Congratulations to 2017 A-League Champions Sydney FC
The “Sky Blues” squad of 2016-17 will always be remembers by the sporting public as the “Best Ever” in A-League history.
A lot has been written or said about the
record breaking season of
our Corporate Partners SYDNEY FC throughout the 2016-17 A-League Season and their glorious run was capped off with a thrilling and
well deserved win in the Hyundai A-League Grand Final held at Allianz Stadium on Sunday evening.
This was the fourth time this season Sydney FC had met Melbourne Victory and the fourth time they had defeated them.
After finishing the 90 minutes locked at 1-1, an agonising 15 minutes each way was imposed upon the players and supporters to break the deadlock. However despite both sides having their opportunities, the whistle blew to send the sides into a penalty shoot out to decide the 2017 Champions.
Graham Arnold and his team show the crowd their trophy
It would have been a travesty of sporting justice if the
“Best Ever” A-League side bowed out in such a fashion but the fact is the Sky Blues prevailed 4 goals to 2 in this sudden death duel.
There is no doubt that the script for the final two plays of the game had been written as
the perfect end to a magical season when the “Best Goalkeeper” in 2017 Danny Vukovic saved a vital penalty allowing the stage to be set for the games “Best Player” Milos Ninkovic to slot home the winner.
Sydney FC were crowned Hyundai A-League Champions in front of a sold out and boisterous home crowd of 41,562 fans.
In what was an often spiteful and an overly aggressive, bruising battle, in which 11 yellow cards were issued and 59 free kicks for fouls, it was Melbourne Victory against the run of play, who scored first with a counter attack through a long ball forward finding the A-Leagues number one goal scorer Besart Berisha who capped off the move with a sizzling strike from the edge of the box.
But while Kevin Muscat’s men chose a tactic of aggression and a very agricultural style of defence where playing the man seemed more important than playing the ball in an attempt to rattle the opposition and take them off their game, as Melbourne tired noticeably, they changed tactic and sat back in a bid to preserve their goal advantage.
Sydney FC pressed forward and found their breakthrough midway through the second half as
Rhyan Grant pounced to ram home the ball after David Carney’s initial shot was pushed by the Melbourne goalkeeper onto the base of the post and that ricocheted out to the ever present and dangerous Rhyan Grant who kept his cool and slotted the goal.
Both teams had several opportunities to score more goals but brutal defence repelled many raids.
However that moment that every player dreams of as a kid growing up was poetically reserved for
Milos Ninkovic who early in the week was
named the A-League Player of the Year.
With the same poise and precision he’s shown for much of the season, the reigning Johnny Warren Medal winner stepped up to slot the decisive penalty home in front of the heaving mass of home fans in The Cove.
The Grand Final triumph caps off a remarkable record-breaking season from Graham Arnold’s men that saw the side claim the Premier’s Plate (minor premiership) and A-League Championship (Grand-Final) double for the first time since 2010.
Premiers Plate Winners
A-League Champions
Sydney FC won all four (4) clashes between the two sides this season, Round 5: 2-1, Round 17: 2-1 and Round 22: 1-0 and Grand Final (Round 29) (4-2) on penalties.
During the season these were the telling statistics:
Most Goals
Sydney FC scored 55 Goals (1st)
Melbourne Victory scored 48 Goals (4th)
Most Assists
Sydney FC 40 (1st)
Melbourne Victory 30 (4th)
Most Shots
Sydney FC 334 (1st)
Melbourne Victory 256 (7th)
Most Tackles
Sydney FC 375 (5th)
Melbourne Victory 347 (7th)
The A-League competition consisted of 27 premiership rounds. Sydney FC recorded 20 wins, 6 draws, 1 loss, 55 scored, 12 conceded, +43 goals, 66 points.
Graham Arnold's side have broken four (4) major records; the A-League
season points tally with 66 despite playing three matches fewer than Ange Postecoglou's Brisbane Roar had six years ago, as well as new records for
total wins 20, lowest goals conceded 12 and clean sheets 16.
Also the Sky Blues won the Premier's Plate by a whopping 17 points over second placed Melbourne Victory.
That is also a record, compared against the Melbourne Victory's side of 2006-07 which had been the previous most dominant team with a 12-point gap to second-placed Adelaide United in that season.
Graham Arnold made a number of recruiting masterstrokes for this season after a disappointing season in 2015-16.
The signing of the Brazilian player
Bobo gave Sydney FC the focal point they needed, and his combinations and positioning has been critical in allowing captain Alex Brosque and Milos Ninkovic to be at their best.
At the start of the season Graham Arnold had enormous belief in his squad and developed players to be named on the A-League season awards night in the Championship side. This included
rising stars Brandon O'Neill and Josh Brillante in central midfield and also
Michael Zullo and Rhyan Grant as full-backs. Importantly it’s not just their brilliance it was also their consistency this season.
Meanwhile, midway through the season, Graham Arnold managed to replace a key pillar in his defensive back four -
Matt Jurman who was transferred to Asia - with
Jordy Buijs, who slotted in perfectly, despite having been without a game in almost three months.
Sydney FC went out to prove another point this year which was they were the fittest team in the A-League. With hard work and focus, they believed they could out run any opposition and that was certainly the case.
Sydney FC have been unstoppable in second halves this year and so it proved again on Sunday.
Graham Arnold's men have scored 66% of their goals after half-time this season. Superior fitness both physical and mental paved the way for match success.
Goals
20’ BERISHA GOAL – Berisha latches onto the pass from Rojas before skilfully creating some space and burying a driven shot past Vukovic.
69’ GRANT GOAL – After a wonderful body fake, Carney’s shot bounces off the base of the post and is headed off the line before Grant arrives to tap the ball into the back of the net.
Graham Arnold had named an unchanged line-up following his side’s 3-0 win over Perth Glory the previous weekend, but needed to include Sebastian Ryall on the bench in place of the injured Bernie Ibini (hamstring).
Sydney FC by shirt number: 20. Danny VUKOVIC (gk), 4. Alex WILKINSON, 5. Jordy BUIJS (replaced by 22. Sebastian RYALL 115’), 6. Joshua BRILLANTE, 7. Michael ZULLO, 9. BOBÔ (replaced by 18. Matt SIMON 81’), 10. Milos NINKOVIC, 13. Brandon O’NEILL, 14. Alex BROSQUE (c), 21. Filip HOLOSKO (replaced by 17. David CARNEY 59’), 23. Rhyan GRANT. Subs not used were: 1. Andrew REDMAYNE (gk), 8. Milos DIMITRIJEVIC.
DYNAMIC SYNDICATIONS are a CORPORATE PARTNER with SYDNEY FC
Dynamic Syndications have been a Corporate Partner of Sydney FC this 2016-17 season.
After considering joining fellow corporate sponsors of
Sydney FC in previous years, discussions with
Sydney FC director Michael Crismale in the off season cemented a desire to be involved with the Sky Blues.
It proved to be the right decision.
Dynamic Syndications joined with Sydney FC as a Player Sponsor.
We were involved with supporting two fantastic young men and brilliant players:
Bernie Ibini and Brandon O'Neill.
Season launch luncheon - The squad was introduced and Dynamic Bernie Ibini
We even saw one of our
Dynamic Syndications racehorses be registered with the racing name
IBINI.
Alex Brosque, Matt Jurman, Sebastian Ryall, Rhyan Grant, Josh Brillante, Brandon O'Neill,
There horse "IBINI" & his Strapper, Berni Ibini, Michael Zullo, Aaron Calver with Dynamic Adam Watt
Brandon O'Neill with IBINI whilst having a chat together is Bernie Ibini & IBINI
Why did Dynamic Syndications become a Corporate Partner of Sydney FC?
Dynamic Syndications and Sydney FC are both high profile, market leading entities in their respective fields of sporting excellence.
Dynamic Syndications and Sydney FC have both achieved success at the highest level, in ultra-competitive sporting environments. By commercially joining of forces, it is envisaged that together, our continuing common goals can be strengthened and ultimately achieved.
Both Dynamic Syndications and Sydney FC are highly motivated organisations, offering their members experiences of full involvement, service, transparency, integrity and of most importantly - results.
Dynamic Syndications and Sydney FC represent admired involvement in the Sydney sporting landscape, operating within the famous Sydney sporting precinct and together, we share many synergies.
Both Dynamic Syndications and Sydney FC embrace a passion for success based upon fast, exhilarating team members of the highest quality, sustained by an elite, highly professional support network.
Dynamic Syndications and Sydney FC both support local and national charities to help improve circumstances and create opportunities for others in our community.
It’s easy to follow the success of both Sydney FC and Dynamic Syndications through detailed information services available to everyone 24/7 through our linked, digital platforms.
Both Dynamic Syndications and Sydney FC have a significant cross-over of devotees (football & racing fans) and it’s envisaged that Dynamic Syndications owners may further enjoy ownership experiences offered through a personalised interactive experience with an elite Australian sporting club.
By following Dynamic Syndications new association with Sydney FC, it will offer our owners opportunities of attending matches during the season and socially meeting members of the Sydney FC playing squad at organised functions.
Our sporting mantra of “Race The Best With The Best” and “Won It” are aligned with high quality team members and high standard of success enjoyed equally by Sydney FC.
On behalf of our Team and Dynamic Syndications, we congratulate the Sydney FC Playing Squad, Staff and Fans on a record breaking season.
Finally we offer Special Acknowledgement to behind the scenes critical staff:
Fitness guru Andrew Clark who had the squad in perfect condition from Round 1 to Round 29
Terry McFlynn the Sydney FC Football Manager who makes it happen.
Goal Keeping Coach John Crawley for his excellent work with Danny Vukovic
Assistant Coach Steve Corica for his support work and load sharing
Emotional Intelligence Support of
(1) Mike Conway at XVenture for the Players and Staff to keep the team focused with a positive "can do" approach through to the finish of "Round 29" (the Grand Final)
(2) Bradley Charles Stubbs "The Coach Whisperer" who worked with and mentored Coach Graham Arnold ensuring his self-belief never waivered.
#SydneyIsSkyBlue