Sometimes the best nights turn out nothing like you’d planned. A chance happening, a change of circumstances, an unscripted turn of events can make what was going to be a quiet one into a belter – destined to be remembered for years and years.

And so it was for the A-League on Saturday night – the competition turning on the most epic grand final in its five-year history.

But no-one saw what was coming, how it would unfold, or how it will be remembered.

It started with anti-climax as the game’s most likely hero Archie Thompson buckled his knee after just 12 minutes.

It meandered – and was at times dire – for nearly an hour.

Then it exploded in a manic half-hour of frayed tempers, committed and often X-rated challenges, send-offs that weren’t, a goal that wasn’t, a goal that was, two goals that should have been, and a dramatic late equaliser.

Another half-hour of extra-time and a penalty shootout later, the only way the two teams could be separated was by the rarest of commodities – a missed Kevin Muscat penalty.

The Victory captain has missed one spot-kick in five years, but even managed to strike home the rebound on that occasion.

This time he hit the post. Even then Melbourne clambered back to restore equilibrium with Victory goalkeeper Mitch Langerak saving Shannon Cole’s spot-kick.

But Sydney goalkeeper Clint Bolton matched Langerak’s heroics, diving to deny Victory striker Marvin Angulo’s attempt. Sydney’s Byun Sung-Hwan banged home the decider.

Half an inch of metal post and the width of Bolton’s hand proved the differences.

The 2000 National Soccer League grand final – the extraordinary penalty shootout match won by Wollongong after they trailed Perth 3-0 at halftime – evokes awe in any who watched it.

The Sydney FC-Victory match is up there now, for different reasons. This was trench warfare with a ball used occasionally.

It was gripping, edge of the seat stuff, with as much physical intensity as any Australian footy grand final of any code.

The fledgling A-League now can boast a match of legend, a yardstick game for the ages.

The A-League may never win over the purists who unfairly compare it with the world’s best leagues, or those who decry it because Australia’s best players don’t play here.

But the grand final highlighted the competition’s great strength – close contests that can provide remarkable theatre.

AAP gh/jds

© AAP 2012

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