Sydney FC goal-scorer Mark Bridge admits he thought his team had blown its chance to win the Hyundai A-League Grand Final on Saturday night before recovering to claim the trophy 4-2 on penalties against Melbourne.
Having scored the goal that put the visitors ahead at Etihad Stadium – two years after his goal proved the difference for Newcastle as it took the championship decider 1-0 against Central Coast – Bridge thought the Sky Blues were destined to go down after the Victory had equalised.
With Adrian Leijer’s header with nine minutes bringing the home fans back to life Melbourne dominated the final stages of normal time and had two great chances to go ahead, firstly through Leijer who headed just over and then through youngster Aziz Behich.
A Carlos Hernandez corner was headed on and fell in front of Behich but he was unable to score from close range as Sydney goalkeeper Clint Bolton scrambled to take possession, and from that point on Bridge was confident of getting the result.
“I thought we stuffed up a bit there but credit to the boys we held out, we took the best that Melbourne had,” Bridge said.
“My heart went in my throat then (when Behich almost scored) and I thought we’d thrown it away.”
“But when that didn’t go in I thought, ‘hang on, this is the best they’ve got, they still haven’t scored, we can do this’.”
Having struggled to describe his buoyant mood because the result hadn’t yet ‘sunk in’, Bridge was nonetheless pleased to have maintained his perfect record in Hyundai A-League championship deciders.
“It’s excellent, words can’t explain it,” he added.
“It feels excellent, two (wins) from two (grand finals), two goals from two grand finals too, so I’m definitely not complaining.”
Bridge’s goal in the 63rd minute came during a hectic period of the game, with Melbourne putting the ball into the back of the net through Rody Vargas 30 seconds before that only for the offside flag to be raised before Sydney scored on the counter.
Bolton took the free kick quickly and with Sung-Hwan Byun playing in Alex Brosque down the left, the marksman tried to cross the ball only for it to take a lucky deflection off the leg of Surat Sukha and loop over the top of goalkeeper Mitch Langerak to where Bridge was waiting at the far post.
“They had their little opportunity down this end and then we quickly countered through a quick free kick,” Bridge said.
“I saw Brosquey get the ball and I thought I need to get in the box here.”
“(I) checked my run … (it) took a deflection and (I was) just in the right place at the right time.”
