Sydney FC stun Victory on penalties

MELBOURNE - Sydney FC upset arch-rivals and defending champions Melbourne Victory in a penalty shootout to win the A-League grand final at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night.

By (AFP)

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Published: Sat 20 Mar 2010, 5:58 PM

Last updated: Mon 6 Apr 2015, 4:21 AM

With the score locked at 1-1 at the end of extra time, Sydney won 4-2 on penalties, Korean Sung-Hwan Byun slotting home the winner to give Sydney their second title, after they earlier blew a 1-0 lead late in the game.

Melbourne skipper Kevin Muscat thumped his penalty flush into the upright to hand the visitors the early ascendancy in the shootout.

Melbourne goalkeeper Mitchell Langerak made a fine save to revive Victory hopes but a matching block by his Sydney counterpart, veteran Clint Bolton, moments later all but sealed Melbourne’s fate.

Both Sydney and Melbourne have won two titles since the A-League was launched in 2005.

Sydney had looked set to win when they dominated most of the second half and took a 1-0 lead after 60 seconds of mayhem.

Sydney’s Mark Bridge headed his side in front in the 63rd minute to stun the home fans, after the Victory had a goal disallowed for offside just seconds earlier.

While Melbourne players argued with the officials over the offside call that ruled out Rodrigo Vargas’ apparent opener, proven correct by replays, Sydney went forward and Bridge capitalised on a fortuitous deflection that saw the ball loop over the defence and find him all alone at the far post.

Bridge, by far his side’s most dangerous offensive threat, knocked an easy header into an open goal to stun the Victory, who were seeking their second successive title.


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