Sydney FC crashed out of the Hyundai A-League Finals Series tonight despite a dominant performance after an injury time goal from Gui Finkler gave Melbourne Victory a 2-1 win in the Elimination Final.
Sydney FC crashed out of the Hyundai A-League Finals Series tonight despite a dominant performance after an injury time goal from Gui Finkler gave Melbourne Victory a 2-1 win in the Elimination Final.
Victory had taken a first half lead through Archie Thompson but the Sky Blues hit back before the break with a Seb Ryall goal, while Alessandro Del Piero also hit the post.
Nathan Coe was in fine form in the Victory goal and spectacularly denied Sydney FC twice in the second half before Finkler struck with seconds remaining to win the game.
Head Coach Frank Farina kept the same starting eleven that defeated Perth Glory five days earlier, while Ranko Despotovic came back from injury to the bench at the expense of Hagi Gligor.
Melbourne Victory started quickly and had the ball in the net within two minutes, however Thompson-s effort was ruled out for offside by the linesman.
Victory pushed forward again with Finkler having a shot over the bar and Janjetovic saving low down from Troisi.
The home side were in front on 19 minutes when Sydney FC lost the ball up front and Victory broke away. Thompson was played in on the left hand side of the box and curled the ball beyond Janjetovic.
The goal brought the game to life and Sydney FC came close to equalising with a Sasa Ognenovski header and a Milos Dimitrijevic shot, before they finally were level in the 36th minute. Dimitrijevic found Abbas on the left hand side and his low centre was sidefooted home by Ryall to score another goal against his former club.
Victory came straight back at the Sky Blues and Janjetovic made and excellent block with his body when one on one with Thompson before tipping a Milligan header over the bar.
Sydney FC were almost in front five minutes later when Chianese found Ryall in the box but a last ditch tackle from Traore stopped the defender adding to his tally. The Sky Blues should have taken the advantage again a minute later when Abbas found space on the left to cross for Del Piero, however the Italian-s flicked shot hit the post and bounced away, and the sides went in 1-1 at the break.
The second half started with two glorious chances for Sydney FC. First Chianese had a shot from distance which Coe pushed wide for a corner. The keeper then made a fantastic fingertip save from a Jurman header to push over the bar.
Coe again kept Sydney FC at bay on 53 minutes. Antonis played Chianese clear and the keeper came out to get the faintest of touches on the striker-s chipped shot to deflect the ball over the bar.
The game continued to flow from end to end with neither side creating a clear cut chance. Despotovic replaced Chianese on 70 minutes and was immediately in the game. The striker was released on goal in the left channel of the box but struck his left foot shot wide of the post.
Another chance went begging for Sydney FC on 77 minutes when some Del Piero trickery put Abbas clear on the left and his cross found Despotovic six yards out who put his shot inches wide of the post.
Sydney FC continued to press for the winner but were hit by the sucker punch a minute into three minutes of injury time.
Victory made in-roads down the left hand flank and the ball was chipped to the back post where Finkler was there to volley home and sent the Victorians in to the semi finals.
Melbourne Victory (Thompson 16-, Finkler 90-+1-) d. Sydney FC (Ryall 36-).
Ground: Etihad Stadium
Crowd: 20,802
Referee: Peter Green
SYDNEY FC: 20. Vedran JANJETOVIC (gk), 2. Seb RYALL, 5. Matthew JURMAN, 6. Nikola PETKOVIC, 10. Alessandro DEL PIERO (c), 11. Richard GARCIA, 13. Sasa OGNENOVSKI, 16. Joel CHIANESE (4. Ranko DESPOTOVIC 70-), 17. Terry ANTONIS, 21. Milos DIMITRIJEVIC, 22. Ali ABBAS.
Unused Substitutes: 1. Ivan NECEVSKI (gk), 28. Matt THOMPSON, 29. Alec UROSEVSKI, 34. Aaron CALVER
Yellow Cards:
MELBOURNE VICTORY: 1. Nathan COE, 2. Pablo CONTRERAS, 3. Adama TRAORE, 4. Nicholas ANSELL, 5. Mark MILLIGAN (c), 6. Leigh BROXHAM (16. Rashid MAHAZI 79-), 7. Guilherme FINKLER (17. James JEGGO 94-), 9.Kosta BARBAROUSES, 10. Archie THOMPSON, 14. James TROISI, 25. Jason GERIA (24. Scott GALLOWAY 66-).
Unused Substitutes: 20. Lawrence THOMAS (gk), 11. Connor PAIN.
Yellow Cards: 2. Pablo CONTRERAS, 4. Nicholas ANSELL, 5. Mark MILLIGAN.
