SYDNEY FC
 
Andrew Redmayne - 7
 
Commanded his area from corner-kicks and crosses in typical fashion but helpless to prevent Melbourne scoring two deflected goals.
 
Luke Wilkshire - 6
 
Too casual for the occasion and his team paid for it. Allowed Barbarouses a criminal amount of space to level the scores, and was ineffective going forward.
 
Jordy Buijs - 6.5
 
Tweaked his back taking a shot midway through the first half, and his  night deteriorated thereafter.
 
Alex Wilkinson - 7
 
Called upon to do the job of four people as his teammates toiled. Flung his body in the way of the Melbourne tide but unable to stem the flow.
 
Michael Zullo - 7
 
Inventive going forward, but neglecting of his defensive duties early on, allowing Melbourne’s midfield to find Barbarouses in acres of space. Managed to heed the warning before he was seriously punished.
 
Josh Brilliante - 6
 
Oh so sloppy in posession, and it cost his team dearly. The finger is pointed squarely at him and his hospital pass in the build-up to James Troisi’s goal.
 
Brandon O’Neill - 6.5
 
Spent the lion’s share of the match overrun and unable to keep pace with Melbourne’s midfield tempo.
Adrian Mierzejewski - 7
 
 
Bright in the early stages and it was his delivery that caused Stefan Nigro’s own-goal, but uncharacteristically, the Pole faded in influence thereafter. Failed to deliver the sky-high standards we’ve come to expect from him over a fantastic first A-League season.
 
Alex Brosque - 6
 
An ineffective evening for Brosque on what could prove to be his final outing for the Sky Blues. Withdrawn as Sydney sought to force extra time.
 
Milos Ninkovic - 6.5
 
Attempted to pick a way through The Victory in the final third, and found more joy in doing so during the frantic closing stages of normal time.
 
Bobo - 5.5
 
The 36-goal man was cut completely out of the game by Melbourne’s deep defensive line. Made to wait until extra-time for his first meaningful impact.
 
SUBS
 
Ben Warland - 7
 
Made a decent impact from the bench, not once but twice coming achingly close to scoring in the chaotic closing stages of the first 90.
 
David Carney - 6
 
The veteran proved in the time he spent on the pitch that he can keep pace with the young spunks around him.
 
Matt Simon - 7.5
 
Exactly what Sydney needed to give themselves hope. Fired up and stretched every fibre in his attempts to rescue, then win the game.
MELBOURNE VICTORY
 
Lawrence Thomas - 8
 
An imperious perfrormance from the 25 year-old, tested again and again as Sydney grew increasingly desperate. His scrapbook moment came in the 77th minute, fingertipping away Bobo’s looping header before scrambling back to his feet to block Carney’s follow-up.
 
Stefan Nigro - 6
 
Rushed into the team moments before kick-off after Rhys Williams injured his calf in the warm-up, and it… didn’t go well. Aside from his own goal, he failed to marshall his zone and was fortunate that Sydney’s deliveries from that side were woefully sub-par.
 
James Donachie - 6.5
 
Commanding aerially, but almost punished in the first half by a lapse in concentration. Conceded a number of dangerous free-kicks in the latter stages, and booked.
 
Thomas Deng - 7
 
Sniffed out danger for the most part but became increasingly rattled in the chaotic climax to the match, and was very lucky not to concede a penalty in extra-time with a clear pull on Simon.
 
Leigh Broxham - 7
 
His experience showed as Muscat’s side so-nearly weathered Sydney’s late storm. Kept a calm head as all around were losing theirs.
 
Terry Antonis - 7.5
 
Showed remarkable mental strength to win the game following his moment of madness that gifted Sydney extra time, and served up a central midfield masterclass before that, pressing and hustling his opponents into mistakes.
Carl Valeri 7 -
 
His first half attempt to score via his hand lacked the required subtlety, as did some of his early challenges, but he improved immeasurably thereafter.
 
James Troisi - 7.5
 
Central to The Victory’s counter-attacking gameplan. He reacted brilliantly to the situation to poke Melbourne into their second-half lead.
 
Kosta Barbarouses - 8.5
 
Would have given Melbourne an early lead if not for a poor offside call. Showed great endeavour in his eagerness to win the ball back and really had Sydney’s back-line in a flap. He richly deserved his goal.
 
Leroy George - 7
 
Found space on a number of occasions but failed to capitalise on them. Nonetheless, he was eager to muck in when out of possession.
 
Besart Berisha - 6.5
 
His first half performance was peppered with neat flicks and incisive passing. Generally hardworking, but never really came close to adding to his Finals goal tally.
 
 
SUBS
 
Kenny Athiu - 6.5
 
Fresh legs to give Sydney’s weary defence something to think about.
 
Mathias Sanchez - 5.5
 
At odds with the intensity of the match and had his pants pulled down by Carney. Literally.
 
Christian Theoharous - 6
 
Threatening on the break.