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Melbourne s Nathaniel Atkinson levelled scores minutes later, but right before halftime Sydney copped a crushing blow, when Luke Brattan was sent off, after earning his second yellow card from referee Chris Beath for a late challenge on City youngster Marco Tilio.
Despite Brattan and Corica protesting the decision, the midfielder eventually left the pitch nearly in tears, and Sydney were a man short for the rest of the match.
Luke Brattan of Sydney FC is given a red card during the A-League Grand Final (Getty)
Not long after the red card, City mounted pressure on Sydney s defence before earning a penalty when Adrián Luna was fouled by Anthony Caceres in the area. Captain Scott Jamieson smashed the ball into the net from the penalty spot to give Melbourne the 2-1 advantage at the break, and from there Sydney never really recovered.
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Melbourne City’s triumphant 3-1 win over Sydney FC in Sunday’s grand final ensures the A-League will resume on Network Ten and Paramount+ with plenty of compelling storylines.
For 35 minutes at AAMI Park on Sunday afternoon, premiership winners City and two-time defending champs Sydney FC turned on one of the most enthralling spectacles seen all season.
Then Luke Brattan dived in on Marco Tilio ten minutes before halftime and the complexion of the whole campaign, let alone the remainder of the game, changed completely.
Matthew Comito 1624785046,1624793225
Melbourne City are A-League Champions for the first time in the club s 11-season history, after coming from behind to notch a comprehensive 3-1 Grand Final victory over the ten-men of Sydney FC on Sunday, June 27.
The Premiers were on the back foot after Kosta Barbarouses put the visitors 1-0 up in the 21st minute but it was one-way traffic from that moment on, sparked by a Nathaniel Atkinson strike which rattled into the top corner to restore parity just two minutes after Sydney s opening goal.
Luke Brattan received a yellow card from referee Chris Beath in the 25th minute for a dangerous challenge on Aiden O Neill before disaster struck for the pivotal Sky Blues midfielder ten minutes later. Attempting to curtail the dangerous threat of City live-wire Marco Tilio, Brattan flew in to a late challenge with studs raised to catch the attention of Beath for a second time in the first half.