It doesn’t get bigger than this: the 2021/22 Liberty A-League Grand Final, set to play out between two great rivals at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium on Sunday, March 27.
Melbourne Victory stormed from a fourth-place finish into the Grand Final – and a familiar foe stands in their path to back-to-back Liberty A-League Championships: the all-conquering Premiers Sydney FC, spurred on by the anguish of last season’s title decider.
This time last season, a 120th-minute ‘Olimpico’ goal, scored directly from a corner by Victory star Kyra Cooney-Cross, helped Victory to the trophy.
It’s the third Grand final meeting between these two sides.
It’s Sydney’s fifth Grand Final in succession.
It’s first against fourth.
It’s Sky Blue against Navy Blue – and it’s all going down on Sunday afternoon.
Your weekend Liberty A-League preview brings you everything you need to know ahead of the Grand Final, including team news, the tale of the tape and all the talking points heading into league’s ultimate occasion. Return through the week as we update this piece with all your essential reading.
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THE FIXTURE
LIBERTY A-LEAGUE GRAND FINAL: SYDNEY FC v MELBOURNE VICTORY
Sunday, March 27 2022
Netstrata Jubilee Stadium
Kick-off: 4.05pm AEDT
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HOW TO WATCH
The Grand Final will be LIVE and FREE on 10BOLD, as well as streaming LIVE on Paramount+.
WATCH: All the games, all the action on Paramount+
GRAND FINAL HUB
Filled with games, content and the chance to win great prizes, visit the Liberty A-League FAN HUB ahead of ths epic Grand Final re-match!
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PODCAST VIEW
The Grand Final preview from our team at the Official A-Leagues Podast, featuring former Matildas star Amy Chapman, who will be the co-commentator on Sunday. Listen below or via Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Google Podcasts.
KEY BATTLES
Amy Chapman predicts the Grand Final ‘will be won and lost in midfield’ – but a lot hinges on the two star performers in between the sticks who could drastically alter proceedings with their individual performances.
READ: ‘Midfielders at centre-back, players everywhere’: Victory’s ‘hot mess’ mopped up by key recruit
Casey Dumont v Jada Whyman
“Both keepers have been outstanding this season,” Chapman said.
“Jada Whyman hasn’t had a tonne to do, because she’s got such a strong backline ahead of her for Sydney FC, but in the regular season they only conceded six goals. Her highlights real of the saves she has made is top notch.
“I think both keepers will be coming in with a lot of confidence, and they’re very difficult to beat.”
Lowe and Hawkesby v Cooney-Cross and Chidiac
“I think absolutely this game will be won and lost in the midfield,” Chapman said.
“The key ones (at Sydney) for me: Rachel Lowe and a very exciting youngster Mackenzie Hawkesby, who is very much fringe Matildas.
“They’ve both had outstanding seasons, they’ve both created chances and they’re coming up against two players who are in a very similar position in Kyra Cooney-Cross and Alex Chidiac.
“That midfield battle will be absolutely fascinating. Chidiac on the weekend was a big reason (for the Victory Preliminary Final win), she brought that X-Factor, she brought energy that I think Hawkesby for Sydney brings.
“That is going to be so incredibly exciting to watch.”
READ: Contrasting coaching greats battle for A-League Women’s honours
TALKING POINTS
A REMATCH FOR THE AGES
Sydney FC will be eager to enact revenge after the circumstances of Victory’s Grand Final triumph last season.
Just like this weekend’s title decider, Victory approached the 2020/21 Grand Final as underdogs, having finished second behind premiers Sydney in the regular season. But Jeff Hopkins’ side travelled to Netstrata Jubilee Stadium with confidence, and proceeded to dominate large spells of proceedings.
Victory took 30 shots to Sydney’s 14, but inaccuracy cost the away side through 119 goalless minutes.
Kyra Cooney-Cross then stepped into the limelight, to score one of the iconic Liberty A-League goals in the last minute of additional extra time to stun the fancied Sky Blues.
Did you know? Of the 13 Liberty A-League Grand Finals, only one went to extra-time: Melbourne Victory’s 1-0 win over Sydney last season.
VICTORY AIM FOR UNPRECEDENTED FEAT
In Liberty A-League history, no team finishing fourth has ever defeated the Premiers in the Grand Final.
On three occasions the fourth-place finisher has won the Grand Final – but never against the team finishing on top of the pile at the end of the regular season.
Victory have the opportunity to change that this weekend. Should Hopkins’ side stun Sydney on Sunday afternoon, it will be just the second time in Liberty A-League history a team has won back-to-back titles after Melbourne City won three in a row between 2016 and 2018.
THE X-FACTOR
Sydney FC: Cortnee Vine
The Matildas winger is the Sydney’s most destructive attacking weapon in 2021/22.
Vine’s output in the Semi-Finals showed just how frightening she can be on her day; coming into the fixture under an injury cloud, Vine was brought off the bench at half-time with her side trailing Melbourne City 1-0. City would add a second to the scoresheet before Vine ran rampant, scoring twice in the 4-2 turnaround.
Coming off the right wing, Victory left-back and fellow Matildas rising star Courtney Nevin must be at her best to avoid Vine stealing the show on Sunday afternoon.
Melbourne Victory: Melina Ayres
Two starts, two goals. The long-awaited return of Melina Ayres from a hamstring injury has come at the crucial moment for a Victory outfit firing on all cylinders at the pointy end of the season.
Ayres missed virtually the whole campaign thanks to the injury, returning for a bench cameo in Victory’s last game of the regular season. But the 22-year-old is back with a bang, scoring against the Reds and City in consecutive Finals wins to help Victory into the Grand Final.
City striker Hannah Wilkinson scored a brace against the Sky Blues in her side’s 4-2 Semi-Final loss. It was inconsequential in the end, but in defeat the City spearhead showed Sydney’s usually-resolute defence is penetrable for a striker of Ayres’ ilk.
FORM LINE (LAST FIVE GAMES)
- Sydney FC: W – W – W – L – D
- Melbourne Victory: W – W – D – L – D
It’s three wins in a row for Sydney FC after brushing off a regular-season defeat to Melbourne City on February 20.
That result followed a 2-2 draw against Melbourne Victory four days prior, with the Sky Blues coughing up a two-goal lead with just over 20 minutes to play to share the points.
Victory came into the Finals Series on a winless run of five games; that streak has been put to bed in the post-season, with back-to-back wins over Adelaide United and Melbourne City firing the reigning Champions into the Grand Final.
HEAD-TO-HEAD THIS SEASON
Melbourne Victory 2-2 Sydney FC
City Vista Recreation Reserve, February 16.
Sydney FC were dominant for large portions of their road trip to face Victory in Melbourne on February 16; but a late surge from the home side saw the points split at full-time.
Princess Ibini and Remy Siemsen struck in quick succession to give Sydney a comfortable lead in the second half, but Lia Privitelli’s 68th-minute goal inspired a late charge for an equaliser which Victory forward Catherine Zimmerman notched with a 92nd-minute strike.
Chapman’s tip
“I have to say Sydney. I don’t think they’ll want to make the same mistake they did last year in this final. I think they’ve got a lot more depth across the entire park.
“Sydney on their best form are untouchable in this league. If they bring it, they will win. I think Melbourne Victory will put up a great fight, but I think Sydney will be too strong.”
