Sydney has snatched the Premiers’ Plate from Melbourne’s grasp with a 2-0 win at the Sydney Football Stadium to finish top of the Hyundai A-League table by one point.
Sydney has snatched the Premiers’ Plate from Melbourne’s grasp with a 2-0 win at the Sydney Football Stadium to finish top of the Hyundai A-League table by one point.
However, Melbourne won’t have to wait long to get its chance at revenge with the teams to meet in the first leg of the major semi-final at Etihad Stadium on Thursday night.
Sydney leapfrogged Melbourne on the table thanks to two cracking goals. Karol Kisel gave the Sky Blues the lead on 34 minutes before John Aloisi sealed the win with his ninth of the season in the 49th minute in front of a crowd of 25,407.
While the premiership may have eluded Melbourne this season, the bigger picture, the championship, remains firmly in focus with skipper Kevin Muscat set to return for the first final on Thursday.
Melbourne had more chances to score in the first half, including a shot from Robbie Kruse which was blocked inside the first minute. Its best opportunity of the half fell to Nick Ward on nine minutes, when he played an excellent one-two with Nik Mrdja and was then one-on-one with Clint Bolton but couldn’t get his shot on target.
Sydney lost skipper Steve Corica on 17 minutes to a hamstring injury and Victory looked to take advantage with Simon Colosimo’s block enough to thwart Kruse again, while Mrdja, who was caught offside on multiple occasions, shot well over and then hit an effort straight at Bolton.
The Sky Blues’ opening goal came out of the blue after Alex Brosque intercepted a Melbourne throw-in. His header sat up invitingly for Kisel, who struck a looping 30-yard shot which Mitch Langerak had no chance of stopping.
Stung into action by the goal, Melbourne looked for quick reply and Kruse, the visitors’ most dangerous in attack in the first 45 minutes, hit a long shot which require a good save from a busy Sydney keeper.
But four minutes into the second half, Sydney had a 2-0 lead when Melbourne turned over the ball and the ball was played to Aloisi. He charged through the middle of the park and was invited to shoot before unleashing a brilliant long shot which gave Langerak no hope.
The visitors came within inches of pulling one back just short of the hour when Mrdja hit the woodwork. Shorty after Surat Sukha replaced Marvin Angulo as Melbourne looked to change things up.
Rody Vargas had a chance from a corner and the defender headed wide as Sydney went close through Brosque and Aloisi. As a measure of last resort, Ernie Merrick brought Nathan Elasi on for Nick Ward.
Kruse departed with an ankle injury, to be replaced by Mathew Foschini in the final 10 minutes, and when Hernandez’s shot was blocked by Bolton, it was clear it wasn’t to be Melbourne’s day.
Sydney FC 2 (Kisel 34, Aloisi 49)
Melbourne Victory 0
Crowd: 25.407 at the Sydney Football Stadium
