Melbourne City have won their third W-League title, defeating Sydney FC at Allianz Stadium on a sapping afternoon.
The best team in W-League history did it the hard way, coming from fourth position on the ladder yet took all before them in the semi-final series with wins against the minor premiers Brisbane and the consistent Sydney, who had not been beaten in three months.
Jess Fishlock was the key for the visitors with a goal in the first half after an error at the back from Sydney’s defence where the keeper was caught off the line. Fishlock chipped expertly and City held the lead into the break.
The lead was doubled in the second half from a free kick that Fishlock almost converted, only to see the Sydney keeper parry the ball onto the post. Jodie Taylor was nearby to convert the goal and the match was essentially over with the heat tiring the players and making expansive play difficult.
City ground out the game well and stifled the attacks of Sydney, eventually creating a few late chances of their own.
What a wonderful achievement for City, notching up three successive championships is an astonishing effort. Well played to Sydney who were gallant throughout the contest but 2018 belongs to Melbourne City FC.
Sydney FC 0
Melbourne City 2
Waz
Guest
Still can’t get over that non penalty last week lol. But yeah, if you want to “own” the season don’t finish 4th and take out the championship and, equally don’t take the Premiers Plate and not win the Chsmpionship. All the great sides do the double. Not one half of it.
hogdriller
Roar Rookie
"but 2018 belongs to Melbourne City FC" ......so Brisbane Roar Ladies winning the Premiership means for nothing? How the F do you figure 2018 belongs to MCFC when they finished 4th in the League? And lets not forget, the sledge on Sydney's goal keeper yesterday inside the box was completely ignored by the officials just like Brisbane's claims for a clear cut penalty last week was, both incidents would have changed the game if the officials had acted appropriately. No doubt M.C. played their game and deserved both wins with their strong performances but it wasn't all as clear cut as you or Fishlock seem to think, also fair to say a different referee may have though otherwise.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Perfect timing.
Nemesis
Guest
What was the crowd like? Well behaved. No drunks. No one bashed anyone because they can't hold their liquor. No one threw bananas at Indigenous players. No one had anti-Muslim banners. Basically the opposite to an AFL crowd.
Grobbelaar
Roar Guru
Footyindustry @footyindustryAU The W-league Grand Final attendance in Sydney was 6,025 at Allianz Stadium. This was up 21.7% on the 4,591 who attended nib Stadium in Perth for last seasons W-league decider. This is a new record for the W-league Grand Final. (previously held by 2016-17) 7:10 AM - Feb 19, 2018
Grobbelaar
Roar Guru
The keeper shouldn't have to be worrying about an opponent behind her, she gets knocked over, and usually, accidental or not, you can't knock over the keeper. The net was empty because an opponent knocked her over.
Grobbelaar
Roar Guru
It's a record, you can't ask for much more than to break the record.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
A couple of them were drinking Punter........disgraceful!
Stuart Thomas
Expert
I thought there might be a few more there Grobbelaar yet I didn't know what to expect really. Looked a good atmosphere though and certainly a nice game of football to watch despite the heat.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
I agree Wayne, for some reason the keeper darted right in an effort to stay in her area, even though she had let the ball go and thus initiated contact. Simon actually reaches back to the keeper in concern as she was trying to avoid her. One of those moments where incidental contact occurs.
Wayne
Roar Guru
Australian Sport has finals. BBL has same 1v4/2v3 format. The only alternative (keeping finals) is either a 1v2/3v4 format or 1v(2v3) format.
Wayne
Roar Guru
Watching it on replay, they justified it with the keeper ran into the City players line (rather than the City player taking out the GK). Blame could be assigned to Yemon-Dale for losing possession coming out of defence.
punter
Guest
They were fun & happy, no sign of violence.
Grobbelaar
Roar Guru
Record crowd for a W-League attendance today, going off memory, I think it was 6,025. Another win for women's sport in Australia.
Grobbelaar
Roar Guru
Clear foul, that first goal should not have been allowed. Usually the keepers are treated like sacred cows and you can't even breathe on them, so very strange that not one official saw anything wrong with the keeper getting bowled over from behind. Having said that, Fishlock did very well to neatly place it over the keeper into the empty net.
Cousin Claudio
Roar Guru
There are plenty of unused rectangular stadiums in Australia at this time of the year, particularly unused rugby grounds, so why did Victorian Rules throw their fiIthy AFLX money at Hindmarsh Stadium before an Adelaide A-League game and then Allianz Stadium the night before the A-League Womens’ grand final? Adelaide Oval and the Sydney Cricket Ground right next door, the Swans home ground, were available.
Waz
Guest
Congrats to City, undoubtedly a finals club in the W League. Coming from 4th to be crowned champions for the second season running though kinda brings the whole finals system in to question - they’re undoubtedly popular with fans and viewers but when they regularly throw up questionable champions it’s probably time to say goodbye to them.
jupiter53
Roar Pro
As you say Stuart the first goal came from an excellent shot from Fishlock with Sydney's keeper "caught off the line". However at the ground it looked as though a substantial contribution to this was a foul on Bledsoe knocking her to the ground as she initially cleared the ball. Cue calls around me for "VAR, VAR!" It was good to be part of a decent sized crowd. Melbourne City were certainly the better functioning team on the day, with Sydney not able to fill the substantial hole left by Caitlin Foord's injury last week. I always enjoy watching Teresa Polias; she was tremendous in the losing team.
anon
Roar Pro
What was the crowd like?