Sydney FC harkened back to the heights of its late 2010s footballing dynasty as it secured a second Australia Cup.
For 45 minutes, it felt like Sydney was set for another chapter in its post-COVID woes. Barely holding on to keep it 1-0 against an enthusiastic Brisbane Roar side, past big match failures dawned across the collective memories of supporters at Moore Park.
The type of failures such as a 4-0 home humbling to Western Sydney, a 3-1 Grand Final loss to Melbourne City, an unfortunate 1-0 home loss to Central Coast Mariners in an Australia Cup semi-final, or a complete breakdown in the club’s first game back at Moore Park to Melbourne Victory.
Instead, something happened that hasn’t happened often for Sydney in the last three years: they dug themselves out of a hole – in a big match no less when seriously up against it, clutching and grasping for dear life.
In front of 15,000 people in the Harbour City’s Allianz Stadium, it felt like Sydney and manager Steve Corica reached a new maturity after three years of disappointment in do-or-die clashes.
Corica made a rare double-sub at half-time, bringing on Max Burgess and Kealey Adamson to reinvent Sydney’s tempo and pressing game. Burgess took Corey Hollman’s spot, while Adamson replaced a struggling Jordan Courtney-Perkins at left-back.
Quickly, Sydney was able to re-establish itself in the contest and once the first forays forward got going, the crowd played a key role in urging the side on. Joe Lolley was domineering on the right flank, dancing around Roar’s Louis Zabala before Fabio Gomes and Gabriel Lacerda’s aerial presence forced a handball and penalty kick.
There was a sense of deja vu coming back about Sydney winning a penalty kick in a match they needed to win. Immediately, it’s hard not to think of the endless penalties missed by Sydney last season, in particular Adam Le Fondre’s two missed penalties in stoppage time against Wellington Phoenix.
As soon as the penalty was given, Fabio Gomes was quick to pick up the ball and rejected Robert Mak’s requests to take the spot-kick in what would result in instant cult status or absolute infamy in the Sydney canon. Gomes stepped up, stuttered in his run-up, and calmly slotted the penalty away. Penalty kick demons expelled.
From here, there was only ever going to be one winner. The rampant Lolley set up Robert Mak with a pin-point ball across the corridor of uncertainty, and from here you could believe and feel a change. Fabio Gomes sealed it with a tap-in, following up from a Jaiden Kucharski effort in the 91st minute and Sydney were once again lifting silverware.
In the post-match interview, Corica displayed happiness and relief which hadn’t been shown to the public for quite a while. Visibly beaming, Corica said he was delighted to finally get the Australia Cup to his name, but deep down I wonder if it’s the release of tension felt over 18 months.
Under fire for almost all of 2022/23, it wasn’t until the last few weeks of the season that Corica was able to gain any momentum or job security. But this Sydney side feels different, and Corica seemingly has new lease on life
He nailed the comeback in a remarkably similar way he guided Sydney through an unbelievably tense and important elimination final against Western Sydney in May. Just like that night, he had to regroup a side at half-time after being a goal down and got them back on track when they absolutely needed to.
It’s nowhere near job done for Corica, but for the first time in a few seasons, it feels like Sydney are a shout for a title challenge. Winning a big game at home with the youngest starting XI ever put out by the club in a major final is miles from where they were even six months ago.
Is the Australia Cup the most important or prestigious tournament in this country? No, definitely not. The boo-boys will continue regardless, but the fact remains Corica is just the third manager to have won all three trophies on offer in Australia – premiership, championship, and now the cup.
All Sides Of The Harbour 