[VIDEO] Melbourne Victory vs Sydney FC highlights: A-League Grand Final live scores, blog

Match result

Full time: Melbourne Victory 3 – 0 Sydney FC.

Melbourne Victory are the champions!

Sydney FC’s excellent away record could not have ended at a worse time.

Victory dominated the game from top to bottom, and Sydney only had two real chances all game!

Victory have defended brilliantly, and Sydney have struggled to keep possession at every turn.

Berisha earned himself a yellow card for an accidental elbow on Jurman, which cut him and has forced to wear a bandage on his head for the remainder of the game.

Ansell copped one on the nose to shortly after, leaving both teams literally spilling blood for the shield.

Victory’s efforts were finally rewarded, a little bit of genius from Berisha saw Victory go up by one, and despite the goal, tehy continued to press.

Faty came off injured, but Grant has been solid as his replacement despite getting himself yellow carded for a clumsy foul on Khalfallah.

Sydney’s only real chance came late, but they were kept out by Thomas, who has been a spectator for most of the game.
Melbourne started the second half the same way they did the first, complete domination.

Melbourne were rewarded once again, and this time it was Barbarouses who found the net!

Sydney started to press more and more but they could not get a rhythm going. Melbourne continued to dominate.

Carl Valeri then got himself sent off late in the game for kicking the ball away, receiving two yellow cards, and a sliver of light was seen by Sydney.

That was quickly shadowed by Khalfallah who made a darting run late on and set up Broxham for Victory to go up by three.

Dominant from start to finish, clearly deserving winners, Melbourne Victory are champions for the third time!

The final score at AAMI Park in the A-League Grand Final is Melbourne Victory 3, Sydney FC 0

MATCH PREVIEW

The A-League grand final sees two rivals yet to beat each other this season lock horns for the biggest prize in the league, as Melbourne Victory take on Sydney FC from AAMI Park in Melbourne. Join The Roar from 4:00pm (AEST) for live scores and commentary.

Victory are coming off four impressive wins in a row, the most recent their semi-final derby against Melbourne City where they dismantled their Victorian rivals 3-nil.

With players like Besart Berisha, Mark Milligan and Fahid Ben Khalfallah firing on all cylinders, the most consistent side in the A-League this season will be more than confident that they can send the Sky Blues back home to Sydney empty handed.

The final could also mean an end to Archie Thompson’s contributions to Melbourne Victory. The club legend has represented Victory since the debut season of the A-League, but has made it clear that he is ready to move on if he is no longer needed, and is open to relocating to cross-town rivals Melbourne City.

“I am open to anything. I want to keep playing football, I am still performing, I still feel good, I still feel like I have a lot to contribute to any club. My main focus at the moment is doing a number on Sydney on Sunday,” the league’s all-time leading goal-scorer said.

After coming agonisingly close to the minor premiership, Sydney FC do not want to end up in second place again.

Graham Arnold’s men are coming off a 4-1 domination of Adelaide United, in a game where they scored both early and late in each half to prove they are a side that never stop working.

Victory’s forwards aren’t the only ones who are firing, Sydney striker Marc Janko has netted 16 times this A-League campaign, and the 2014-15 season golden boot winner will be looking to add to his tally in the biggest game on the Australian club calendar.

The in-form Alex Brosque has also had a great season, the Sydney skipper believes that the final will come down to individual brilliance, and he will be looking to provide the magic moment:

“I think it will be over in 90 minutes, the past couple of weeks, and having scored a few goals, all that does is give me confidence to go out and try things that I probably wouldn’t if I wasn’t as confident.”

Prediction
The last four meetings between these two sides ended in draws, and the last two meetings were highly entertaining fixtures that ended 3-all. Expect another intense fixture that will go the entire distance.

Melbourne Victory 1 – 1 Sydney FC, Melbourne to win 5-4 on penalties.

Will it be Melbourne Victory or Sydney FC that take home the shield? Join us on The Roar from 4pm (AEST) for live scores and commentary of the A-League grand final.