I don’t believe it, you don’t believe it – no one can believe it.
Sydney FC return home with A-League Championship number four after ruining the Perth Glory fairy-tale in the most heartbreaking of ways.
Everyone has been so busy coming to terms with the shock of the Glory losing to acknowledge the Sky Blues join esteemed company within Australian football.
Sydney City, Marconi Stallions, South Melbourne and Melbourne Victory are the only other sides to have been crowned champions of Australia four times.
Further, Sydney FC become the first A-League team to win two Grand Finals away from home – not to mention it was the third time Sydney had won a Grand Final on penalties.
Love them or loathe them, in lifting the championship Sydney FC reminded fans what makes finals so great – unpredictability.
Naturally, fans of opposing teams took to social media berating the concept of the finals series after it was Sydney – not Perth – who lifted the trophy.
For the last few seasons at least, the finals have been the best part of the A-League and have given fans a reason to care after a stale season.
What distinguishes this result to Victory’s win last season in Newcastle, is Sydney FC were probably the better team against the Glory.
Like last season the match had its share of controversy with the Video Assistant – albeit this time people may be more inclined to sweep it under the rug given Sydney went on to win the match.
While chances were few and far between for both sides there was something off about the Glory which allowed Sydney FC to frustrate them and once it went to penalties it was really anyone’s guess.
Many plaudits must also go to manager Steve Corica, who picked up the pieces after Championship winning coach Graham Arnold departed alongside star players Bobo and Adrian Mierzejewski.
While many remnants of Arnold’s team are still present, losing the league’s best goal scorer and player of that season had people questioning Sydney’s title credentials at the start of the season.
Perth Glory – like Sydney FC – will now set their sights to the Asian Champions League and while a domestic championship still eludes Tony Popovic, he knows a thing or two about continental success.
