A-League Grand Final 2009
Encyclopedia
The 2009 A-League Grand Final took place at Telstra Dome in Melbourne
, Australia
on 28 February 2009.
It was the final match in the A-League 2008–09 season, and was played between premiers and runners-up . Melbourne Victory won the match 1–0 and became the winners of the 2008–09 Championship, thus becoming the first team to win the A-League domestic treble, after also claiming the 2008 Pre-Season Challenge Cup
, and the 2008–09 Premiership.
As an added touch of notoriety for the game, the Grand Final was the last ever event to be held at the Telstra Dome, the former name of Melbourne's Docklands Stadium. Due to a change in sponsorship, the stadium is now known as Etihad Stadium.
by referee Matthew Breeze
saw the Reds go down to ten men by the tenth minute. However, Adelaide managed to hold back Melbourne from scoring until Tom Pondeljak
scored 23 metres out from goal in the 60th minute to allow Melbourne to take the lead.
Five minutes later, Melbourne striker Daniel Allsopp
was also sent off for allegedly headbutting Adelaide's Robert Cornthwaite
in an incident in the Melbourne penalty box.
With both teams down to ten men for the last 25 minutes, Adelaide were left scoreless with Melbourne taking their second A-League championship medal. Pondeljak's goal earned him the prestigious Joe Marston Medal
.
Both Cristiano and Allsopp's red cards were revoked by the Football Federation Australia
in a post-match conference.
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 28 February 2009.
It was the final match in the A-League 2008–09 season, and was played between premiers and runners-up . Melbourne Victory won the match 1–0 and became the winners of the 2008–09 Championship, thus becoming the first team to win the A-League domestic treble, after also claiming the 2008 Pre-Season Challenge Cup
2008 A-League Pre-Season Challenge Cup
The 2008 A-League Pre-Season Challenge Cup competition was held in July and August 2008, in the lead up to the start of the Australian A-League football 2008-09 season....
, and the 2008–09 Premiership.
As an added touch of notoriety for the game, the Grand Final was the last ever event to be held at the Telstra Dome, the former name of Melbourne's Docklands Stadium. Due to a change in sponsorship, the stadium is now known as Etihad Stadium.
The match
A contentious early red card given to the lone Adelaide striker CristianoCristiano dos Santos Rodrigues
Cristiano dos Santos Rodrigues , commonly known as Cristiano, is a Brazilian footballer who plays as a striker for South Australian Premier League side White City FC.-Early career:...
by referee Matthew Breeze
Matthew Breeze
Matthew Christopher Breeze is an Australian association football referee. He is also a barrister and a former police prosecutor.-Domestic career:He officiates in the Australian A-League football competition....
saw the Reds go down to ten men by the tenth minute. However, Adelaide managed to hold back Melbourne from scoring until Tom Pondeljak
Tom Pondeljak
Tomislav Pondeljak is an Australian football player, who is currently playing for A-league club Melbourne Victory.-Club career:...
scored 23 metres out from goal in the 60th minute to allow Melbourne to take the lead.
Five minutes later, Melbourne striker Daniel Allsopp
Daniel Allsopp
Daniel Lee "Danny" Allsopp is an Australian professional football player.He is a full international for the Australia national football team, and is Melbourne Victory's second highest, and the A-League's third highest all-time goalscorer, behind teammate Archie Thompson and Shane Smeltz.-Club...
was also sent off for allegedly headbutting Adelaide's Robert Cornthwaite
Robert Cornthwaite
Robert Richard Cornthwaite is an English-Australian football player. He is a centre back or right full back who currently plays for Chunnam Dragons in the South Korean K-League....
in an incident in the Melbourne penalty box.
With both teams down to ten men for the last 25 minutes, Adelaide were left scoreless with Melbourne taking their second A-League championship medal. Pondeljak's goal earned him the prestigious Joe Marston Medal
Joe Marston Medal
The Joe Marston Medal is an A-League award given to the player of the match in the A-League Grand Final each year. Introduced in 1990, previously the award was also given to the best player in the National Soccer League grand final. The medal is named after Joe Marston, who played for Australia...
.
Both Cristiano and Allsopp's red cards were revoked by the Football Federation Australia
Football Federation Australia
Football Federation Australia is the governing body for the sport of football in Australia. Before 1 January 2005, it was known as the Australian Soccer Association , which succeeded Soccer Australia in this role in 2003...
in a post-match conference.
2008-09 finals series
Match details
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| Hyundai A-League 2008-09 Winners |
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| Melbourne Victory Melbourne Victory Melbourne Victory Football Club is an Australian professional football club based in Melbourne, Victoria, that plays in the A-League.... Second Title |
Match statistics
| Melbourne | Adelaide | |
|---|---|---|
| Attempts at goal | 15 | 9 |
| Attempts on target | 6 | 3 |
| Attempts off target | 9 | 6 |
| Attempts - Woodwork | 0 | 0 |
| Keeper saves | 2 | 4 |
| Ball possession | 50% | 50% |
| Corners | 8 | 2 |
| Fouls committed | 17 | 19 |
| Offsides | 2 | 1 |
| Yellow cards | 1 | 5 |
| Red cards | 1 | 1 |
See also
- A-League 2008–09
- Melbourne Victory season 2008-09Melbourne Victory season 2008-09The 2008-09 Hyundai A-League season was Melbourne Victory's fourth season. They finished top of the table at the end of the regular season and defeated Adelaide United in the Grand Final to take their second A-League title.-First team squad:...
- Adelaide United season 2008-09Adelaide United season 2008-09The Adelaide United 2008-09 season was 's A-League 2008-09, AFC Champions League 2008 and 2008 FIFA Club World Cup season. It was the Reds' fourth A-League season since the inception in the Australian football league since it first started in 2005....
- List of A-League champions