Sydney FC has upstaged Perth’s party, snatching an A-League title on penalties after a scoreless grand final to win their fourth championship.
Andrew Redmayne saved efforts from Andy Keogh and Brendon Santalab in a shootout to deny the Glory in front of a record grand final crowd.
Adam Le Fondre, Brandon O’Neill, Rhyan Grant and Reza Ghoochannejhad scored in the 4-1 penalty success.The win brings Sydney a fourth title, meaning it sits alongside Melbourne Victory as the A-League’s most successful club once more.
It also sends Sky Blues captain Alex Brosque out on a winning note, the former Socceroo bringing the curtain down on his career.
The result broke Perth hearts, the club still yet to break through for its first title in the A-League era. While Popovic delivered the Glory a premiership in his first season at Perth, he is also still waiting for a grand final win after four efforts; the first three with Western Sydney.
But Sydney — who claimed three of their four titles through shootouts — proved its prowess from the spot with four expertly taken penalties.The Sky Blues will feel justice was served in the shootout after scoring what they felt was a legitimate goal in the first-half, when Matthew Spiranovic sliced Michael Zullo’s cross into the net.
