Sydney FC healed old wounds and stormed into a mouth-watering Grand Final against Perth Glory with a 6-1 hammering of Melbourne Victory at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium on Sunday.
Adam Le Fondre’s brace and one from mastermind playmaker Milos Ninkovic completed the carnage after a three-goal first half as the Sky Blues exorcised the demons of last season’s dramatic Semi Final loss.
Steve Corica’s side led from as early as the third minute and will be full of confidence when they meet the Premiers at Optus Stadium next Sunday, May 19.
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Sydney FC drew first blood in fortuitous fashion with Brandon O’Neill’s inswinging corner slipping out of Lawrence Thomas’ grasp and trickling in off Aaron Calver.
Victory struggled to turn their possession into chances at the other end and were given a mountain to climb as the first half came to an extraordinary crescendo.
Alex Brosque, named in the starting XI for the first time in almost a month, first blasted in a brilliant finish when Ryan Grant’s cross squeezed through to him at the far post.
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Then, in the second minute of added time, Leigh Broxham inadvertently nodded Siem de Jong’s right-sided cross into his own net.
Kevin Muscat’s men impressed in the second half of their Elimination Final triumph over Wellington Phoenix but, against their rampaging rivals, encountered only more misery after half-time.
Georg Niedermeier scythed down Le Fondre in the box to gift the Englishman his first from the spot and a second followed five minutes later.
Ninkovic this time played his striker in behind and Le Fondre produced a cool finish across Thomas to extend the margin to five by the 68th minute.
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The Serbian star grabbed one for himself in the closing stages, volleying in Josh Brillante’s delightful dinked cross, before Ola Toivonen nodded in the most hollow of consolations for Victory, whose 12-month reign as Champions came to a crushing conclusion.
Recap all the incredible action as it unfolded in our LIVE matchday blog below!
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