Sydney FC needed extra-time to beat Adelaide United 2-1 at Allianz Stadium to vanquish the pain of losing last season’s decider and claim this year’s trophy.

Bobo’s header in extra-time served as the winner for the Sky Blues at the end of an entertaining final, the goal assisted by eventual man of the match Adrian Mierzejewski, who took home the Mark Viduka Medal.

The match was marred when the benches were cleared in a baseball-like all-in brawl towards the end; the melee was sparked by Adelaide player Michael Marrone manhandling a ball-kid refusing to relinquish the ball to the defender – Marrone was red carded.

Milos Ninkovic opened the scoring and Sydney dominated the first half, forcing Adelaide on the back-foot, but the away side responded by levelling the match both in general play and on the scoreboard in the second half through Nikola Mileusnic’s spectacular curling shot.

Sydney become the second team ever to hold all three trophies (Championship, Premiership and Cup) after Melbourne Victory in 2015, and the final was the first to both go to extra-time and have both teams score.

SYDNEY FC

Andrew Redmayne (GK) – 7

The shot-stopper made the first save of game on Ryan Kitto which may’ve proved critical in setting the tone from the start. He wasn’t called into duty too many times in the first half but on the two or three occasions he was needed he handled each situation well, as was the case in the second half.

Luke Wilkshire – 6

Played a solid game at right back. He didn’t venture too high up the park in his twilight years but restricted the influence of the sprightly Ryan Kitto.

Jordy Buijs – 7

Lead the defence brilliantly and made things hard for Adelaide right throughout the game. His handy run to up the middle of the park and passing from defence adds another element to Sydney’s attack.

Alex Wilkinson – 7

Barely lost his shape at all, helping keep the defensive system as tight as a movie-goer on Tuesdays. Made a superb interception on a dangerous Marrone cross early in the second period and dominated the airwaves when the Reds went searching for a forehead.

Michael Zullo – 6

Didn’t do much wrong on the night but will be remembered for being totally beaten by Nikola Mileusnic’s shimmy and goal to equalise. Aside from that a few moments being dispossessed, it was a solid night by Zullo.

Brandon O’Neill – 6.5

Passed the ball with ease, very rarely looked backwards for an option and often hit his target, but was also seen turning around to chase Adelaide attacks when Sydney tired late in the game.

Joshua Brillante – 6.5

Did his better work getting back in defence. The midfield duo had their workload lightened by the return of Mierzejewski pulling the strings, allowing Brillante and O’Neill to work together getting back.

Adrian Mierzejewski – 8.5

The Mark Viduka medallist was exceptional and must be commended for playing a full match in his first game back from injury. Mierzejewski followed his whim into central areas to create the play with incisive passing and stretched with his movement and wide balls. Set up the winner.

Milos Ninkovic – 7

Put himself in Adelaide’s weak spot to bag the opener, exploiting the right side of defence and wrong-footing Michael Marrone to score. Battled a right calf complaint from the 39th minute onward and came off in the 62nd minute for David Carney.

Alex Brosque © – 6.5

Was in the mix on several build-up plays but was outshone by Adrian in the playmaking stakes. Didn’t get overly involved in general play and that was perhaps reflected in his substitution in the 71st minute.

Bobo – 7

Scored the winner; a beautiful header at the back post amongst the heavy traffic of a dangerous free-kick. Bobo set the tone for Sydney early on, showing energy to attack the final third.

SUBS

David Carney – 6

Spread Adelaide wide and added valuable run later in the game.

Matt Simon – 5

He was near the centre of the brawl ignited by Michael Marrone’s actions on the build-up and fulfilled the typical Matt Simon-role of adding an extra option at the top.

Sebastian Ryall – N/A

Subbed on in half-time of extra-time.

 

ADELAIDE UNITED

Paul Izzo (GK) – 7

The goalkeeper made a handful of vital stops to keep his side in the game, many of them reflex saves from close-range: once on Bobo in the first half, on a Matt Simon shot in the final ten minutes of regular time and another again on Bobo from point blank. He did struggle with his clearances and was easily put under pressure by a Sydney forward pressing up.

Michael Marrone – 3

In addition to a poor game, Marrone got himself red carded at the end for manhandling a ball-kid. True, there was tomfoolery on behalf of the boy but it isn’t an excuse for the player to approach him the way he did. Marrone left his side of defence too open too often and it didn’t take too long until Sydney scored the opener from there. Hashed a few clearances throughout the encounter too.

Jordan Elsey – 5

Caught in two minds on what to do for the opening goal and that theme followed him for the evening. He had his good moments with a clearing header or solid tackle, but was inconsistent defensively.

Ersan Gulum – 6

He sure knows how to win a foul. Gulum was the calmest in Adelaide’s defence up to a point but even Sydney’s pressure made him hot under the collar as they swarmed early. Tried the long ball out of defence a few times and it finally worked when he picked out Mileusnic for the equaliser.

Ben Garuccio – 6

Barely found a cross and found it hard to connect a pass forward of the play. Nearly equalised the game almost immediately after the break when his stunning free-kick clipped the underside of the crossbar.

 

Isaias – 6

Was plugging gaps in the Red’s back half in the first half but looked sound on the ball whenever it was at his feet, holding the side together in the middle.

Daniel Adlung – 7

A calming, controlling presence in Adelaide’s midfield. His strength on the ball has already been highlighted since his arrival, but too often did Adlung look like prioritising holding the ball simply for the sake of giving Adelaide some possession instead of just doing something with it. Lost it occasionally in midfield duels.

Karim Matmour – 6.5

He’ll be rueing his missed chance in extra-time. After Ochieng’s mazing run, Matmour used the outside of his foot to get on the end of the cross instead of positioning himself better in the first place. He wasn’t overly impactful and regularly had to fill-in up front of a tiring Diawara.

Nikola Mileusnic – 7

Was a driving force for Adelaide in the opening stages but was quickly deployed in defence when the Reds were on their heels and his freedom was encumbered. He was allowed to go forth in the second half and hit a spectacular strike to level the game in the 68th minute.

Ryan Kitto – 6

He gave Luke Wilkshire something to think about, pressuring the Socceroo and beating him to earn the first shot of the game. His chance early in the game could’ve changed the course of the match had it gone in.

Baba Diawara – 4

Looked absolutely spent in the middle of the first half and that hindered his teammates. When the Reds mustered a raid out wide, targets inside were few due to Diawara labouring 20 metres behind the play. Taken out in the 73rd minute.

SUBS

George Blackwood – 5

The young striker almost found a winner when he went sliding in at the back post from an Ochieng cross and directed some headers on goal too.

Ben Warland – 5

It’s always hard for a central defender to come on in the heat of the action. Warland replaced Gulum and was found chasing as Sydney pressed for a winner. Needs to be watchful of his passing.

Mark Ochieng – 7

Changed the game for Adelaide and was part of numerous golden chances in extra-time: once weaving his way through traffic to tee up Matmour, again ten seconds later when he lent back on a shot and cleared it over the bar from five metres out, and finally when he darted a ball to the back post for Blackwood.