Dynasty-hunting Melbourne City have returned to their irresistible best to charge to a 4-0 rout of 10-man Sydney FC and power into a fourth consecutive A-League Men grand final high on confidence.
Friday’s semi-final tie was locked at 1-1 from the first leg and after Sydney’s Max Burgess was sent off in the 20th minute, Curtis Good’s 37th-minute header and Jack Rodwell’s 59th-minute own goal sent City on their way at AAMI Park.
Marco Tilio added a third in the 67th minute while Richard van der Venne looped a fourth home in the 82nd to seal a 5-1 win on aggregate and a shot at a premiership-championship double.
Rado Vidosic’s City will play either Central Coast or Adelaide United, who play on Saturday night, in the June 3 decider at CommBank Stadium.
City have won the past three premiers plates and also claimed the championship in 2020-21.
“We did not play as well as we wished to play in Sydney and we had a good week of preparation,” Vidosic told reporters.
“We identified what we didn’t do well, we made some changes, brought some speed, brought some fresh legs and I think that was the key for us.
“We were a little bit more patient in the build-up, we kept the ball for a little bit longer, forced them to defend deeper in numbers.
“They played a lot of long goal kicks, we won most of them so there was a constant pressure on them.
“Defensively we were much, much better today than we were last Friday and we created more than enough chances – there could have been more goals.”
The home side regained the excellent Aiden O’Neill and recalled Andrew Nabbout and Thomas Lam while Sydney winger Robert Mak didn’t travel and was replaced by youngster Adrian Segecic.
With Socceroos coach Graham Arnold watching, the game opened up when Burgess recklessly slid in on Marco Tilio, sinking his studs into the winger’s calf.
Referee Shaun Evans initially only booked Burgess but after a VAR review, upgraded the yellow card to a straight red.
“That was the turning point,” Sydney coach Steve Corica said.
“We tried to see the half out at 0-0, then we conceded at the set piece which obviously killed us.
“I just walked in and he (Burgess) apologised. He let the team down obviously, getting sent off.
“It’s difficult with 10 men so it’s more that he needs to apologise to the boys.”
Corica also lamented O’Neill not receiving any card for catching Luke Brattan in the face with his elbow early in the second half.
The defeat ends Sydney’s up-and-down season, where they started slowly and piled pressure on Corica, but finished fifth and won an elimination final.
“From the halfway mark we’ve probably been the second-best team. We picked up two points less than City from the halfway mark,” Corica said.
“That’s our first loss in eight games, so it showed how good we were towards the back end of the season.”
At work
Roar Rookie
Gone! :stoked: Time for Santo to say thanks for your service Stevie, but we need to move in a new direction.
Grem
Roar Rookie
And the coach?
At work
Roar Rookie
Both of our seasons were largely irrelevant. Sydney don't know how to play under Corica and finishing a game away from the GF just masked the generally abysmal season. Corica should be sacked a year early on his contract. WSW should have done better, but then again the teams that finished 2rd, 3rd & 4th were very tight on the ladder. Overall a slightly below average season probably for the squad they had. Rudan seems a much better player manager, more engaging with the players, but does he produce good football?? Who knows, will leave that for the supporters.
At work
Roar Rookie
Here’s what I hope happens: Goalkeeper: Time to replace Redmayne, although this might not need to be a high priority. Defence: Wilko to retire, keep Rodwell but sign a solid CB as we can’t rely on Rodwell. Plus we should start giving Gurd some minutes. We need a new left back and as much as it pains me a new right back (sorry club legend Grant). Midfield: Time to let Bratten go, he’s too slow and predictable with his diagonal balls. Caceras needs to either get consistency or be let go. Retre can stay on but as a substitute only. Burgess is pretty good, but we shouldn’t be relying on him. Forwards: We need a fresh striker as we can’t rely on Alfie anymore, he’s too old. I’d keep Mak and Lolley if they want to stay.
JoshW
Roar Rookie
Yes. That brings games to the Central Coast on the odd occasion.
Christo the Daddyo
Roar Rookie
Wow - 9k for an A League semi-final with teams from the two biggest cities in the country.
Para+Ten ISUZU Subway support Australian Football
Roar Rookie
Why would you want to play in the EPL, when you can play in the best comp in the world, the ALM? :happy:
Limo
Roar Rookie
Hope Mariners win grand final
Limo
Roar Rookie
Sydney FC need to replace Corica with a proper coach..why not Nick Montgomery or a successful coach from south America. We also need a major rebuild with a replacement for Wilkinson at least 2 new midfielder and a new striker to support Alfie.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
Elbow to the face is not a legal football challenge its a send off like when Grella got sent off against Japan. Even Harper said it was a yellow minimum, your just completely deluded.
Redcap
Roar Guru
Explaining rugby league is hard enough, explaining Victor Radley is impossible. :happy:
Stevo
Roar Rookie
I agree on both points. Brattan just experienced the force of a legal football collision, that's it. Corica comes across as a kn0b. There is little light and shade in his comments or even acknowledgement that the better side one. Just whinging.
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
I reckon he will get game time, and JA will be a good influence on him
Football is Life
Roar Rookie
The point I was trying to make was that it's the tone, the articulation of the Corica, he has no diplomacy, he has not subtlety like other managers and it's quite unpalatable.
Stevo
Roar Rookie
"But no, he seems bereft of the cerebral horsepower that enables cognisant self-control." Wow :laughing: I think Brattan was caught unaware that O'Neill was going to back into him, full body. This took me back years ago when I was playing lunchtime football for fun and exercise. A tall lanky pom turned up one day, I think he played semi-pro in the UK. You could tell that he knew the game and there was a moment when he was shielding the ball and I was coming towards him from behind. Be basically stuck his bottom out and collected my stomach - I felt like I'd been punched by a boxer. After I collected myself and got my breath back, I told him in no uncertain terms that we weren't playing for sheep stations but just for fun and that he could take his semi-pro f..g antics elsewhere. He didn't come to many games, maybe he thought we were soft Aussie no-hopers :silly:
Grem
Roar Rookie
Don’t forget the Roarer’s own live feed for tonight’s game on this week’s tips and predictions - should be a GREAT game.
Grem
Roar Rookie
Have them both on and combine with Goodwin. Do a Rado Vidisic and have them all on at the start.
Grem
Roar Rookie
Wishful thinking about Soutter, what about Sainsbury? Not young , but not old and he was good. I’d love to see a marquee 10 - Ninkovic standard.
Grem
Roar Rookie
It should have been a bigger broom for this season, but a clean up/freshen up is needed. Keep a good corr of talent and experience and add more talent and YOUTH.
Grem
Roar Rookie
I haven’t heard that about Burgess. If that’s true then that is a poor piece of management. I also think it’s time for a change.