The 2017-18 premiers, Sydney FC, play their final regular season game at home, against fellow finalist Melbourne Victory. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog from 7:50pm (AEST).
After 27 less-than-memorable rounds of domestic football, we have a Big Blue that probably won’t have much impact on the season.
But it’s the Big Blue – it still means something.
With the premier’s plate won weeks ago, and their ACL campaign back on the up, Sydney are able to enjoy the last match, soak up the adulation of their achievement – they will be presented with the plate tonight – and prepare for their last ACL group match, as well as another finals stint.
Which brings us to Melbourne – how are they going to approach this game?
Kevin Muscat is nothing if not pugilistic, and a part of me can’t help but wonder if he would love the idea of spoiling the party.
However, Muscat is also shrewd. Grand final glory obviously hinges on beating the Sky Blues, so if you’ve got one chance to beat the unbeatable, are you going to go for the moral victory, or the win when it really matters: a grand final?
Also, you can’t help but feel that Victory don’t actually have that much to play for themselves. The top four is wrapped up, they’ll host a final, and it’s unlikely that even if they do win, City will slip up against Wellington to gift third spot to Victory.
Muscat will likely tell his players enjoy the game, don’t get injured, and save themselves for bigger events.
Of course, again, it’s the Big Blue. Kevin Muscat may well be telling his players: forget the season, forget finals, forget the table, let’s win this match, because the Big Blue matters.
Predition
While the Victory will take it right up to the premiers, It is all Sky Blue in the Big Blue.
Sydney FC 2-1.
Cousin Claudio
Roar Guru
Pip mate, more people watch the A-League than the Turkish Superlig, Croatian HNL, Greek Sper League, Ukranian Premier League, Czech Liga, Danish Superleague, Austrian Bundesliga, Swedish Super League, Polish Extraklassa League and the Swiss Super League, not to mention lots of other football leagues around the planet. That's fantastic for our little local national football league that barely has 2 dollars to its name. Great Stuff. The A-League is also shown live to every country in the world and every week 5 to 10 million people watch it. https://www.a-league.com.au/news/hyundai-a-league-201718-season-goes-truly-global Every week the A-League is watched by between 5 to 10 million viewers around the world. Football is a truly GLOBAL game, unlike some parochial suburban league. This article even estimates that up to 250 million people watch the A-League now; https://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/article/2015/10/13/leagues-global-coverage-expands That is AWESOME mate. absolutely awesome.
Betty B
Guest
of Europe? best you check an atlas cuz.
Buddy
Guest
The goal line clearance by Wilkinson was outstanding and just about summed up why the team has been head and shoulders above the rest for 2 seasons. I am not suggesting no other player could not have achieved that same feat, but he did it in a game that the sky blues could have fielded 11 juniors if they wanted. To me it summed up the drive, the passion and desire to be best at what they are doing.
Cousin Claudio
Roar Guru
CONGRATULATIONS SYDNEY FC and BOBO, the best team in the A-League this season and the best striker in the A-League ever. Let's get another Golden Toilet Seat boys and make the Ro16 in the Asian Champions League to cap off another great season. The A-League average attendance so far this season puts us in the top ten Football Leagues of Europe https://www.reddit.com/r/soccer/comments/5xvzjq/average_attendance_top_20_european_leagues/
BrainsTrust
Guest
If there was an opportunity to rest and rotate players for Sydney Fc this was it.
Stevo
Roar Rookie
Top four set now: SFC, Jets, City and Victory.
perry cox
Roar Guru
VAR cleared it.
perry cox
Roar Guru
Full Time Sydney FC have capped off yet another remarkable regular season with a solid, but still commanding, win over Melbourne Victory 1-nil. On a night when their regular season superiority was crowned with the presentation of the Premier's Plate, Sydney withstood an early Melbourne chance to capitalise themselves and take an early, and ultimately unassailable, lead. Besart Berisha looked like he was going to give the away side the perfect start, when he was incredibly onside, and rounded Andrew Redmayne. If not for a goal line challenge from Alex Wilkinson, Berisha would have opened the scoring. Though, despite Wilkinson's efforts, Berisha should have done better. Shortly after though, Sydney were up the other end, and Brendan O'Neill linked up with Milos Ninkovic, before O;Neill took a shot, for Bobo to get a decisive glance, and have the ball in the net. While Melbourne made some efforts throughout the rest of the half, Sydney maintained their lead. The second half did not live up to any great expectations. While Melbourne had the best of the chances, particularly Leroy George chipping Redmayne only to have that man Wilkinson clear on the line from the barest of margins, Melbourne never really looked like they would get anything from this game. And so, with the final result not in doubt, and the top 4 finalised, it was party mode in Sydney for the final four minutes of the match, as Sydney extended their lead over second place to 17 points, albeit with a game in hand. While neither team looked like they wanted to turn this into a battle, there were moments of entertainment, rather than 90 minutes of pulsating thrills. And so, Sydney lifted the Premier's Plate in front of their home crowd, to cap off a season of greatness, while Melbourne prepare to host, in all likelihood, Adelaide next Sunday to kick off the finals. Sydney, meanwhile, won't have too long to enjoy their first success, as they prepare not just for their next ACL match, but another shot at a championship. Sydney FC: 1 Melbourne Victory: 0
perry cox
Roar Guru
91' - 4 minutes of stoppage time. For what, exactly, I don't know. Sydney FC: 1 Melbourne Victory: 0
perry cox
Roar Guru
What a waste - George should have shot there, instead he just lobs it harmlessly into the arms of Redmayne.
perry cox
Roar Guru
89' - Melbourne with a chance here from a free kick. Can they salvage a point? George on the ball, anything is possible. Sydney FC: 1 Melbourne Victory: 0
Stevo
Roar Rookie
Big Kev demanded Beath give Bobo a yellow and he promptly did.
perry cox
Roar Guru
Yellow Card 84' - bobo with a card there for an earlier foul on George. It was rough, but Muscat thought that he had killed him. Somewhat ironic every time Muscat screams for a player to be carded, but there you go. Sydney FC: 1 Melbourne Victory: 0
perry cox
Roar Guru
83' - Melbourne trying to manufacture something here, Deng not giving up. Ball comes wide to Broxham, but the play breaks down as Mierzejewski cleans up. Williams tries to draw the foul, Beath ain't playin.g Sydney FC: 1 Melbourne Victory: 0
perry cox
Roar Guru
81' - We're into the last 10 minutes. Safe to say that this Big Blue hasn't reached any real heights? Can Melbourne produce the exciting finish? Sydney attacking here through ninkovic, links up with Retre. Sydney holding the ball. The cross comes ... wow, disappointing end, ball all the way out. Sydney FC: 1 Melbourne Victory: 0
perry cox
Roar Guru
79' - SUB: Warland on, Buijs off. Buijs was down before, and this time from a legitimate foul. What can Warland offer? Sydney FC: 1 Melbourne Victory: 0
perry cox
Roar Guru
77' - Berisha is filthy that he's off the field. Must be thinking about that chance he missed earlier. Melbourne on the attack again. Sydney FC: 1 Melbourne Victory: 0
perry cox
Roar Guru
76' - Berisha is offside, and he shoots in frustration. And that will be his last play for the night. SUB: Athiu on, Berisha off. Sydney FC: 1 Melbourne Victory: 0
perry cox
Roar Guru
75' - Sydney with a bit of the play here, Bobo is in the area, he cuts back, why, I don't know, but the ball can't find Mierzejewski, and is cut off. Why did Bobo not shoot? Melbourne counter. Sydney FC: 1 Melbourne Victory: 0
perry cox
Roar Guru
73' - Melbourne back on the attack. Redmayne bobbles the ball, Berisha comes in for it, but Redmayne snatches it back again. From that man George again. Sydney FC: 1 Melbourne Victory: 0