Dynasty-hunting Melbourne City have returned to their irresistible best to charge to a 4-0 rout of 10-man Sydney FC and into a fourth consecutive A-League Men grand final.

The semi-final tie was locked at 1-1 from the first leg and after Sydney’s Max Burgess was sent off in the 20th minute, Curtis Good’s 37th-minute header and Jack Rodwell’s 59th-minute own goal sent City on their way at AAMI Park.

Marco Tilio struck in the 67th minute while Richard van der Venne looped home a fourth in the 82nd to seal a 5-1 win on aggregate and a shot at a premiership-championship double.

Rado Vidosic’s City will play either Central Coast or Adelaide United, who play on Saturday night, in the June 3 decider at CommBank Stadium.

City have won the past three premiers plates and also claimed the championship in 2020-21.

The home side regained the excellent Aiden O’Neill and recalled Andrew Nabbout and Thomas Lam while Sydney winger Robert Mak didn’t travel and was replaced by youngster Adrian Segecic.

With Socceroos coach Graham Arnold watching on, both teams took time to settle into the game on a heavy pitch.

The game opened up for City in the 19th minute when Sydney FC playmaker Burgess recklessly slid in on Marco Tilio, sinking his studs into the Socceroo’s calf.

Referee Shaun Evans initially only booked Burgess but after a VAR review, upgraded the yellow card to a straight red.

Jamie Maclaren hit the post with a clever flick-header in the 28th minute and the premiers broke through nine minutes later.

Valon Berisha floated a corner to Good, who thumped a powerful header past Andrew Redmayne.

Fourteen minutes into the second half, City doubled their advantage when a Berisha pass was cleared into the path of Andrew Nabbout, who whipped in a dangerous cross looking for Maclaren.

Rodwell slid in first but could only turn the ball into his own net.

Eight minutes later, O’Neill won the ball and slid it out left where Tilio took a nice touch, charged forward and rifled it into the roof of the net.

Tom Glover made an easy save from Joe Lolley in the 75th minute and denied Adam Le Fondre three minutes later.

A lovely late midfield turn from Maclaren allowed him to tee up van der Venne to put an exclamation mark on the victory.

Source: AAP