The 90 Minutes, The 90 Emotions

By: Marcus | April 3rd, 2009

2008/09 Grand Final Review

Melbourne 1 – Adelaide 0

Goal Celebration
The highly anticipated Grand Final rematch between Melbourne Victory and Adelaide United took place on the 28th of February, for me it seems like last week but in reality it is over a months ago. Melbourne fans where hoping to repeat the feet of humiliating Adelaide on the grandest stage of Australian national football as they did in the 2006/07 Grand Final by winning 6-0. For Adelaide fans, there was a glimmer of hope for the boys bring home there first grand final win and redemption and revenge after the 2006/07 grand final bashing.

Melbourne and Adelaide played each other three times in the regular season with Melbourne coming out on top twice, while on one occasion the points were shared. They also met in the semi-finals where Melbourne won both legs and on aggregate 6-0.

Now lets see how this slice of history went down.

First Half

Melbourne kicked off the game off, everyone eagerly watching on in anticipation of what was to unfold. The first few minutes were cagey, the ball went end to end, then in the sixth minute Melbourne broke on the counter through Nicky Ward. The Adelaide defence retreated to the box as Ward advance, he had three options but opted to shoot, which saw the first chance of the game drift by.
Two minutes later the controversy started as Cristiano and Vargas collided while jumping up for a fifty fifty ball. Cristiano’s stray elbow hit Rodrigo’s head and blood started to pour out. It was an accident, a free kick that’s all, but not on Mark Breeze’s watch. He showed a straight red to Cristiano to the delight of the Victory fans, and dismay of the traveling United fans. (For all those who saw Pazzini’s red against Ireland yesterday, it was like that but with blood)
As Adelaide went down to ten men Melbourne started to dominate, I was quiet confident that we would be able to make the breakthrough.
In the next few minutes there were a few chances here and there but nothing major, that was until Muscat received the ball in the centre of the ground and sliced the defence in half with a sublime through ball which found its way to Allsopp, who forced a classy save from Adelaide custodian Galekovic.
On the thirtieth minute Melbourne played into Adelaide’s hands and where nearly made to pay. Jamieson got on the counter and down the left wing and was brought down by Celeski. Jamieson then sent a free kick into the box which was nodded just wide by Salley. After that Melbourne dominated possession again and started attacking cautiously until the half time whistle brought a close the half. There was a sense of frustration amongst the Blue and White faithful in the stands as so much possession had amounted to nothing.

Second Half

The second half started off surprisingly, as Vidmar’s men grew in confidence and started to attack. On the fifty third minute they nearly achieved the breakthrough, as Mullen ripped Victory’s right side apart and put a dangerous ball into the Melbourne penalty area which saw the ball get hacked at goal, but Theoklitos’s reactions were on hand to prevent the goal.
A minute later Dodd terrorized the Victory defence and unleashed a fierce shot, lucky for us straight to Theo.
On the fifty eighth minute Melbourne won a throw in on there left flank, Berger threw it in and received it straight back, advance forward and found a free Tom Pondeljak, who struck the ball from outside the box. GOAL!!!!! Into the back of the net to send fifty thousand fans into euphoria. Tommy has played in two previous Grand Finals which were both lost and has just put Melbourne into the box seat, third time lucky hey.
The traveling Adelaide fans were dead silent, the Melbourne fans were mental, screaming for their team, confident that was enough to clinch the clubs second Grand Final victory in three years.
Just as everyone was settled, Breeze once again stole the spot light making a decision that to this day puzzles everyone who has seen the incident.
It was the sixty third minute, Berger smoked Barbiero, who brought him down and conceded the free kick and yellow card. Everyone gathered in the box, then the controversy started again. Allsopp rubbed shoulders Cornthwaite and as a result was thrown to ground, and for some unapparent reason was shown a straight red card for NOTHING. Breeze makes his second ridiculous sending off of the match and put the game back on even terms.
Adelaide start to attack, they know its that or they give up. They have a few chances but there best came in the eighty first minute. Cassio whips a dangerous ball into the penalty area and it seemed Agostino did everything possible to miss a sitter. A real chance goes begging for Adelaide.
Ninety minutes up, three minutes of injury time added.
Adelaide get one more chance, there last chance for an equalizer, a throw in from the left is put right into the middle of a pack, Muscat is the first to get to it and nods it away.
Final whistle is blown, Melbourne fans go into raptures.

MELBOURNE WINS THE GRAND FINAL AGAIN!!

GF Celebrations

Ratings

Melbourne: 7 Played well, dominated possession but couldn’t break down the Adelaide defence and it nearly cost us. Everyone performed, some were a bit nervy. Played great all season and as a result the first team to win the A-League treble and become the most successful team in Australia.

Adelaide: 8 Yes I support Melbourne, I think Melbourne deserved the win but Adelaide played well. We played them in the semis and beat them home and away convincingly. Adelaide were written off, and were given no hope of a win. They defended well and if they could convert they would have at least caused extra time. I thought they fought and player well, would have given them ten if there players weren’t so dirty.

Referees: -10 Mark Breeze was an utter disgrace. Two read cards that weren’t there as a result the FFA rescinded both of them, what goes on in his head and that lines men that advised him no one knows. He was the only one who failed to perform, should be fired if you ask me because lets say its not the first time he’s been in hot water.

Joe Marston medal for best player in the Grand Final was awarded to the goal scorer Tom Pondeljak.

Fans: 10 Incredible! The Blue and White Brigade were nuts as usual, they are with out a doubt the best ultras in Australia, when the players needed that bit of lift when they nearly started giving up of finding away through the defence. Loud and proud. The Adelaide fans were great, they were loud for the thousand odd that were there, however they need to come up with a different chant to saying ‘UNITED’ over and over again. It will be interesting when Adelaide play Gold Coast next season, the players wont know whose supporting who.
Oh and the two little twats sitting behind me, SHUT UP, for the whole ninety minutes they were banging those air bar things and wouldn’t shut up. We already established the reff was an idiot in the tenth minute, no need to scream about it for half an hour. One of my mates who wouldn’t kill a fly pointed out a pole and said ‘if they don’t shut up I’m going to shove that up there ***’. That’s how annoying they were. GOD

Also great attendance 53,273

WE ARE CHAMPIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!