This weekend’s elimination final between Sydney FC and Macarthur FC will be the second consecutive Elimination Final in which the Sky Blues will participate.
In the A-League, teams who finish from third to sixth play in an Elimination Final, whereby the winner will take on a semi-finalist.
For the side that loses the elimination final, they won’t play another competitive match until the Australia Cup later in August.
This final series will mark Sydney FC’s sixth finals campaign in seven years, and they will play the Bulls for the first time in their finals history.
Every Elimination Final Sydney FC has played in has had thrilling moments and finished with one goal difference.
We look back at the trials and tribulations the side endured in past Elimination Finals.
Wellington Phoenix 3 vs Sydney FC 2 – 2011/2012
It was a nervy start between both sides in Wellington as Sydney FC looked to secure their first semi-final since winning the Championship in the 2009/2010 season.
But, neither side was able to break the deadlock in the first half as the Sky Blues dominated large parts of the game and challenged the Phoenix keeper.
After the halftime whistle, Tim Brown scored for Wellington when he capitalised on a defensive error by Sydney FC.
And from there, Wellington poured into the Sky Blues half, getting chance after chance until Ben Sigmund thumped the ball from a corner into the back of Ivan Necevski’s net 78 minutes in.
However, less than sixty seconds later, when the ball ricocheted off the post into Joel Chianese’s feet, the midfielder slotted the ball slickly into the centre of the net.
Three minutes later, Joel Chianese equalised when he whacked the ball from just outside the six-yard box into the bottom left corner.
With Sydney FC equalising, the Wellington crowd was stunned. But, three minutes later, Michael Beauchamp tripped Paul Ifill inside the box.
Ifill banged the ball into the top right corner, and for the final five minutes and stoppage time, the Phoenix slowed the game down, conceding multiple fouls to run down the clock until full-time.
Western Sydney Wanderers: 2 Sydney FC 1 – 2022/2023
Sydney FC and Western Sydney Wanderers had never played each other in finals football despite having one of the biggest rivalries in Australian football.
The Sky Blues were peaking at the right time, winning their last three games to come fifth and sat three points below the Wanderers.
Almost 30,000 people packed CommBank Stadium knowing that it was do-or-die, but with the Wanderers smashing Sydney FC 4-0 six weeks prior, the odds were heavily in Western Sydney’s favour.
And, it was all Western Sydney in the first half, as the Wanderers controlled possession and made the most out of their chances, forcing Andrew Redmayne into action as they sniffed at goal.
In the 39th minute, the Wanderers scored the goal they had been searching for when Morgan Schneriderlin capitalised with a penalty conceded off a handball by Alex Wilkinson in the box.
Steve Corica’s men came out in the second half reinvigorated as they searched for an opening in Lawrence Thomas’ goal.
And on the cusp of 70 minutes, Robert Mak received the ball inside the box, danced past two defenders and smacked it into the woodwork, where it bounced into the back of the net.
The Slovakian international would then send the Cove mad again when his corner found the head of Adam Le Fondre who flicked it into the bottom right corner, seeing the Sky Blues lead.
Western Sydney could not find an equaliser, and the Sky Blues secured one of the most memorable comebacks in their history.
2013/2014: Melbourne Victory 2 vs Sydney FC 1
After defeating Perth Glory 2-1 in a final-day epic, Sydney FC sprung to fifth on the ladder, cementing a date with Melbourne Victory at Marvel Stadium.
Over 20,000 people descended on the Melbourne stadium, hoping to see their team through to eventual Grand Final winners Brisbane Roar in the semis.
Victory began to huff and puff at Sydney’s defence from the outset and blew the roof off Etihad Stadium when Archie Thompson curled the ball into the back of the net from a James Troisi pass.
Sydney FC sprung into action and, 13 minutes later, had their equaliser when Ali Abbas crossed the ball into Sebastian Ryall, who dispatched it into the back of the net.
The Sky Blues continued to stretch the Victory defence into the second half but could not find a clinical touch.
And in the most crushing fashion, Adama Traore lofted the ball at the end of stoppage time.
He found Guilherme Finkler at the back post, where he volleyed it past Vedran Janjetovic, sending the Sky Blues out of the competition.
Match Details:
Sydney FC v Macarthur FC Isuzu UTE A-League Elimination Final Saturday 4th May, 2024 Allianz Stadium, Sydney, NSW Kick Off: 7:45PM Gates Open: 6:45PM Broadcast Live: Paramount+ and 10BOLD Tickets: Click Here
