It was the year Victory and the Reds returned to the summit of the Hyundai A-League, culminating in their second grand final match-up in three seasons.
The 2008/09 season was a cracker and we’ve come up with four of the most memorable moments from a sensational campaign.
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Smeltz’s Phoenix wonder strike
Wellington striker Shane Smeltz finished as the league’s top scorer with 12 goals, but none better than his one against Melbourne Victory at Westpac Stadium in round 13.
He showed a great touch to turn past one defender before running towards the box, cutting onto his right foot and blasting one into the roof of the net. Pure class!
Thommo’s unlikely treble
Newcastle’s title defence never got going but they produced a brilliant display to beat Melbourne Victory in December, with an unlikely source getting a hat-trick.
Midfielder Matt Thompson had a night to remember, scoring in the 16 th , 46 th and 49 th minutes as the Jets stunned the eventual champions 4-2 in the Hunter.
Mariners call for ‘Bozza’
After returning to Australia from the UK, ex-Australian international gloveman Mark Bosnich was snapped up by Central Coast on a seven-game guest stint.
‘Bozza’s’ debut was a 4-2 win away to Queensland Roar and he showed he still had the goods as a shot-stopper in his short stint in the Hyundai A-League.
Victory reach summit again
While they were made to work much harder than they did in the grand final against the Reds than two years earlier, Victory were worthy winners of the 2009 title.
Tommy Pondeljak’s second-half strike handed Ernie Merrick’s men a 1-0 win, their second Hyundai A-League championship in three seasons.
