The Magic of the Cup reaches its climax on Tuesday night. After another year of magical moments and Cup fairytales, Sydney FC and Adelaide United will contest the fourth Westfield FFA Cup Final in Sydney.
Can Sydney FC finally win that beautiful trophy? It’s eluded them since 2014.
Or will Marco Kurz’s Reds make it a historic second Cup triumph after they took out the inaugural Cup final three years ago?
The final major domestic trophy of the calendar year goes on the line Tuesday night at Allianz when the Sky Blues – currently top of the Hyundai A-League – meet a battle-hardened foe in Adelaide United.
ROAD TO SYDNEY
You could argue Adelaide United have had a more difficult journey to the final, accounting for three A-League clubs – Jets, Victory and away to Wanderers in the semi final – on their way to Sydney.
For their part the Sky Blues have swept aside lower-tier opposition: putting a total of 16 goals past Darwin Rovers, Bankstown Berries and South Melbourne.
The Sky Blues’ only A-League opposition was Melbourne City, who they defeated in the quarter final 2-0.
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Both sides have won in the league in the lead in to the Cup Final.
Sydney FC edged the unbeaten Jets on Saturday to banish the previous week’s shock loss to the Mariners.
Graham Arnold rested right back Luke Wilkshire but apart from the former Socceroo, all key Sky Blues were on duty on Saturday.
For the Reds, they travelled to Gosford and sealed the three points late on.
With that game last Thursday, it allowed the squad to return to Adelaide on Friday to prepare for their Cup Final showdown (they arrive back in Sydney on Monday).
FINAL WORD
How often do you get to see your club lift a major trophy?
This alone should ensure the Sky Blues fans turn out in droves especially when a victory would seal all three domestic trophies for the calendar year.
The loyal travelling fans from Adelaide – and boy do they support their side on the road around Australia – will take huge confidence from having won in Sydney in the semi final.
They may be underdogs and undermanned due to injuries, but Marco Kurz’s side will relish this final – it’s a chance to put down a marker for the new era under their inspirational German coach.
Sydney FC will aim to make a clean sweep of 2017’s domestic trophies on Tuesday night – in their way a side that know all about winning an FFA Cup Final.
This will be a cracker of a final between two fit, physical and very well-coached sides.
