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Melbourne Victory booked a third A-League grand final berth as Archie Thompson returned from injury to seal a controversial extra-time win over Sydney FC in their major semi-final on Sunday.
Substitute Thompson netted a 113th-minute winner at the Sydney Football Stadium to seal a 4-3 aggregate win after the second leg had finished 2-1, a reversed scoreline from the first leg at Etihad Stadium.
The striker’s goal ensured Melbourne will host the grand final in a fortnight at Etihad Stadium, while Sydney must now play Wellington at home next Saturday, after the Phoenix also prevailed in extra time in their 3-1 minor semi-final win over Newcastle earlier on Sunday.
Reigning champions Melbourne now have the chance to shoot for a third title in just six seasons of the the A-League.
“The boys deserved that,” Victory captain Kevin Muscat said.
“There was an underlying hunger (that) we wanted to go back to Melbourne and play the grand final in front of the best fans in the country.
“Now it gives us the best chance of being successful in that grand final, having it at home.”
Victory striker Robbie Kruse, also back from injury, had scored a stunning opener before a Karol Kisel penalty gave Sydney hope and Mark Bridge scored on his return from a toe problem to send the game into extra time.
Melbourne’s winner came in controversial circumstances, with Thompson’s goal coming deep into extra time following a quickly-taken Kevin Muscat free-kick that perhaps should not have been awarded.
Referee Stebre Delovski penalised Sydney’s Terry McFlynn for handball just outside the box, but replays showed the ball came off the midfielder’s head.
Muscat quickly took the ensuing free kick and played it into Thompson’s path to slot home, leaving Sydney players frustrated on several accounts.
“It’s disappointing because speaking to the players … they said it wasn’t a free kick,” Sydney FC captain John Aloisi said.
“And it was a bit disappointing because we’ve spoken before about how they play quick free kicks and we should make sure we’re switched on.”
It was a cruel blow to Sydney, who had fought back from a goal down to square the tie in front of 23,818 fans, and their ‘keeper Clint Bolton, who made a string of brilliant saves to keep them in the match.
Kruse’s curling 25-metre strike in the 15th minute was one of the goals of the season, and remarkable given it was feared his ankle was broken after hurting it against Sydney in the final round of the regular season.
The return of both Kruse and Thompson, who was out for more than a month with a broken bone in his foot, was a huge factor for the Victory, with Thompson coming on in the 65th minute to replace his strike partner.
Merrick said the two weeks before the grand final would allow them to recover fully, but hinted they would play a part in the Victory’s Asian Champions League match against Seongnam Ilhwa in Melbourne on Tuesday night.
Earlier, the Phoenix moved to within one win of an historic grand final berth after star striker Paul Ifill inspired them to a 3-1 extra-time win in front of 32,792 fans at Westpac Stadium.
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