Melbourne Victory shock Sydney FC to win A-League Women grand title

Melbourne Victory have claimed a gutsy 2-1 win over Sydney FC to seal a second straight A-League Women championship. Like last year, Sydney finished top of the table this season and had home advantage but were pipped by Victory in the game which mattered most.

In front of 5,027 fans for the grand final at Kogarah Oval, Victory withstood a relentless attacking onslaught from Sydney’s frontline trio of Princess Ibini, Cortnee Vine and Remy Siemsen to win the club’s fourth championship.

Victory took the lead when defender Amy Jackson poked home in the 49th minute before Catherine Zimmerman gave them a two-goal buffer soon after.

But the real hero of the day for Jeff Hopkins’s side was goalkeeper Casey Dumont, who overcame breathing difficulties, an ugly bang to the ribs and the constant tests from Sydney’s attack to win the player of the match award.

The sole blemish on her afternoon was when Vine was able to jag one back from a corner for Sydney. The win means Hopkins is now the most successful coach in the history of the competition with his fourth title.

For Sydney this will feel like an opportunity missed. Siemsen had a goal ruled out for offside and Dumont denied Mackenzie Hawkesby on the stroke of half-time. Vision from the Victory changing rooms showed Dumont looking worse for wear but she carried on heroically.

She returned to the field after the break but all the action was at the other end when Jackson headed in for her first of the season. A Courtney Nevin corner was cleared away initially but was sent back into the box by Kyra Cooney-Cross with Jackson outjumping Ally Green to score at the far post.

Siemsen had two gilt-edged chances to get Sydney back level but soon after Victory extended their lead when