Sydney FC's semi-final win over Melbourne City encapsulates the persistence that has defined this A-League Women season

You could see the moment that Ally Green just decided to do it all herself.

Sydney FC were 2-0 down in the 72nd minute of their major semi-final against Melbourne City. It was just the second time all season that the newly crowned premiers had been behind by two goals – the first came against this same City side in late February, the only game Sydney lost in their record-breaking campaign.

City started Friday night's semi-final with that psychological edge. They were the better team in the first 45: disciplined in their structure, choreographed in their press, finding angles and pockets behind and between Sydney's lines, as sharp as the steel-grey colour of their kits.

Sydney, by contrast, looked nervous, lethargic, directionless. Their poor first half was summarised by the diabolical touch of captain Natalie Tobin – one of the few errors she's made – that redirected a City cross right back into the path of striker Hannah Wilkinson to open the scoring.

Like that one touch, Sydney's first half was so uncharacteristic it was barely worth a detailed post-mortem. It's just not what this team is known for.

City's second goal didn't rely on Sydney's errors so much as their own confident tactical play; twisting and pulling the Sky Blues out of their structure like warm hands on soft candy, overwhelming their more inexperienced players, thinking two steps ahead. Stott, McKenna, Wilkinson: 2-0.

You started to wonder whether this was it. Perhaps Sydney had 'played their final' the week before in their tight 1-0 win over Adelaide United to claim the Premiers' Plate. Maybe they were troughing while City was peaking. Maybe.

But Ally Green doesn't work in maybes.

As the 72nd minute ticked over, Green received the ball down the left side.