The Australia Day Big Blue showdown is fast approaching with a double header for both the Isuzu UTE A-League and Liberty A-League taking place on Friday evening.
Going head-to-head once again Sydney FC will venture to AAMI Park to take on Melbourne Victory.
There have been several iconic moments during the Australia Day Big Blue and we have listed our top heroes who have excelled during the rivalry.
Sebastian Ryall 2012: Sebastian Ryall only scored 12 goals in his A-League career, and two came in the Big Blue Australia Day clash.
The right-back’s first-ever goal in professional football came against his former side in 2012 when he tapped the ball past Melbourne Victory’s keeper, Ante Covic, in the 89th minute to score the equalising goal in front of 20,000 fans.
Two years later, Ryall scored again after he dribbled around four players before slotting the ball in the bottom corner in the 50th minute to score the third of what would be five goals for the Sky Blues in Sydney FC’s largest win against Victory at the time.
Taylor Ray 2018: Sydney FC’s fiery midfielder, Taylor Ray, scored her first ever A-League goal during her second game in a Sky Blue jersey.
On the 26th of January 2018, the youngster made her first ever appearance in the starting line-up and only four minutes into the game that the new kid on the block scored against the Victorians.
Since then, she has gone on to make 55 appearances for Sydney and only scored one other goal which came in 2021. Ray is never one to back down from a challenge and we can expect her to be in the thick of it on Friday.
Bernie Ibini 2017: Bernie Ibini is one of the most well-known Sydney FC players. In 2017, he scored a crucial 65th-minute screamer to silence over 30,000 supporters in Docklands Stadium.
The striker had only been on for four minutes when he beat three defenders in a race for the ball. He then took one touch and smashed it into the bottom left corner.
This goal marked his eleventh and final goal for the club before moving overseas.
Princess Ibini 2023: Last year, when the crowd turned up to AAMI Park for the Australia Day Doubleheader, few would’ve predicted the end to end 90 minutes that was ahead in the Liberty A-League. After a six goal first half, the full time whistle would blow bringing to a close a 6-3 thrashing in which two penalties were missed and a hat trick was scored.
Princess Ibini slotted home three of the six that Sydney FC scored that day, scoring her very first hat-trick and joining an exclusive list with the likes of Sam Kerr, Mackenzie Hawkesby and Cote Rojas to net three in the one game for the Sky Blues.
Bobo 2018 & 2022: Sydney FC legend Bobo was the third-highest scorer in Big Blue clashes, scoring eight goals across thirteen matches and three in Australia Day clashes.
The Brazilian featured in Sydney FC’s memorable comeback win in the 2018 Big Blue Australia Day match, where he scored the crucial equaliser with his head, following a Luke Wilkshire pass.
He was no stranger to a Big Blue goal and scored Sydney’s second goal in the 3-1 victory, putting the Victorians behind in front of a packed-out AAMI Park. But Bobo’s head returned to haunt the Victory in 2022 when he equalised from an Anthony Caceres corner to go 2-2.
Who will stand up and be the new hero this time around? Will it be in form Joe Lolley or will Matildas star Cortnee Vine stake a claim as one of the best in the Big Blue after her goal last season.
Match Details Women:
Melbourne Victory Women vs Sydney FC Women
Liberty A-League Round 14
Friday 26th January, 2024
AAMI Park, Melbourne, VIC
Kick Off: 5:00PM
Gates Open: 4:00PM
Broadcast Live: Paramount+, 10Play
Tickets: Click Here
Match Details Men:
Melbourne Victory vs Sydney FC
Isuzu UTE A-League Round 14
Friday 26th January, 2024
AAMI Park, Melbourne, VIC
Kick Off: 7:45PM
Gates Open: 4:00PM
Broadcast Live: Paramount+
Tickets: Click Here
