The race to secure second spot and the last remaining place in the Isuzu UTE A-League Final Series will go down to the final day of the season after Western United defeated Sydney FC 1-0 at Ironbark Fields.
The home side got off to the perfect start in Tarneit, opening the scoring in just the fourth minute as Matthew Grimaldi rounded off a blistering counter-attack to make it 1-0 to John Aloisi’s side, despite Sydney FC complaints of a foul in the build-up.
The home side had several good opportunities to put the result to bed at Ironbark Fields and were denied on one occasion by an oustanding save from Sydney goalkeeper Harrison Devenish-Meares.
Despite dominating possession of the ball Sydney FC struggled to create many clear-cut chances with Brazilian star Douglas Costa guilty of wasting the best of them late in the game.
The result means Western United are now just a point behind Melbourne City in the race to secure second spot on the ladder and with it a place in the 2025-26 edition of the AFC Champions League Elite.
As for the visitors, Sydney FC sit a point outside the finals positions heading into the final round of the season and know they simply must get a least a point away at Melbourne City otherwise they will miss out on competing in the post-season.
Knowing a win would guarantee them a spot in the Finals Series, Sydney FC new exactly what they had to do in Tarneit – but they didn’t bank on falling behind in just the fourth minute.
Launching the ball clear from their own box, Western United turned defence into attack in the blink of an eye and soon had the ball in the back of the net after Riku Danzaki’s cross was tapped home by Grimaldi at the far post.
Furious that a foul on defender Joel King hadn’t been called in the lead-up to the goal, Sydney FC boss Ufuk Talay was then further enraged when a subsequent VAR check cleared forward Michael Ruhs of fouling King whilst also deciding Grimaldi hadn’t strayed beyond the last defender before tapping home.
Looking to bounce back, Sydney FC went close through Jaiden Kucharski as the young forward’s powerful effort from distance flew narrowly over the bar.
Looking to re-establish himself at the top in the race for the Golden Boot, Western forward Noah Botic headed narrowly over the bar from close range after some good work by Grimaldi inside the box before Sydney FC then had another narrow let-off.
Bidding to collect a bouncing ball inside the box, Sky Blues goalkeeper Harrison Devenish-Meares slipped at the wrong moment leaving the goal completely unguarded however Ruhs could only find the base of the post when attempting to finish from a right angle.
It was Sydney FC’s turn to hit the woodwork soon after as the in-form Adrian Segecic slammed a ferocious effort against the upright from the edge of the box after he was sent through on goal care of a brilliant through by Douglas Costa.
Growing into the game, Costa then curled a low free-kick towards goal which required a smart save from Western custodian Matthew Sutton on the approach to half-time.
Sky Blues boss Talay was forced to shuffle the pack at the hour mark with English winger Joe Lolley struggling with what looked to be a groin complaint with creative midfielder Anas Ouahim brought on in his place.
Searching for a way back into the game, Sydney then had goalkeeper Devenish-Meares to thank for keeping the deficit at just one.
Escaping his marker at a corner, Botic flicked an excellent header towards goal which was bound for the back of the net before the keeper produced a miraculous save on the goalline to somehow turn the striker’s effort over the bar.
Restricted to very few clear-cut chances in the second-half, the visitors registered a shot on target in the 80th minute when substitute Kyle Shaw headed a tame effort towards goal before Western then almost doubled their lead.
Breaking clear in three-on-two counter-attack in Western’s favour, goalkeeper Devenish-Meares was almost left completely red-faced as he saved Danzaki’s powerful effort but then completely lost sight of the ball when attempting to smother the rebound and ended up turning 360 degrees before the ball was cleared.
Desperately searching for the equaliser, Costa then wasted Sydney’s best effort of the second-half.
Set up by a deft backheeled flick from Segecic on the edge of the area, the Brazilian dragged his left-footed strike wide of the near post in a huge let-off for the home side.
