After Melbourne City dismantled 10-man Sydney FC to book their spot in a fourth consecutive Isuzu UTE A-League Grand Final, Sacha Pisani delivers five things you may have missed from the game.
Another season and another Grand Final featuring Melbourne City.
The three-time reigning Premiers emphatically booked their spot in the Isuzu UTE A-League decider on June 3 with a 4-0 demolition of Sydney FC at AAMI Park on Friday night – a result that sealed a 5-1 aggregate triumph.
The tie was deadlocked at 1-1 before kick-off but as soon as Max Burgess was sent off inside 20 minutes, City seized control and marched into the big dance thanks to Curtis Good, Marco Tilio, Richard van der Venne and a Jack Rodwell own goal.
These are the moments you may have missed from Melbourne City v Sydney FC at the conclusion of their Semi Final in Melbourne.
MATCH REPORT: City dismantle sky Blues to book place in historic fourth straight Grand Final
‘COMPLETELY INEXPLICABLE’: Sydney reduced to 10 after ‘calculated’ tackle upgraded to red by VAR
TRANSFER BOMBSHELL: City boss confirms two expected transfers, predicts Grand Final opponent in sensational post-game interview
The Leckie move and City’s frightening attack
Rado Vidosic went all out in his starting XI. While Aiden O’Neill returned to the line-up, it was the forward line that caught the eye.
Andrew Nabbout moved into the starting squad to form a frightening attack that also included the league’s all-time leading goalscorer Jamie Maclaren, Mathew Leckie and Marco Tilio.
“I was shocked as well!” Vidosic quipped when asked on 10 Bold about the surprises in his XI.
“Some of our players have been injured, missing, for seven, eight weeks, so this is the best mix,” he explained. “Looking for a bit more penetration, with Andrew back a bit more aggression…we weren’t aggressive enough (in Sydney).”
The most interesting of the lot was Leckie, who almost played as a striker alongside Maclaren. Though, he often dropped in behind as a no.10 with Tilio and Nabbout on either flank.
He was a handful in central areas, producing a role of a shoulder on more than one occasion to turn his opponent and create space.
“We asked Leckie to be more central, in front of the goal, where he can join Jamie for the crosses, and I think it worked quite well, I am pleased with him,” Vidosic assessed afterwards.
ISUZU UTE A-LEAGUE GRAND FINAL – TICKET DETAILS
In the post-game press conference, Vidosic added: “We didn’t play as well as we wished to play in Sydney. We had a good week of preparation. We identified what we didn’t do well.
“We made some changes. Brought some speed and fresh legs. That was the key for us. We were a bit more patient in the build-up, forced them to defend deeper in numbers. They played a lot of goal-kicks and we won most of them. So there was constant pressure on them.
“I thought defensively we were much better. We created more than enough chances. There could’ve been more goals. I’m pleased we’re scoring from corner kicks and free-kicks, we created a lot of chances.”
The XI Vidosic went with meant the likes of Callum Talbut, Richard van der Venne and Florin Berengeur were out of the starting line-up from the first leg, a sign of City’s frightening depth.
Vidosic joked on the broadcast: “That’s why they pay me big bucks!”
“Sometimes there’s a lot of headaches trying to explain to them that they won’t start,” he said afterwards to reporters.
“They’re all professionals and they cop it on the chin. Then, when they come on they score a goal and say ‘I told you so’.”
Sydney’s big blow before a ball was kicked
There was a glaring absence when the team sheets landed prior to kick-off… Robert Mak.
The in-form Slovakia international started last week’s 1-1 first-leg draw, however, he was unable to overcome an hamstring injury. Not only did he drop out of the line-up but he withdrew from the squad entirely.
It not only meant the absence of a player who has scored 10 goals this season, including six in his last seven, it also forced Adrian Segecic into the starting XI as the only change.
With Joe Lolley just fit enough for the bench, it left a gaping hole and with talisman Adam Le Fondre shouldering an incredible load in the forward line.
It became even more difficult when Max Burgess was sent off early in the first half. The former Premier League striker was isolated far too often to provide a threat.
Dutchman’s red mist over challenge
A moment of madness left Sydney FC with an uphill battle.
It also had City’s entire bench up in arms, none more so than Dutch midfielder Richard van der Venne. Among the substitutes, he was one of the first to charge out of the dugout after witnessing Burgess’ high and late tackle on Tilio.
ISUZU UTE A-LEAGUE GRAND FINAL – TICKET DETAILS
He was so angry, Van der Venne had to be restrained by a member of City’s staff as the referee eventually consulted the pitch-side monitor and upgraded the yellow card to a red.
“Richard van der Venne is on the pitch!,” Andy Harper said during the 10 BOLD broadcast.
Keen to stay ahead of the curve, a member of City’s coaching staff quickly ran over to Tilio as soon as he finished receiving treatment. A tactics sheet was in hand, seemingly aware Burgess was about to receive his marching orders.
Jordy’s standing ovation
If ever a player deserved a standing ovation, aside from Marco Tilio, it was Jordy Bos.
The Socceroos full-back is leaving City for Westerlo in Belgium’s top flight next season after smashing the transfer record for a player from the Australian competition.
And in his final appearance in Melbourne, the 20-year-old showed why he is so highly rated. Whether it was defending, attacking or shooting, Bos was everywhere.
Sydney couldn’t get him off the ball and the City crowd couldn’t get enough of his performance.
When the substitute’s board went up with his number, the whole crowd stood up and gave the academy graduate an ovation. He in turn applauded back as he left AAMI Park one last time as a City player.
ISUZU UTE A-LEAGUE GRAND FINAL – TICKET DETAILS
Arnie in the house
There was a high-profile guest in attendance for the Semi Final.
Seated to the right of the media box was Socceroos boss Graham Arnold, taking in a blockbuster showdown featuring a host of his pupils.
Socceroos Mathew Leckie, Jamie Maclaren, Marco Tilio, Jordy Bos and Aiden O’Neill were all on display, as well as Sydney FC goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne.
He would’ve loved what he saw, except for the challenge on Tilio, amid growing reports of a showdown against Lionel Messi’s world champions Argentina in China next month.
City’s star attacker was not perturbed by the rough stuff against the club he left in 2020. Sydney’s physicality only seemed to fuel him – he kept running at defenders and wreaking havoc.
He then capped off the night with a brilliant goal 23 minutes from the end – his third in three games.
It was the performance of a player ready for the next step in his career. Wherever that may be.
Rado: The sideline crab
Watching Rado Vidosic on the touchline was another game in itself.
The contrast between himself and Sydney counterpart Steve Corica was striking.
While Corica was tucked into his favourite corner of his technical area, the same could not be said about Vidosic, who was pacing side to side throughout the entire game.
Barking orders from one side, as soon as the play developed further forward, he moved with the ball… even if it meant blocking the view of his coaching staff on the bench.
ISUZU UTE A-LEAGUE GRAND FINAL – TICKET DETAILS
Rodwell’s rough night
He is a player with Premier League and international experience as an England player, however, Jack Rodwell was off the pace under the Melbourne lights.
The former Everton and Manchester City midfielder, now partnering veteran centre-back Alex Wilkinson in Sydney FC’s defence, had formed a solid pairing – one that had helped the Sky Blues defy the odds to reach the Semi Final.
Yet, he was at fault for two of City’s goals at AAMI Park.
Firstly, the towering Englishman was beaten in the air by Curtis Good, who put the the home side ahead eight minutes before half-time.
It got worse for Rodwell in the second half, when unfortunately, he turned Andrew Nabbout’s cross past Andrew Redmayne and into his own net approaching the hour-mark.
