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Sydney FC celebrate their win today.

MATCH REPORT
By TAS MAVRIDIS

Sydney FC secured a third A-League title after beating rivals Melbourne Victory 4-2 on penalties in a blockbuster Grand Final last night.

With the scores locked at 1-1 after 120 minutes, it was Sydney FC’s Milos Ninkovic’s penalty that decided both the game and this season’s championship team.

Despite Victory initially being 2-1 up in the shootout, misses to skipper Carl Valeri and Marco Rojas provided Ninkovic, the Johnny Warren Medallist, the chance to seal the title.

Ninkovic did not disappoint, dispatching the ball into the net and sending most of the 41,546 Allianz Stadium crowd into raptures.

The 120 minutes of both the normal and extra time saw a high pressure and tense game with over 60 fouls committed between the two sides.

Melbourne Victory started as the more promising of the two sides and were rewarded when Besart Berisha opened the scoring at the 20-minute mark with a clever run and finish.

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Fans out in force last night.

Despite the intense continuing pressure, Sydney came up into the game and were rewarded at the 69-minute mark.

Rhyan Grant finished from close range after David Carney’s shot was parried by Lawrence Thomas into his path.

Neither side, despite the growing pressure, managed to provide the required finishing goal that would separate the teams. A penalty shootout would decide the match.

A crucial save from Sydney goalkeeper Danny Vukovic crowned him hero of the shootout and ensured that both him and Alex Wilkinson would finally record grand final wins in their fourth Grand Final.

After a dominant season, the grand final victory was a reward for the Sky Blues, who, alongside Melbourne Victory, have now confirmed their entrance into next season’s Asian Champions League.