Sydney FC went down to Melbourne Victory in the 2014/15 Hyundai A-League Grand Final thanks to three goals from the hosts.
Summary
Sydney FC 0 def by Melbourne Victory (33′ Berisha, 83′ Barbarouses, 90′ Broxham)
Sydney FC went down to Melbourne Victory in the 2014/15 Hyundai A-League Grand Final thanks to three goals from the hosts.
The Sky Blues lost Jacques Faty early to a hamstring injury while Matthew Jurman received stitches for a head wound inflicted by Melbourne Victory striker Besart Berisha.
Berisha then fired the Victory ahead before the break before Sydney FC chased the game with Marc Janko almost heading home. As Sydney FC searched for the equaliser Victory capitalised with late goals from Barbarouses and Broxham.
The Sky Blues second place finish means they have qualified for the Asian Champions League.
What they said
“I think you have to be honest and tonight Melbourne Victory were the better team. I think the loss to Jacques Faty early in the game unsettled us because Jacques is a real communicator at the back and Matty Jurman having to come off a couple of times with the blood rule it sort of rattled the side a little bit but you have to give credit to Melbourne Victory they were the better side tonight.
“The pitch wasn’t easy to play on, it was wet and quick but it’s no excuse. Melbourne Victory did a good job shutting us down in midfield and didn’t give us time to play and we found it hard to get our wide players into the game. You can look at the 3-0 if you want but I take responsibility for that as well because I played man on man over the whole pitch at 1-0 to try and win the game and we changed the system with 10 minutes to go to get the goal back but it wasn’t to be.
“It was a difficult game because there was no continuity because there was a lot of free kicks and it was hard to get any rhythm, we didn’t have our best game tonight. I couldn’t be prouder of the players, we’ve had a tough season in terms on the injuries that we had but also we’ve come a hell of a long way. I can’t be angry with them, they’ve given me everything they’ve got this season. At the start of the year if you’d told me we’d get Asian Champions League and second spot and play in the Grand Final well I would have signed for that straight away, we’ve had a successful year.”
Goals
33’ BERISHA GOAL – Barbarouses crosses the ball in and the ball falls to Berisha who turns and fires the ball beyond Janjetovic.
82’ BARBAROUSES GOAL – Barbarouses breaks forward and cuts into the box before firing at goal. His initial effort is smothered by Janjetovic but the Sky Blues keeper can do nothing about the rebound as the Kiwi prods it home.
90’ BROXHAM GOAL – Broxham charges forward and splits the Sky Blues defence before firing powerfully past Janjetovic at the near post inside the area.
Key Moments
7’ JANJETOVIC SAVE – Great tip from Vedran Janjetovic around the post as Berisha fires towards goal from the edge of the area.
12′ JANJETOVIC SAVE – Another great stop from Vedran Janjetovic as Barbarouses bore down on goal
14’ JURMAN HEAD INJURY – Berisha elbows Jurman in the face producing blood but is only yellow carded.
45’ + 1’ BROSQUE SHOT SAVED – A high ball forward is flicked down to Brosque by Janko and the Sky Blues skipper hits it first time from range only for Thomas to save with his legs.
75’ JANKO HEADER SAVED – Cross from Rhyan Grant on the right to Janko who heads towards goal but Thomas dives to his left and saves it.
88’ VALERI SENT OFF – Valeri receives his second yellow card of the game.
Team News
Sydney FC 0 def by Melbourne Victory 3 (Berisha 33’, Barbarouses 83’, Broxham 90’)
For one of the only times this year Sydney FC Head Coach Graham Arnold fielded the exact same team including subs as he did the week earlier in beating Adelaide United 4-1 in the Hyundai A-League semi final.
Ground: AAMI Park
Referee: Jarred Gillett
Attendance: 29,843
Sydney FC: 20. Vedran JANJETOVIC, 2. Seb RYALL, 5. Matt JURMAN, 8. Milos DIMITRIJEVIC, 11. Bernie IBINI, 13. Christopher NAUMOFF (9. Shane SMELTZ 52’), 14. Alex BROSQUE, 16. Alex GERSBACH, 21. Marc JANKO, 26. Jacques FATY (23. Rhyan GRANT 19’), 27. Mickael TAVARES (17. Terry ANTONIS 75’).
Subs Not Used: 1. Ivan NECEVSKI, 27. Robert STAMBOLZIEV.
Yellow cards: Grant 28’, Smeltz 63’, Ryall 74’.
Red cards: None.
Melbourne Victory: 20. Lawrence THOMAS, 4. Nick ANSELL (2. Jason GERIA 92’), 5. Mark MILLIGAN, 6. Leigh BROXHAM, 7. Gui FINKLER (16. Rashid MAHAZI 83’), 8. Besart BERISHA (10. Archie THOMPSON 92’), 9. Kosta BARBAROUSES, 14. Falid BEN KHALFALLAH, 15. Daniel GEORGEIEVSK, 21. Carl VALERI, 17. Mathieu DELPIERRE.
Subs Not Used: 11. Connor PAIN, 40.Michael TURNBULL (GK)
Yellow cards: Berisha 15’, Valeri 67’, Georgievski 78’,
Red cards: Valeri 88’.
