2010 A-League Grand Final
Encyclopedia
The 2010 A-League Grand Final took place at Etihad Stadium in Melbourne
, Australia
on 20 March 2010.
It was the final match in the A-League
2009–10 season, and was played between premiers and runners-up . Sydney FC won the match 4–2 on penalty shootout after drawing the game 1–1 and became the winners of the 2009–10 Championship in addition to their premiership.
The A-League National Youth League
Grand Final was held at Etihad Stadium prior to the main game. After coming 4th in the 2009–10 season
, Gold Coast United won the youth title in their inaugural season, coming from a goal down to defeat Perth Glory, 2–1.
Archie Thompson
, who scored 5 goals in the 2007 A-League Grand Final, off the field in the sixteenth minute. He was replaced by Costa Rica
n Marvin Angulo
.
With both teams struggling to break the deadlock, Melbourne were left stunned when Mark Bridge
scored a goal in the 63rd minute after a deflected cross. To add to Melbourne's misfortune, it was scored less than a minute after Rodrigo Vargas
' headed goal was correctly disallowed by the assistant referee for offside.
Melbourne were able to find an equaliser through Adrian Leijer
after Kevin Muscat
delivered a set piece. Leijer's late header resulted in some frantic final minutes, but neither team were able to find the breakthrough goal in normal time. Extra time resulted in few opportunities and the game was decided by penalties for the first time in A-League
history.
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
on 20 March 2010.
It was the final match in the A-League
A-League
The A-League is the top Australasian professional football league. Run by Australian governing body Football Federation Australia , it was founded in 2004 following the folding of the National Soccer League and staged its inaugural season in 2005–06. It is sponsored by Hyundai Motor Company...
2009–10 season, and was played between premiers and runners-up . Sydney FC won the match 4–2 on penalty shootout after drawing the game 1–1 and became the winners of the 2009–10 Championship in addition to their premiership.
The A-League National Youth League
A-League National Youth League
The A-League National Youth League is an Australian national football league run in parallel to the A-League. The aim of a league is to provide a pathway for young players and state league players to play regular high-level football, and allow reserve players from senior A-League teams to remain...
Grand Final was held at Etihad Stadium prior to the main game. After coming 4th in the 2009–10 season
2009–10 A-League National Youth League
The A-League National Youth League's 2009-10 season is the second season of the Australian A-League National Youth League football competition. Like the previous season, the current season runs alongside the A-League 2009–10 season...
, Gold Coast United won the youth title in their inaugural season, coming from a goal down to defeat Perth Glory, 2–1.
The match
An early knee injury forced key strikerStriker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
Archie Thompson
Archie Thompson
Archibald Gerald Thompson is a New Zealand-born Australian professional football player, currently playing for Melbourne Victory in the Hyundai A-League, where he holds the League all time scoring record...
, who scored 5 goals in the 2007 A-League Grand Final, off the field in the sixteenth minute. He was replaced by Costa Rica
Costa Rica
Costa Rica , officially the Republic of Costa Rica is a multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east....
n Marvin Angulo
Marvin Angulo
Marvin Angulo is a Costa Rican professional footballer. He currently plays for CS Herediano.-Club career:On October 1, 2009 it was thought he will join the Melbourne Victory from CS Herediano as an injury replacement player for Billy Celeski. The deal was agreed in principle on September 21, 2009...
.
With both teams struggling to break the deadlock, Melbourne were left stunned when Mark Bridge
Mark Bridge
Mark Bridge is an Australian football player. He currently plays as a striker for Australian A-League club Sydney FC.-Newcastle United Jets FC:...
scored a goal in the 63rd minute after a deflected cross. To add to Melbourne's misfortune, it was scored less than a minute after Rodrigo Vargas
Rodrigo Vargas
Rodrigo Alejandro "Roddy" Vargas is a Australian football player. He currently plays as a central defender for the Australian A-League club Melbourne Victory.-Club career:...
' headed goal was correctly disallowed by the assistant referee for offside.
Melbourne were able to find an equaliser through Adrian Leijer
Adrian Leijer
Adrian Leijer is an Australian football player who currently plays as a centre back for A-League team Melbourne Victory and is also the Captain of the side.-Early years:...
after Kevin Muscat
Kevin Muscat
Kevin Muscat is an Australian football player who currently plays for Victorian State League Division 1 side Sunshine George Cross and is assistant coach of Melbourne Victory...
delivered a set piece. Leijer's late header resulted in some frantic final minutes, but neither team were able to find the breakthrough goal in normal time. Extra time resulted in few opportunities and the game was decided by penalties for the first time in A-League
A-League
The A-League is the top Australasian professional football league. Run by Australian governing body Football Federation Australia , it was founded in 2004 following the folding of the National Soccer League and staged its inaugural season in 2005–06. It is sponsored by Hyundai Motor Company...
history.
2009–10 finals series
Match details
EWLINE
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| Hyundai A-League 2009-10 Winners |
|---|
 |
| Sydney FC Sydney FC Sydney FC is a professional football club based in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia and competes in the country's premier football competition, the A-League... Second Title |
Match statistics
| Melbourne | Sydney | |
|---|---|---|
| Attempts at goal | 14 | 12 |
| Attempts on target | 6 | 6 |
| Attempts off target | 7 | 6 |
| Attempts - woodwork | 1 | 0 |
| Keeper saves | 3 | 4 |
| Ball possession | 51% | 49% |
| Corners | 8 | 5 |
| Fouls committed | 13 | 16 |
| Offsides | 3 | 3 |
| Yellow cards | 2 | 4 |
| Red cards | 0 | 0 |
See also
- 2009–10 A-League
- Melbourne Victory season 2009–10
- Sydney FC season 2009–10
- List of A-League champions