07-03-2010, 11:15 PM
Well done to the Melbourne Victory for beating Sydney FC in the second leg of the major semi final. The match was played in Sydney in front of a crowd of about 28,000 people, mostly a hostile Melbourne crowd.
The win now means that Melbourne will host the A-League Grand Final for the third time. If they win it, it will be their third championship, an exceptional effort considering that this is only the fifth season of the A-League.
Melboune headed into tonight's second leg 2-1 up, after they won by that score in the first leg in Melbourne two weeks ago. They went one up after 15 minutes (effectively 3-1 up over the two leg tie), the goal coming against the flow of play. But after that, Sydney's general dominance in field play was converted onto the scoreboard, they kicked the next two goals to go up 2-1 in the game, but the series' score was tied at 3 all on agrregate. Enter Archie Thompson for Melbourne, the team's best goal scorer, who had been out for the past 5 weeks with an injury, and the game changed dramatically. Suddenly it was Melbourne looking the dangerous team. The 2 match tie went into extra time after it was locked at 3 all and then Archie kicked one of the cheekiest goals you will ever see. Be sure to try and catch a view of it if you can, the Sydney defence was half asleep and Muscsat and Archie teamed beautifully to take advantage of it in what proved to be the match winning goal.
Anyhow, it's not in the bag yet, we could very well meet Sydney again in the Grand FInal, but this time it will be in Melbourne. Sydney hosts Wellington next week. The winner meets melbourne in the Grand Final.
Here's hoping for a packed house for the big one, and of courne, a Melbourne victory.
The win now means that Melbourne will host the A-League Grand Final for the third time. If they win it, it will be their third championship, an exceptional effort considering that this is only the fifth season of the A-League.
Melboune headed into tonight's second leg 2-1 up, after they won by that score in the first leg in Melbourne two weeks ago. They went one up after 15 minutes (effectively 3-1 up over the two leg tie), the goal coming against the flow of play. But after that, Sydney's general dominance in field play was converted onto the scoreboard, they kicked the next two goals to go up 2-1 in the game, but the series' score was tied at 3 all on agrregate. Enter Archie Thompson for Melbourne, the team's best goal scorer, who had been out for the past 5 weeks with an injury, and the game changed dramatically. Suddenly it was Melbourne looking the dangerous team. The 2 match tie went into extra time after it was locked at 3 all and then Archie kicked one of the cheekiest goals you will ever see. Be sure to try and catch a view of it if you can, the Sydney defence was half asleep and Muscsat and Archie teamed beautifully to take advantage of it in what proved to be the match winning goal.
Anyhow, it's not in the bag yet, we could very well meet Sydney again in the Grand FInal, but this time it will be in Melbourne. Sydney hosts Wellington next week. The winner meets melbourne in the Grand Final.
Here's hoping for a packed house for the big one, and of courne, a Melbourne victory.