Warren midfielder came to life, causing plenty of problems for the Victory defence with his mazy running and clever passing. Fittingly, he was the man who slotted the winning penalty.
Bobo – 4
It was a quiet night for the Brazilian striker who was fairly anonymous before being substituted for Matt Simon.
Substitutes
David Carney – 6.5
The A-League veteran made a world of difference when he came on, regularly popping up in dangerous spaces. He took the shot to set up the equaliser and if not for the outstretched hand of Lawrence Thomas and a desperate goal-line clearance from Besart Berisha the goal would have belonged to him rather than Grant. He missed a huge chance to score the winner in the 115th minute, slicing a first-time volley when he had time to take a touch. He somewhat made up for it with a cool penalty at a decisive time in the shootout.
Matt Simon – 6
Ran Melbourne Victory’s tired defence ragged after coming on without producing a killer blow.
Seb Ryall – NA
A late substitute for Jordy Buijs, Seb Ryall had little to do in his time on the field.
MELBOURNE VICTORY
Lawrence Thomas – 5.5
There was plenty of power on the Carney shot that led to the equaliser but Thomas really should have pushed it past the post rather than onto it. He did produce a good save in the first half when one-on-one with Zullo to keep scores level. Otherwise he enjoyed a quiet night in goal despite Sydney setting up camp outside his box.
Jason Geria – 6
Like most of Melbourne Victory’s backline, he found the constant interchanging of Ninkovic, Brosque and Carney difficult to handle but still produced a strong performance.
Alan Baro – 6
Victory’s backline got deeper and deeper in the second half, inviting Sydney FC further and further into the final third and if the Sky Blues were sharper they would have capitalised. Still, the hosts only got nine shots off all game – the same amount as Victory – and the men at the heart of the defence deserve credit for that.
James Donachie – 7
Much of the fact Sydney FC didn’t finish it inside the 90 was down to the work of Donachie. The 23-year-old was immense.
Daniel Georgievski – 7
Came out on top in his battle against Holosko and enjoyed a strong first half. He found things tougher when David Carney came on but still had a good night in the backline without offering too much threat going forward. He made a key interception to stop what looked like a tap in for Sydney FC in the first half. He was a somewhat surprising Joe Marston medal winner.
Leigh Broxham – 6
One of the better performers in the first-half, Broxham flagged in the second half as Sydney FC slowing found their groove.
Carl Valeri – 6. 5
Alongside being a huge presence in the first half, Valeri was the man who found Besart Berisha in space for the game’s first goal. He faded in the second half and was the first Victory player to misfire in the shootout.
James Troisi – 6.5
Kept things ticking over for Victory in the first half and almost won the game in the 106th minute with a vicious volley only for the woodwork to deny him. He missed a big chance to restore Victory’s advantage in regular time when he skied a cut-back from Marco Rojas in the box.
Fahid Ben Khalfallah – 6.5
A menace down the wing in the first half, Ben Khalfallah drew fouls and created plenty of chances – including one delightful free kick that found Rojas in space near Sydney’s box that the winger should have made more of. Was a peripheral figure in the second half before being subbed off in extra time.
Marco Rojas – 5.5
Found himself in space regularly in both halves of regular time but there was a real lack of end product from the Kiwi winger. He did produce one big chance in the second half that Troisi should have put in the back of the net to restore Victory’s lead.
Besart Berisha – 8
Is there a more reliable performer come A-League grand final time? The Melbourne Victory striker managed to find space between Sydney’s two centre-backs to score the opener and spent the rest of the first half getting under their skin. Momentarily managed to keep Victory’s one-goal advantage alive with the most desperate of goal line clearances but was otherwise shut down in the second half.
Substitutes
Jai Ingham – 5
Substituted on for Ben Khalfallah, Ingham managed to pick up a yellow card in his 19 minutes on the pitch. He also managed one dangerous run into the box in the game’s dying moments that was only ended by a brilliant tackle from Wilkinson.
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