The best season of the A-League to date will conclude in the best possible fashion, as table toppers Western Sydney prepare to take on second place finishers Central Coast in the championship decider.
Far from being overawed by the occasion, the Wanderers seemed to relish running out in front of a sell-out crowd on Friday night, taking the game to defending champions Brisbane Roar from the outset.
They dominated the first half and took a deserved lead through a Dino Kresinger back-heel, as the hulking striker stunned everyone by flicking Mark Bridge’s drilled effort straight into the back of the net.
Whether Kresinger remains in coach Tony Popovic’s long-term plans remains to be seen, but the burly Croatian has become a cult hero in Parramatta and it was wonderful to see the veteran striker celebrate his unexpected goal in front of so many fans.
As good as Kresinger’s goal was, it wasn’t quite of the same calibre as Shinji Ono’s deft chip to settle the match.
It was interesting to see Alessandro Del Piero pick up the Football Media Association’s player of the year award, because as pivotal as Del Piero was for Sydney FC – who at times resembled a one-man team – the Italian was nevertheless unable to fire his side into the finals.
Surely that’s the major difference between Ono and Del Piero’s contributions this season? When the Italian was doing the media rounds to offer his thoughts on the season, Ono was on the field letting his football do the talking for him.
He surely deserves to come into contention for tonight’s Johnny Warren Medal award, though most of the money is on Del Piero to collect the major prize.
Daniel McBreen is another who deserves some recognition for his contributions this season, and his left-foot rocket to settle yesterday’s semi-final against Melbourne Victory was perhaps his finest goal of the season.
It’s fitting the Mariners have made it through – although a Wanderers versus Victory grand final would have made for incredible spectacle – because the Gosford side were perhaps the most consistent outfit in the league this season.
They certainly weren’t a markedly inferior side to the Wanderers, so the grand final will be a genuine decider of who the best team in the A-League truly is.
Sadly neither Wanderers winger Youssouf Hersi nor Mariners midfielder Nick Montgomery will feature, after the pair collected red cards in their respective semi-final victories.
The Wanderers have never lost with Hersi in the side, so perhaps that’s somewhat of an omen going into the biggest game in Western Sydney’s short history.
Their fans will pack into the home of city rivals Sydney FC at Moore Park, with Allianz Stadium set to be a sea of red and black on the big day.
It’s an ideal scnenario for Football Federation Australia, who can rest easy knowing a sell-out crowd of more than 40,000 fans will descend on the venue.
That will of course include a large contingent of Mariners supporters, though they’ll be heavily outnumbered at the decider.
And Central Coast will be looking to end the Wanderers’ so-called ‘fairytale’ run, as the two best sides in the A-League prepare to go head to head in a dream finale to what has been an astonishing season of football.
AZ_RBB
Guest
yet another fight for tickets this morning. i only needed to get 1 ticket so it wasn't too bad. but others trying to get 2 or 3 at a time had to get on at 9am. i know SCG/SFS members pay a lot of money to get their benefits but it would be a terribe sight if there are thousands of empty seats when people desperate for tickets couldn't get any. there 6700 members.....they would be stupid to miss this occasion or at least give it to a CCM or WSW fan.
Cameron
Roar Guru
Adrian Zahra, I wonder if he got over it?? Didn't he break his leg? His career didn't just end in disgrace, it was a disgrace! How is Matty Holmes going too? Did he get over it? I don't know why you're telling me too get over it, there's nothing for me to get over. Just muscat and players he caused pain on. I can't believe you would even bother trying to divert my attention away. All you did was make it worse! But you fight the long fight! Let me know how it goes. :)
Paul
Guest
Whose career ended in disgrace. Get over it.
Cameron
Roar Guru
Fuss, I'm sure you got a great breakdown through twitter but if you want it all, just have a look at my Facebook page..feel free :) I think I did a nice wrap on Rojas and great commentary for tonight :D
j binnie
Guest
Fuss - No argument about your logic but if someone in a potential sponsors office doesn't get that pointed out to them the series is still showing an increase of 20% over last year !!!!!!!!. You know my thoughts on how the WSW & ADP factors have contributed to the HAL "growth" but unfortunately?????? ADP did not make the finals series for, if they had, I don't doubt the increase shown would have been much gereater.Your mate jb
ciudadmarron
Guest
I keep reading about how the atmosphere at Wanderland threatens to over-awe the players... but they've been playing there all season! If anything, a quiet place would spook the squad you'd think...
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
BREAKING NEWS... MVFC's young star, Marco Rojas has won the Johnny Warren Medal, which is the Players' Choice for Best Player in the A-League. Marco becomes the 1st player to win the Double - Young Player of the Year & JW Medal since Mark Viduka nearly 20 years ago.
Mike Tuckerman
Expert
What utter rubbish. I made a prediction on the outcome of a sudden-death knock-out final, and my prediction was wrong. If you want to misconstrue that as me implying the Wanderers are "not good enough" for a grand final when that was clearly not what I meant, then knock yourself out.
AZ_RBB
Guest
i say it's making the others look bad because they're doing well and drawing the crowds. other teams namely CCM and Adelaide are also doing well but struggling to draw the crowds. i know you don't agree but the Victory finals crowd was a let down as well. i know it clashed with a major AFL match but WSW semi clashed with a very heavily promoted grudge match between Dogs and Roosters. i'm fully expecting crowd numbers to drop once the effects of the salary cap and Asia kick in and the team starts to lose more often. that's why i don't support this push for an instant expansion of Parra Stadium. would rather keep it as it is and move derbies and finals to Olympic Stadium. WSW will have a minimum of 8000 members next season. wouldn't be surprised to see it hit 10 000. with a high percentage of those fully ticketed, average crowds will remain in 5 digits regardless of any second season syndromes.
nickoldschool
Roar Guru
When you predicted they would loose vs Brisbane. Loss = not good enough to qualify for the final. "And when it comes to tonight’s clash, I think the Roar will prove too strong. They’ll win 2-1 with Besart Berisha bagging a brace. You read it here first.
Titus
Guest
Even though SFC games were the highest rating and they had the second highest average despite not making the finals? I suspect the dream final is SFC vs WSW at Homebush.
Ballymore
Guest
"Brisbane fans actually expected Brisbane to win against WSW". Which fans? Name and shame please. I think I said "I'm hopeful rather than confident" and that seemed to be vaguely the concenus.
yewonk
Guest
i dont think anyone is going to take up the drive by thing
Mike Tuckerman
Expert
When did I ever say Western Sydney were "not good enough for a grand final?"
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
@AZ_RBB I probably should have said, all the clubs should aim for these levels in Finals. Based on the crowds for CCM this year & CCMvMVFC a few weeks ago, I wasn't expecting 15k last night but I want CCM to strive to achieve this for finals. "i think WSW and its capacity crowds are making the rest of the competition look bad." Let's not make stuff up. WSW crowds were dismal until WSW started winning. 5 of WSW home crowds were less than 10k, which is acceptable in Yr1, but would be totally unacceptable moving forward. When WSW start losing matches & finishing mid-table ... that's when the true loyalty of fans will be evident. Will they all still be singing for Wanderers?
nickoldschool
Roar Guru
had the same reaction. On Friday WSW is not good enough for a grand final but 3 days later will take part in 'the dream final'. good laugh.
AZ_RBB
Guest
Fuss you said just a few comments ago that you expect all teams except the big ones to get 15 000 + to their finals and there's no excuse for getting less. but you have no issue with CCM getting 10 800? for 10 800 to turn up to an event in a small town like Gosford isn't too bad at all. but to get a crowd marginally higher than your season average is a little disappointing. you shouldn't need to depend on away fans to fill your seats. i think WSW and its capacity crowds are making the rest of the competition look bad. when they start moving big games to the Olympic Stadium that's when we'll see the true potential and reach of this club. first Sydney derby should get 50 000 comfortably.
AZ_RBB
Guest
there's open training tomorrow 10am in Blacktown. street parade on tuesday 23rd at 12:30 down church st.
Cameron
Roar Guru
Enjoy Mid!
midfielder
Guest
Just got my tickets from the sunshine coast ... Despite all the slander about our crowds we are the most underrated with little respect .. but come on y y......bring on the rbb......