AUSTRALIA CUP FINAL WRITE UP

BY CONNOR STEPHENS

Sydney FC emerged victorious 3-1 over the Brisbane Roar to claim their 2nd Australia Cup title.

Over 15,000 Football fans flocked to Allianz Stadium on Saturday night to watch the thrilling encounter, and definitely weren't left disappointed with the quality of Football on offer, as both teams gave their all in an attempt to get their hands on Australia's most coveted Football cup.

Brisbane would dominate proceedings early, and it would be teenage sensation Thomas Waddingham that would hit the scoreboard first, with the 18 year old delivering a fabulously guided left foot kick in the box to give his side the lead.

Having scored in the Round of 16, Quarter Final, Semi Final and now the Final, Waddingham is definitely a player to keep your eye on, and if his current form continues, don’t be surprised if European Clubs start showing interest in the prodigy from Cairns.

The first half would all go Brisbane’s way, with Sydney having their chances to equalise, but the Sky Blues were denied after a last gasp lunging tackle from Scott Neville stopped Anthony Caceres right in his tracks.

Pat Wood then had a chance in extra time, but his volley landed to the right of goal, concluding a disappointing first half for Sydney, and with a lot of work to do in the second 45 minutes if they were to have any chance of success.

The beginning of the second half was scrappy, with neither team presenting any major attacking opportunities, but the 67th minute would bring Sydney to life, as Henry Hore’s handball in the box conceded a Penalty, with loanee Fabio Gomes converting the spot kick with confidence.

The entire Sydney team found a new wave of confidence after this goal, and played with the flair that we have known them to have these last few years, and this confidence would pay dividends as Robert Mak would tap a perfectly placed cross by Joe Lolley only 5 minutes after Sydney’s first.

Sydney would hold on, and Gomes would add his second in extra time, bringing a finish to one of the most dominant half-hour displays you’ll ever see on a Football Field, with the Sky Blues finishing as deserving 3-1 winners.

Joe Lolley would take home the Mark Viduka Medal, causing absolute havoc on the Right Wing all game, and being the mastermind of many Sydney attacks in their dominant second half.