It was a match for the ages and it left football fans gasping. In a week of incredible football comebacks, the A-League produced an extraordinary spectacle of its own as Perth Glory beat Adelaide United on penalties. Tony Popovic’s side will host next week’s grand final, but his team made it a bit more difficult than it needed to be to get there. After Diego Castro’s brace Perth were cruising into the big dance — until Baba Diawara came off the bench to pull one back for Adelaide, then Ryan Kitto scored the equaliser in the 94th minute to take the game to extra time. Scott Neville came off the bench to restore Perth’s lead — but Adelaide weren’t done with the comebacks; Michael Marrone made it 3-3 to take the tie to penalties. An extraordinary shootout unfolded, before Joel Chianese finally sent Perth to the grand final. Those following the match on social media were absolutely stunned.<doc-sep>Sydney FC host Melbourne Victory in the A-League’s most bitter rivalry on Sunday evening at Jubilee Oval, but which of Australia’s biggest football clubs will take home the Big Blue bacon and go on to meet Perth Glory in the west in next week’s grand final? Due to its prolific playback and of course, iconic commentary, there are few recent Australian footballing moments as recognisable as Terry Antonis’ extra-time winner in this exact fixture last season. After scoring one of the most inexplicable own goals seconds before the full time whistle, the former Sydney FC debutant completed a dramatic individual turnaround, clinching a crucial, grand final-delivering goal for the team in a deeper hue of blue. Live stream the 2019 Hyundai A-League on KAYO SPORTS. Every game of every round live & anytime on your TV or favourite device. Get your 14 day free trial > “I think everyone has one of those moments in their lives where you just remember what happened,” Antonis told a-league.com.au during the week. “But you have to move on from what happened and enjoy this weekend and go there with the same mentality. It was an awesome memory to have, and hopefully this weekend us as a team, we can do the same.” And while few teams will ever have an opportunity so perfectly paralleled to balance the footballing scales, players from the Harbour City have been keen to play down the moment that cost the then-Premiers a home final. “Definitely not a revenge thing for me,” Sydney FC defender Rhyan Grant told the media on Friday morning. “It’s just another game against Victory, which we know is going to be tough. It’s always going to be a good game against them, and a very difficult game... nothing different than I’ve played in for 10 years.” ONE FOR THE AGES! GLORY WIN EPIC TO SECURE HOME GRAND FINAL ‘INFLUENCING HISTORY’: HOW AUSSIE CAN DECIDE GREATEST EVER PL RACE PREVIOUS MEETINGS THIS SEASON Fun fact: the Big Blue will become the first A-League matchup to reach its 50th fixture this weekend and when Victory travel to Jubilee Oval on Sunday evening, they’ll do so in confident mood. The visitors last made the trip to Kogarah in round five when goals from key foreigners, Ola Toivonen and Keisuke Honda, secured all three points, despite Adam Le Fondre’s strike. Kevin Muscat’s men would replicate that scoreline again in round 16 at AAMI Park. But Steve Corica will at least be able to take some solace from the fact that their most recent meeting, just last month, ended with the Sky Blues taking a critical win in the battle for second spot. EXPECTED LINE UPS Both of these sides had Asian Champions League matches to attend to midweek, not that their respective matches will have much of an impact in terms of team selection for Sunday. Sydney FC Corica opted to leave key defender, Alex Wilkinson, at home for Sydney’s Korean excursion midweek against Ulsan Hyundai FC, while Rhyan Grant was also given a few extra days in Australia to overcome his hamstring injury. Key playmaker, Milos Ninkovic, was also brought off just after the hour mark. With all of that noted, the Sky Blues should be able to field a full-strength XI on Sunday with the only real dilemma being who fills the attacking midfield roles; Ninkovic is a lock, but will it be Anthony Caceres or the well-rested Siem de Jong on the other side? Potential XI (4-2-2-2): Redmayne; Grant, Calver, Wilkinson, Zullo; O’Neill, Brillante; de Jong, Ninkovic; Brosque, Le Fondre. Melbourne Victory Melbourne City coach Kevin Muscat confirmed on Saturday that James Troisi has not made enough progress to be considered available for selection. Last week against Wellington, Troisi’s absence meant a midfield reshuffle and surprise start for emerging star Elvis Kamsoba, while captain Carl Valeri was benched. The most pressing question then becomes whether Muscat returns to his veteran midfielder to keep the likes of Ninkovic, de Jong and opposing skipper, Alex Brosque, quiet. Potential XI (4-1-2-1-2): Thomas; Deng, Niedermeier, Donachie, Broxham; Valeri; Honda, Baena; Antonis; Toivonen, Barbarouses. HOW SYDNEY FC WIN IT? It may have taken a couple of fixtures, but Corica seemed to come to terms with Melbourne’s midfield diamond in their last regular season Big Blue at the Sydney Cricket Ground, where fullbacks Grant and Michael Zullo were integral in starting the attacking phase of play. Both naturally attuned to making forward runs, these two will have to, once again, get on the ball outside of the Victory diamond to help create the bulk of their team’s chances. By doing so, they’ll also negate, or at least minimise, potential turnovers in the middle corridor of the pitch — mistakes Melbourne have punished them for in the past. HOW MELBOURNE VICTORY WIN IT? Break quickly, move intelligently and outnumber Sydney in midfield. Taking their previous trip to Jubilee as the blueprint, Melbourne will need striking duo Toivonen and Kosta Barbarouses to have a good night if they’re to book a place in Perth. The two have shown time and time again this season, a willingness to move in tandem, stretching and exposing defences and with Sydney’s fullbacks known to foray forward, there should be space to exploit in transition. So long as the likes of Antonis and of course Honda can find them, that is.<doc-sep>04:52 Hi all! And thanks Jonathan for another sterling turn. We turn our focus to football, now - and they don’t come bigger than the Big Blue - especially a Big Blue with finals elimination on the line. Just look at last year’s remarkable clash - a night of football so remarkable it could make grown adults and nominal professionals lose themselves completely, run onto the field, and slap/choke a ginger-haired man. But that’s the past, and while re-veng-ay may be the flavour of the evening - both Sydney FC and Melbourne Victory know that looming ahead is a team that’s outperformed them both this season. But earning a ticket to test Perth in the A-League grand final is the first course of business - and standing in the way is the old enemy. Bring. It. On.<doc-sep>Departing Adelaide United coach Marco Kurz was left disgusted by what he considered an unfair advantage handed to the home side by FFA during his side’s penalty shootout loss to Perth Glory. Adelaide fought back from 2-0 down to send the semi-final into extra-time on Friday night, before also coming from behind to tie scores at 3-3 and force the game to be decided by penalties. Normally in world football, a coin toss is held to decide which end the penalty shootout will take place. But Kurz was left spitting chips when this didn’t occur with the chosen end being nominated by administrators, who elected the goal directly in front of the main Glory supporter base. A FFA spokesperson later confirmed that the A-League doesn’t use a coin toss when it comes to deciding which end a penalty shootout should be taken, instead, the end where the most fans are based is usually chosen. The FFA said both clubs were made aware of what end would be used two days before the match, but Kurz was left apparently unaware of the system used by the A-League. “The decision was done by the FFA and not from the referee, and that’s disgusting,” Kurz said. “A FFA person came down and said this side, and that was the decision, it’s not fair. “That doesn’t mean that we are a (bad) loser. Perth - congratulations, they were better in the shootout. “But we have to discuss why. What is the reason. Nobody can give me an answer. “Maybe FFA are making the rules. For me it’s new. I’m from overseas. Is it normal? “I’m an old man, but I can learn every time.” Adelaide captain Isaias had the chance to win the game during the penalty shootout, but his shot was saved by Glory goalkeeper Liam Reddy. Reddy produced four saves all up to deny Adelaide what would have been a famous win. Kurz said the players who missed penalties shouldn’t be blamed. “It’s not easy to walk to the penalty spot,” Kurz said. “Every boy who walked, how can I say it, every boy had balls when he walked to the penalty spot. “It will not be the first and not the last player who didn’t score a goal at the penalty. That’s sport.” Although Kurz came within a whisker of guiding his team to the grand final, he will be cut loose by Adelaide, who are set to announce the signing of Dutchman Gertjan Verbeek. Kurz, who guided Adelaide to the finals in each of his two seasons, says he will move back to Germany at the end of the month. He said he was proud of his team for what they achieved. “They never give up. They always fight to the end. It’s a high quality group,” Kurz said. Liam Reddy flies to his right to make a save during the penalty shootout. Photograph: David Woodley/Action Plus via Getty Images Earlier, Glory looked to have the game in the bag when Diego Castro’s second goal in the 74th minute gave the home side a 2-0 advantage at HBF Park. Substitute Papa Diawara gave Adelaide a flicker of hope when he made the most of a goalmouth scrap to score in the 81st minute. And with just six seconds left in the fourth and final minute of stoppage time, Ryan Kitto fired home the equaliser after Glory failed to clear a corner. Scott Neville then edged Glory ahead in the first period of extra-time. But Michael Marrone leveled the scores with just five minutes remaining in the contest with a powerful header. It meant the game was locked at 3-3 and would come down to a penalty shootout. And with Adelaide goalkeeper Paul Izzo nursing an ankle injury, the visitors’ hopes looked bleak. But when Izzo saved Castro’s first-up penalty in the shootout, it gave Adelaide the early advantage. Reds skipper Isaias then had the chance to almost secure the penalty shootout with the score at 3-2. Reddy pulled off a sharp save to his right to keep Glory alive, and he also denied Diawara, Nikola Mileusnic, and Nathan Konstandopoulos to give Perth a shot at victory. Izzo was a hero himself in saving Jason Davidson’s and Shane Lowry’s penalties to keep his side in the shootout. But he had no answer to Joel Chianese, who fired his penalty to the left to secure the epic win 5-4 on penalties. Perth will now play either Melbourne Victory or Sydney FC at the 60,000-seat Optus Stadium next weekend. “It was a crazy game,” Glory coach Tony Popovic said. “We learnt this week in world football that anything can happen. We led right up until the end. Adelaide showed the spirit they have - fantastic team. “They got kicked in the guts a couple of times, even in extra-time. But what can you say, the character was amazing. In the penalty shootout we stayed composed.” Popovic led the Western Sydney Wanderers to three grand finals with each of them ending in losses. Now, he has the chance to snare the champions silverware that has so far proved elusive.<doc-sep>
Perth Glory survived a remarkable penalty shoot out against Adelaide United to qualify for the A-League grand final. With scores locked at 3-all at the end of extra time, the match went to a penalty shoot out at HBF Park. Goalkeeper Liam Reddy was the unforgettable hero, saving four penalties and remarkably, scoring one of his own. Camera Icon Diego Castro is mobbed by team mates after scoring a goal. Credit: AAPIMAGE Underdogs United had produced an unbelievable turnaround, coming back from two goals – the second just six seconds from full-time – to take the game to extra-time. Each side added another in the next 30 minutes and then it all came down to the shoot out – where it ended 5-4 to Glory. United’s Craig Goodwin delicately chipped home the first, Juande cancelled that out. Jordan Elsey restored the lead, Diego Castro’s effort was saved and Vince Lia made it three. Brendon Santalab made it three-all and Liam Reddy saved from Isaias before scoring his own. Benjamin Halloran and Jake Brimmer traded goals to take it to sudden death where Reddy saved from Dawara and Paul Izzo stopped Jason Davidson. It was down to Shane Lowry but his effort was saved and so was Nathan Konstandopolous’. A cool Joel Chianese finally broke the deadlock to send the stadium into pandemonium as teammates mobbed Reddy. Camera Icon Jason Davidson celebrates the victory. Credit: AAPIMAGE Glory now need just one more win to complete their championship dream but it almost came to a shuddering halt in a white-knuckle game that saw them throw away a two-goal lead. After two pieces of Castro magic, both set up by Chris Ikonomidis, Adelaide clawed their way back through goals from Papa Diawara and Ryan Kitto – the second just six seconds from full-time. Veteran Scott Neville put his side ahead again after 105 minutes with a header but that was cancelled out by another header from Michael Marrone 10 minutes later. In a memorable night for the 17,868 crowd, Glory made the A-League grand final for the first time since the controversial 2-1 loss to Brisbane Roar seven years ago. They now wait for the result of tomorrow’s clash between Sydney FC and Melbourne Victory to see who they will face in the Grand Final at Optus Stadium next weekend.