Led by the newly-acquired Besart Berisha from Brisbane, Kevin Muscat’s Melbourne Victory showed their class, occupying one of the top two spots for most of the season before completing the Premiership / Championship double in emphatic fashion.
Here is the story of the season.
STAR POWER
Marc Janko (Sydney FC)
Andy Keogh (Perth Glory)
Fahid Ben Khalfallah (Melbourne Victory)
Nathan Burns (Wellington Phoenix)
Roly Bonevacia (Wellington Phoenix)
Romeo Castelen (WSW)
GAME OF THE SEASON
Sydney FC 5 Brisbane Roar 4 – a hat-trick to Sydney’s Austrian striker Marc Janko had them into an apparently comfortable 4-1 lead with less than fifteen minutes to go, before a fast-finishing Roar made the scoreline a bit too close for the comfort for the 14,000-strong crowd who braved wet and wild conditions at Allianz Stadium.
MEMORABLE MOMENTS
Reds coach Josep Gombau’s celebrations from the dugout. He proved to be a real character on the sidelines.
BIGGEST UPSET
The Jets won just three games all season, but one of them was against Victory in round 25, with Ecuadorian Edson Montano’s second-half goal giving them a memorable 1-0 win at AAMI Park.
GOAL OF THE YEAR
In the round 27 clash with Melbourne City, Adelaide United fullback Tarek Elrich picked up the ball in his own half and embarked on a mazy run during which he evaded half-a-dozen would-be defenders before calmly slotting home and being instantly engulfed by his incredulous team-mates.
GOLDEN BOOT WINNER
Marc Janko (Sydney FC) – 16
PREMIERS
Victory went top with four games to go and held off a fast-finishing Sydney FC to claim the Premier’s Plate by three points.
STORY OF THE FINALS
Melbourne Victory and Sydney FC advanced comfortably past Melbourne City and Adelaide United respectively to set up a Big Blue Grand Final. Against a strangely subdued Sky Blues side, Berisha gave Victory a first-half lead before late goals from Kosta Barbarouses and Leigh Broxham earned the Big V a totally deserved 3-0 win.
