Sydney FC 2 (Le Fondre pen 25’, Bobô 43’) Adelaide United (Juande 65’) 1
Sydney FC are one match away from creating football history and becoming the first team to win three consecutive A-League Championships.
Goals from Bobô and Adam Le Fondre sealed a 2-1 semi-final win over Adelaide United at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium in an enthralling clash, as the Sky Blues made it to their fourth Grand Final from the last five.
Moments That Mattered:
- STRAIN CHANCE – 12’ – Strain fires over from a tight angle inside the box.
- LE FONDRE PENALTY – 25’ – Le Fondre converts from the spot after VAR gives a penalty when goalkeeper Delianov clatters into Barbarouses in the box.
- KING SHOT SAVED – 26’ – King receives the ball from Barbarouses and moves forward driving the ball into the far right corner only for Delianov to pull off an amazing full length save.
- BOBÔ GOAL – 43’ – Caceres plays a sublime ball to the left which King strikes back across goal and Bobô pokes it home, wrong footing the goalkeeper Delianov.
- LE FONDRE MISSES PENALTY – 52’ – Barbarouses is brought down in the box again, and after another VAR review a penalty is awarded, however Delianov guesses the right way and the score stays 2-0.
- JUANDE GOAL – 65’ – Juande smashes the ball home from 25 yards after Juric’s free kick cannons off the wall on the edge of the box.
- HEWARD-BELLE SAVE – 69’ – Tom Heward-Belle gets a fingertip to Juric’s flicked header at goal to put it over the bar.
- WOOD BIG CHANCE – 88’ – Wood races clear on the right and beats his marker in the box before squaring across goal, but it just eludes Van der Saag for the tap in.
- WOOD CHANCE – 90+2′ – Wood races through on goal on the right but he just drags his low shot wide of the far post.
Sydney FC will compete in next Saturday’s A-League Grand Final after overcoming a resolute Adelaide United 2-1 at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium.
Adam Le Fondre opened the scoring from the penalty spot after Kosta Barbarouses had been brought down by goalkeeper Delianov, before a superb second goal from Bobô just before the break, following two fantastic first time balls from Caceres and Joel King.
Le Fondre had the chance to make it three just after half time when Barbarouses was once again brought down in the area, however Delianov made a great save to deny him.
The Reds pushed forward and were rewarded with 25 minutes to play when Juande smashed home a long range effort after Juric’s free kick was blocked.
It led to a nervous final period, however Sydney FC defended admirably to secure a chance at making history.
What they said: Steve Corica: “I’m very proud to be in another Grand Final. The boys were outstanding again tonight, and overall I think they deserved it.
“We had a lot of players out and still these boys showed their quality.
“We’ll wait and see for tomorrow, we’ll watch the game (other semi-final), and then we’ll start planning our week and getting prepared for another Grand Final, which is so pleasing.”
Sydney FC: 20. Tom HEWARD-BELLE (GK), 3. Ben WARLAND, 4. Alex WILKINSON, 5. Alex BAUMJOHANN (21. Harry VAN DER SAAG 83’), 8. Paulo RETRE, 9. BOBÔ (33. Pat WOOD 77’), 11. Kosta BARBAROUSES, 16. Joel KING, 17. Anthony CACERES, 26. Luke BRATTAN, 99. Adam LE FONDRE
Subs: 30. Adam PAVLESIC, 2. Patrick FLOTTMANN, 18. Luke IVANOVIC, 24. Adrian SEGECIC, 25. Callum TALBOT.
Yellow Cards: None
Red Cards: None.
Adelaide United: 1.James DELIANOV (gk), 4.Ryan STRAIN, 6.Louis D’ARRIGO, 7.Ryan KITTO (17. Mohamed TOURE 62’), 8.Stefan MAUK (c) (24. Pacifique NIYONGABIRE 79’), 9.Tomi JURIC, 21.Javi LÓPEZ, 22.Michael JAKOBSEN, 23.Jordan ELSEY, 26.Ben HALLORAN, 28.JUANDE.
Subs: 33. Dakota OCHSENHAM (gk), 2. Michael MARRONE, 3. George TIMOTHEOU, 18. Joe CALETTI, 27.Josh CAVALLO.
Yellow Cards: Juande 28’, Lopez 52’, Mauk 74’.
Red Cards: None
Venue: Netstrata Jubilee Stadium
Referee: Alireza Faghani
