Ten man Sydney FC have gone down 4-0 to A-League Premiers Melbourne City at AAMI Park and 5-1 on aggregate in the second leg of the semi final after a Curtis Good header and a Jack Rodwell own goal did the damage.
A first half red card to Max Burgess gave City a man advantage and they were able to make it count.
They will head into the Grand Final where they will face either Central Coast Mariners or Adelaide United.
Sydney FC 0 def. by Melbourne City 4 (Good 36’, Rodwell own goal 59’, Tilio 67’, Van Der Venne 82’) (1-4 on aggregate)
Moments That Mattered
BURGESS SENT OFF – 20’- Burgess slides in with his studs raised and catches Tilio late and is sent off following a VAR review.
MACLAREN HITS POST – 28’ – Berisha’s right wing free-kick is flicked on by Maclaren at the near post and hits the far post.
REDMAYNE SAVE – 34’ – A ball to the back post finds Leckie who shoots from close range but Redmayne is down to block well.
GOOD GOAL – 36’ – A right wing corner finds the head of Curtis Good who puts a downward header home.
REDMAYNE SAVE – 54’ – Bos cuts in from the left and cracks a right foot shot which Redmayne is down to beat away.
RODWELL OWN GOAL – 59’ – Nabbout crosses from the right and under pressure from Maclaren, Rodwell puts through his own net.
TILIO GOAL – 67’ – City break and the ball is fed to Tilio who slots it home from a tight angle.
LE FONDRE SHOT – 78’ – Lolley sends King away and he crossed to Le Fondre whose left foot shot is saved well by the out-stretched arms of Glover.
VAN DER VENNE GOAL – 82’ – The substitute curls one from the edge of the box into the far corner.
What They Said: Steve Corica: “The red card was definitely the moment the game turned. His leg was a little bit high.
“We tried to see the half out at 0-0 and then we conceded the set piece which killed us.
“It was always going to be tough going down to ten men against a good passing side that will shift it to one side or the other.
“After the own goal we started to step out a little bit and there was going to be openings for them to create space at the back of us.”
Match Report: Sydney FC have gone down 2-0 and 3-1 on aggregate to Premiers Melbourne City in the second leg of the A-League semi final after playing most of the game with ten men.
Midfielder Max Burgess was sent off after a VAR review on a first half tackle in the 20th minute and it was an uphill battle from there.
City went in front in the 36th minute from a Curtis Good header at a corner and doubled the lead in the second half when Nabbout’s cross was deflected into his own net by Rodwell.
City made it three shortly after when Tilio broke to finish well before Van Der Venne made it four from the edge of the box in the 83rd.
Sydney FC: 1. Andrew REDMAYNE (GK), 3. Joel KING, 4. Alex WILKINSON (C), 6. Jack RODWELL, 8. Paulo RETRE (28. Jake GIRDWOOD-REICH 66’), 9. Adam LE FONDRE (12. Pat WOOD 83’), 17. Anthony CACERES, 19. ADRIAN SEGECIC (10. Joe LOLLEY 66’), 22. Max BURGESS, 23. Rhyan GRANT, 26. Luke BRATTAN.
Unused Subs: 20. TOM HEWARD-BELLE (GK), 2. JAMES DONACHIE, 18. Diego CABALLO, 25. Jaiden KUCHARSKI.
Yellow Cards: King 28’, Brattan 43’.
Red Cards: Burgess 20’.
Melbourne City FC: 1. Tom GLOVER (GK), 4. Nuno REIS, 6. Thomas LAM, 7. Mathew LECKIE, 9. Jamie MACLAREN, 13. Aiden O’NEILL (8. Richard VAN DER VENNE 74’), 14. Valon BERISHA (25. Callum TALBOT 74’), 15. Andrew NABBOUT, 22. Curtis GOOD (3. Scott JAMIESON 74’), 23. Marco TILIO, 38. Jordan BOS (2. Scott GALLOWAY 83’).
Substitutes: 33. Matthew SUTTON (GK), 10. Florin BERENGUER, 37. Max CAPUTO.
Yellow Cards: Lam 47’, .
Red Cards: None
Venue: AAMI Park
Referee: Shaun Evans
Attendance: 5,000
