I think Nix's pace over the turf was quite a worry for Vic.

Old and Paine seemed to burn Vic players for speed over the turf. A few times when both were Running With The Ball at their feet they were still too fast for Victory players chasing them without the ball!

Particularly playing away in Melb the Nix tended to rely on accelerated attacks, keeping the  defensive compact in defence - with a Half Press in Ball Possession Opposition. For a few seconds they Gegenpressed in the attacking third, then quickly retreated to the safer Half Press in  BPO. All  done pretty effectively  from the Kiwi team.

In the second fixture in Wellington, Vic played a deeper defensive line in BPO, more of a three quarter press.  Popa did not want to be exposed to the speedy Wellington accelerated attacks. There was probably another fast Nix ball carrier, as well as Old and Paine. The deeper Vic defensive line forced Nix to build up  more patiently, which they probably didn't want to do.

I  surmise the shot count favoured Nix over the two legs in and outside the pen box. In  the first leg, Vic struggled to get many shots  from inside the pen box for most of the game.



 

Good points made.

Congrats to Vic!

Just watched the whole game over the last two nights.

 I'm sure most Melb Vic fans will disagree, but over the season Vic have played  some superb possession football in the back two thirds of the  pitch, but lacked  composure around goals. Or this is  definitely the case in the second half of the season since Fornaroli went away with the Socceroos for the Asian Cup. Have only had Paramount Plus and seen most games in the second half of the  AL season

In the games I've seen Vic and Nix play this season, the Kiwis have looked sharper in both pen boxes, defence and offence, but Vic have played some aesthetically pleasing  passing football building up  from defence to attack. Valadon being on the pitch  enhances this to an even better level. 

I've been impressed with Valadon's technique on the ball for the Olyroos,  and in the second semi leg on a  better Kiwi pitch then the first leg in Melb.   He just needs to win more hard balls, more  consistently. Valadon is a more useful acquisition than Brimmer in structured possession build ups, despite Brimmer being  the superior ball winner and dead ball exponent.

It seems the Nix's Rufer, Paine and and Old have improved immeasurably this season.

Not sure about the Nix CBs and LB, or Paulsen the keeper, what nationality they are? The Nix have been a terrific defensive unit in Ball Possession Opposition.

Just wonder if Vic having so much depth has contributed to some players not playing enough minutes to hit top form?

Is that the ball to hand off Arzani?


If so I agree , not a pen.

Ref was fine.

Shit went both ways.

For all that I think Fornaroli is a better striker, Machach has that invaluable skill of being able to create havoc from nothing.

If he isn't shooting, Machach is always drawing defenders but you can still pass to him like that and have him make something of it. You can mark Fornaroli out of the game if you stick with it but Machach you always have to cover in case he gets away from his first marker.

Ideally you have both on the field and you are a better side for it.

 You could say same about Bruno missing good chance to score and not doing a lot else. Arzani had some decent shots at goal which doesn’t equal garbage. And no way was that ‘penalty’ his fault. 

Owes the team massively too 

The Wellington game reminded me so much of the infamous Terry Antonis Semi Final 6 years ago. We conceded in the last play of the game, only for an unlikely hero to win it for us in extra time. Let's hope the 2018 Grand Final result occurs again in 2024 (minus the controversy).

I don't know if its cockiness or what, but there was not one point in the game on Saturday where i thought we would lose. Even after conceding late. I just had this inkling we would find a way. 

I'm heading up, so I can't wait. This is the perfect game for Bruno. He has done nothing in the finals so far. This is likely going to be his last chance to win a trophy in Australia. He won't wanna be remembered for not firing in the big games, like Jamie McLaren. 


Admittedly, my first thought is that it was a pen. But maybe it was one of those borderline ones that the VAR won't give, nor would they have overturned it had the pen be given?


I thought he was garbage on Saturday tbh. If he's out, he's replaceable. Zizou returning will be huge for us. 

Congrats to the Mariners for making back to back GFs and chasing a historic treble.

Sydney FC would have felt hard done by with some of the calls that didn’t go there way especially for that disallowed goal and the penalty call which looked like a unnatural position for the handball.
Either way they have done well after a slow start and a new playing style to get close to making a grand final.

For the Mariners they weren’t at their best and Sydney gave them a hard time with their press but they defended very well so it will be interesting next week against Victory in the grand final.
It should be a good one to the end the season.

Mariners seemed to defend desperately like you do in the last 10 minutes for 80 minutes of the game.

At the least Kaltak had to run round the offside player whether there was contact or not. Fair call to disallow since we have seen Kaltak pull off many miraculous saves with his pace and athleticism.

That was a pretty hideous game. Officiating at its worst in my opinion.

Had Faghani called the pushes, grapples and trips from the start against both teams it would have been a very different game. Sometimes a free flowing game is not what is called for.

Doka got an accidental boot to the face and instead of calling it a head injury Faghani ran him off the pitch then carded a stupidly voiciferous coach for daring to question how he can call play on when someone has been kicked in the face. The dickhead in the crowd with a whistle sounding three burst at the end of extra time and Doka picking up the ball and kicking it then getting a yellow card was a case where commonsense should have seen nothing more than resetting play.

I normally like Faghani's no nonsense style and telling players to get up when they are obviously acting, but tonight he got the balance completely wrong and made it all about him again. He did not protect players and did not call game altering fouls - resulting in a very unsatisfactory match of football.

Glad the Mariners go through to the final on the back of their efforts this season.

Commentators saying that Talay can't have asked for more from his team - but he actually can. Regardless of possession, skill all over the park, and effort they could not put a ball in the net legitimately. Story of many teams - control the game but fail to score. Sydney without Lolley this season are a lesser side.

Sydney are good tonight. Are the Mariners just really feeling the fatigue now? It is their plan to soak it all up knowing Sydney aren't necessarily going to score? I suppose the Mariners are leading but it wish they would seek out more possession and chances. 

Arm in natural position there. A VAR sucks remember so suck it up.

The irony of Sydney fans going wild when they'd aw the stadium replay yet the majority are probably anti VAR. 

Firstly they need cameras directly on the line. Put them in the post. I think Fabio interferes every so slightly that it makes Kaltak's first stride awkward. Tough tough call. 

Thanks. I saw in the budget release that millions will be put into the AIS in chase of medals. 

https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/play-our-way-program

This is all I know about it (publicly - I do know other things not so publicly...)
I mean... no direct mention of football in the landing page (or any other specific sport either)

5.4 Further to clause 5.2, unless otherwise specified in the A-League competition rules, aPlayer who accumulates three (3) Yellow Cards during the course of the Finals Series,must serve a Mandatory Match Suspension of one (1) A-League Match suspension.

Sounds like it.

I think technically if they don't win, and he's in the A-League next year, he is suspended for the first match of the season anyways.
EDIT: Writing this without watching the match, have seen that they did win. Assuming the disciplinary regulations haven't changed since last published online (which is almost 10 years ago, so take that with a grain of salt). 

5.8 Match suspensions incurred as a result of the accumulation of Yellow Cards in either theRegular Season or Finals Series must be served in the next A-League Match in which theClub competes whether that be in the Regular Season or Finals Series.

Albo at the game. Wonder how that money for football stuff has come along? 

Surely a penalty for Sydney there. Fagahni is grossly incompetent. Foot in box and a real clash into the man only. Glad it's not as a Mariners fan. Mariners really under pump early vht they'll invariably weather it. 

No.

I think we can maybe settle on agreement that they should piss pff and start their own competition with their new billionaire. 

Deadset pen in the first five minutes offset by a dubious saved pen later.

A lot of play acting from the Nix right from the start. I think they got in the refs head with their play acting and the result was missed fouls they would have otherwise been given. Once again, face down thumping the ground with a palm shows a bullshit claim for injury - amusingly mirrored later by the Little Master, Fornaroli, to the same ignored effect.

Not a nasty game as such and plenty of free flowing attack by the Nix. Unlucky not to take the win from Old's efforts all game. He may be the best player in the aleague in my eyes.

Nix showing a couple of things:
- Take 10 fast players with some ball skills, make two of them tall CBs, make sure that one of them is Bin OId, back them up by a quality keeper, instil focus and commitment with a clear and effective plan, and you have a really good team.
- It is often better to pass up the first shot at goals in favour of laying off to a team mate who is expecting it. Impossible to defend when done well and they did it well.

Victory showed a lot of panic and misplaced passes often allowing Nix to thrive, but when they maintained composure they were able to pass in impossibly tight positions and build some very attractive plays. At times (Popa style) they looked desperate to play a ball backwards into danger when they had earned their way through the first line of Nix defenders and looked to be turning the tables. Maddening to watch as a neutral.

Fantastic theatre and drama to have the last play goal forcing extra time once again.

Teague showed some absolutely brilliant timed challenges and interventions. I think his national representation and exposure has helped developed his decision making and skills to a very high level. Dead on his feet (dead on his legs if you listen to the commentator) he used his vestiges of energy so well at the end of the game.

What a crazy final. Great fun. Feel for the nix after a great season

Dream come true, knocking these clowns out. 

That's just a mental twist. Suck it to those Wellington supporters leaving early. 

Izzo saves thats Karma you cheating c--ts 

For that to be called a Pen this league is a joke - what bullshit 

deadset they dont even know the f--ken rules 

3 yellow cards in Finals for Arzani. Is he suspended for GF if they win today??

So annoying 2 seconds fast