Despite everything 2020 has thrown at us, last night’s epic A-League grand final was another reminder that the best thing the competition has got going for it is the football on the pitch.
Rhyan Grant’s first ever goal for Sydney FC was a tap-in against the Central Coast Mariners in a game better remembered for an outrageous dive from Patricio Perez – remember him?
But it’s safe to say Grant’s latest strike for the Sky Blues was his most dramatic yet.
Where do you even start with Sydney FC’s 1-0 win over Melbourne City last night, in what was an enthralling contest in which both sides threw absolutely everything at each other?
Sadly, but all too predictably when it comes to the A-League, with the VAR.
Let’s settle a bet right now. Who wants Video Assistant Referees in the A-League?
Certainly not the fans, who make it crystal clear across multiple social media channels that they’re against employing video replays.
There aren’t many journos who seem to be in favour of it either, even if the Fox Sports party line seems to be to consistently talk up the technology.
But what about the clubs? Because it was Wellington Phoenix who broke ranks a few weeks ago in suggesting they’d have benefited if VAR was still in use before the finals, and I reckon there’ll be more than a few coaches who prefer the clinical certainty of video assistance.
Would Erick Mombaerts? The inscrutable Frenchman didn’t even celebrate when Harrison Delbridge drove home in the 18th minute, having seemingly realised the goal would be chalked off for interference after an offside Lachie Wales wandered across Andrew Redmayne’s line of sight.
Should the goal have stood? The letter of the law – if not the spirit of the game – probably says it shouldn’t.
But then the Sky Blues looked like they were desperately unlucky not to have earned a penalty when Adam Le Fondre was up-ended by Curtis Good shortly before the half-hour mark, only for referee Chris Beath to wave away appeals for a spot-kick – a decision upheld by VAR.
The English striker still had a bit to do for the ball to find the back of the net – perhaps that’s why he went down so theatrically – but it doesn’t feel like a stretch to suggest the score could have been locked at 1-1 at the break.
After that, it always seemed like a moment of quality would settle the match, if only because City goalkeeper Tom Glover was looking unbeatable at one end.
Little wonder it took a game-breaking pass from Luke Brattan to bust open the contest in extra-time, and there was nothing Glover could to do to prevent the indefatigable Grant from literally chesting the ball home.
Sydney FC now stand alone in the annals of Australian football history after claiming their fifth championship, and you’d be hard-pressed to find anyone claim they didn’t deserve it.
The Sky Blues were the best team throughout this pandemic-prolonged season and they stood up when it counted in the finals.
(Speed Media/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
But Melbourne City and a potentially on-the-move Mombaerts deserve plenty of credit for their outstanding campaign too. They were the one team who looked like they could take the game to Sydney FC and they proved as much on the night.
While we’re doling out the congratulations, every player and backroom member of staff warrants praise for turning up and keeping the show going during a period of unprecedented upheaval.
Those who’ve taken time away from loved ones to keep us entertained deserve our genuine gratitude.
Because for all the noise around salary caps and broadcast deals and calendars and whatever else, last night’s gripping encounter was another reminder that where the A-League still shines is on the pitch.
That’s a sentiment worth celebrating, in a year from hell in which it looked like we may have had no grand final at all.
Evan Askew
Guest
Before the Covid I would describe our club teams in Asia as eqivalent to the level of Portugal or Netherlands in Europe. I say that because we have had one team win the competition and another get to the final. Plus a few others get beyond the group stage. (Newcastle, Sydney FC, Melbourne VIctory and Central Coast Mariners) With lower budgets we are probably going to slip down to Croatian or Serbian clubs who are no longer in the running for European finals. (Different before the fall of the iron curtain)
Grem
Roar Rookie
I knew there were some exemptions but they need to be bigger. As I wrote players like Ryan Grant (10 years) should be paid outside the cap. We need more long term players at all clubs.
Squizz
Roar Rookie
Yes Mike I do remember Patricio Perez and the way he was hounded out of Australia. Liam Reddy tried to trip him once, which Perez avoided but changed his centre of gravity. Reddy then tripped him with his other hand. That sounds like "Tripping or attempting to trip an opponent" - in fact he did it twice. If Perez hadn't have been tripped he had a tap-in so you can also add denying a goal-scoring opportunity. The fact that Reddy's sanction was overturned and Perez outed was a disgrace. What is more a disgrace is that no-one since Perez has been sanctioned since that first weekend. In the meantime Del Piero, Broich and Berisha and many others should have been sanctioned many times for simulation.
IJ
Roar Rookie
A big questionmark is what kind of a team SFC will have for the ACL. With the reduced income from Fox, our clubs are likely to fall well short of even rudimentary competitiveness in Asia, which is pretty much where we were before all this.
Griffo
Roar Guru
City should have their heads up after this game: this wasn't a choke or a weak performance by any means. City came out hard and had Sydney pegged back a little early - making Grant hang back a little took the pressure off that side highlighted this - but as the game wore on one thing became apparent: Sydney's bench is quality and deep, something which City suffered from late game as both teams emptied the pine. Both keepers had good games, especially Tom Glover who kept City in the game to allow his forwards the opportunity to level. This is where Noone would have frustrated me as a fan: good positions and ball in the box but one too many touches destroyed the slim chances he had throughout the game. And McClaren was kept quiet as Sydney midfield turned the screws, their quality subs even more so, and began to peg back City's defence, allowing Grant to overlap and bomb forward as the game wore on. Easily Curtis Good and Glover could have earnt the Marston Medal - perhaps they would have if City won - but hard to go past Grant's influence. Grand Finals: nothing wrong with them when all is said, for the 43rd edition ;-)
Sean
Guest
Exactly this.. and for home grown players who come through the youth system. This is where Sydney FC have been smart with roster management, committing to a recruitment plan, trying to keep their squad largely consistent, and developing from within. https://www.a-league.com.au/salary-cap-system: "Homegrown Players – A Club can spend an unlimited amount on 4 Australian Players aged 23 or younger that have come through the Club’s youth system; Loyalty Players – A Club can spend an unlimited amount across any number of Players that have given 4 or more consecutive seasons of service to the Club. A portion of a Loyalty Player’s contract value is excluded from the Salary Cap based on a progressive scale;" More reading here: https://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/how-sydney-fc-squeezed-marquee-barbarouses-inside-the-salary-cap-20190607-p51vky.html
Tom
Guest
There already are cap exemptions for loyalty players
Nick Symonds
Guest
I wonder why it wasn't on the earlier report. Did someone hit the wrong button and lose the footage?
Stevo
Roar Rookie
Transfer fees is the answer. If you develop players then you should be allowed to sell them - for a good price. That way there is incentive to develop talent and you know that you'll be rewarded.
Poldark
Roar Rookie
ABC 7pm news have just had fairly long report of Sydney’s win in their sport segment.
Mark.
Roar Rookie
You’re the brainless one. Wales didn’t have a great game but he’s been fantastic this season. All you’re doing is showing your ignorance.
Nick Symonds
Guest
Not long ago, I watched the sport section on ABC News 24 and they covered a number of sports with the first topic being the AFL, then the Rugby Championship, then Ellie Carpenter at Lyon, then putting in the PGA and then a couple of other things. The A-League Grand Final broadcast on ABC's third channel was never even mentioned. #theinvisiblegame
Nick Symonds
Guest
How's this for a photo from the longest ever season: https://www.ftbl.com.au/gallery/ranked-the-best-photos-from-the-longest-ever-a-league-season-552645/page14
chris
Guest
The whole viewing market is fragmented and yet here we are in 2020 still using OzTam as the gospel figures for who is watching what. Even those numbers show the major trend is down when it comes to viewing sport on FTA and Fox. If anyone thinks that the A-League is doomed and their sport remains untouched is living a in fools paradise. The A-League may well be the canary in the coal mine. But not for the sport, but how people consume it.
Harry Selassie
Roar Rookie
I thought it was an entertaining final, pretty close game with Sydney after the first half hour having a little better of the play. Caceres and Glover look like good players but Sydney just know how to win close matches. And Corica, 2 seasons as coach, 2 Grand Finals won. Been a golden era for Sydney but next season it may be difficult to win a 3rd title with their aging team.
Buddy
Roar Rookie
sounds like a headline based on hearing a rumour rather than seeing the actual facts of the matter - fun though.
AndyAdelaide
Roar Rookie
"other clubs need to chase more sponsors, make more astute purchases, develop and keep their youth players and try to raise their level just like Sydney needed to to catch The Victory and The Roar a few years ago" lets use adelaide as an example shall we. more sponsors? we live in a small city that is dominated by AFL, our sponsorship wouldn't exceed $200,000 (your front of shirt sponsor is worth more than all our sponsor combined) more astute purchases? thats a bit hard to do when the owner wont let you splash the cash and we're working with a tight budget (much like more than half the league) develope and keep the youth you say? thats what we do each year because we cant compete finanically in a salary cap league with your sydneys and melbournes. Our best youth are constatly poached each year by other teams because we cant afford to keep them. We have got the best young african australian players in this league and i could almost guarantee you they'll be gone in less than 2 years. (not to mention our other youngsters & mcgree will be off after the seaon he had to) all your points can easily be shot down, because this salary cap league is not fair. it never has been and never will be
AxeMaster
Roar Rookie
Sorry to burst your bubble there Mike but the G.F showed the lack of basic passing and goal shooting skills that a lot of these A-League players possess. ie: Wales from City, easily my pick for moron of the evening, skill less and brainless to match. This game was the perfect example of why extra time shouldn't even exist. Should go straight to penalties....why bore us with even more tedious crap for another half an hour. City deserved what they got in the end.....not even worthy of being runners up.
Punter
Roar Rookie
Haha!!!!
NoMates
Guest
Another dark day in the A League history with SFC winning again because of VAR and ref on there side. This is why the HAL is becoming stale and dire.