Mebourne City has won its first A-League championship following a 3-1 victory over a 10-man Sydney FC in Sunday’s grand final.
The premiers, who lost to the Sky Blues in last year’s grand final, scored goals in the first half through Joe Marston Medal winner Nathaniel Atkinson and Scott Jamieson (penalty).
It was total chaos in the opening 45 minutes with goals, red cards, players in tears and a penalty.
In-front of a hostile capacity crowd, the Premiers fought back after going behind against the reigning champions, wrestling back the ascendancy with a trademark tenacious performance.
Only a fortnight after returning from an almost season-ending hamstring injury, Nathaniel Atkinson was City’s star-man, scoring the equaliser moments after Kosta Barbarouses’ opener and taking home the Joe Marston Medal for his superb performance on the wing.
A red card for Luke Brattan swung the tide in City’s favour before Scott Jamieson’s penalty gave City the lead on the stroke of half-time.
Scott Galloway iced the victory in time added on at Melbourne’s AAMI Park, giving City the championship-premiership double.
