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Chat from the Twitterverse for 2017 A-League Grand Final

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A-League Chat From the Twitterverse
SYDNEY FC and Melbourne Victory met for the fourth time this season in the 2016-17 A-League Grand Final.

The biggest Big Blue of the campaign did not disappoint, with the Sky Blues taking home the coveted toilet seat after rallying from behind to win on penalties.

Let’s see what the Twittersphere had to say about Sunday’s gripping encounter at the Allianz.

Picture-perfect conditions… almost

The build-up to the A-League’s centrepiece clash was rather overshadowed by concerns about the quality of the pitch.

Some bizarre scheduling saw the surface subjected to a Super Rugby game on Saturday night, leaving the curators with a lot of work to do on Sunday morning.

The FFA need not have worried, however, as fans were generous enough to offer alternative venues in case the Sydney Stadium pitch was deemed unfit for play.

There were no such concerns about the weather as the football gods, clearly feeling the sense of occasion, bathed the Harbour City in glorious autumn sunshine.

Melbourne fans swarm on Sydney

Residents of the Victorian capital don’t often have nice things to say about their rival metropolis to the north, but that did not stop them from turning out in force for Grand Final Day.

Besides the thousands of loyal fans who travelled to Sydney, the Victory also enjoyed a swell of cross-code support from the Melbourne sporting community.

The strength of the away mob lent the game an intoxicating bipartisan atmosphere, but not all those who ventured to the Allianz were keen to make their presence known.

Never bet against Berisha

In our A-League Grand Final betting preview, we advised punters to look past Besart Berisha in favour of better-paying options in the first goalscorer markets.

We were made to look idiots 20 minutes in as the Albanian striker finished off a classy Victory counterattack to put the underdogs up.

While we cannot confirm whether or not he followed our ill-advised tip, Sydney FC coach Graham Arnold was quite obviously displeased with Berisha’s opener.

The Victory star is always an intense figure on the field of battle, and it is hard to blame the Sky Blues defence for backing off when faced with this nightmarish visage:

Vukovic the hero as Sydney salute

After coming from a goal down to force extra time, Sydney survived another scare or two – notably James Troisi’s shot off the post – to take the game to penalties.

Danny Vukovic didn’t mind the drama, making a clutch save from Marco Rojas as the Sky Blues capped their stellar season with the 2016-17 A-League Championship title.

It was an emotional moment for Vukovic, a three-time bridesmaid who only moved to Sydney last year for the sake of his unwell infant son.

But that did not stop the goalkeeper’s understudy, Andrew Redmayne, from basking in his glory.

More bother for Calombaris

Things have not gone well for George Calombaris over the last month or so.

They got worse for the embattled MasterChef judge on Sunday when he was turfed out of the Allianz.

The galleries were teeming with helpful suggestions for Calombaris, who is in hot water over millions of dollars in unpaid wages to restaurant staff.

But it would appear the long-time Victory fan did not take kindly to the impromptu problem-solving workshop.

Other segments of the Allianz crowd were less concerned with Calombaris’ workplace woes than with his custom culinary creations for the big game.

Topics: Featured, Soccer

 
 

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