Thrills aplenty in finals series
IT’S the game of the season that we’ve all been waiting for, one that coaches have meticulously plotted, planned and players have sacrificed for, putting bodies on the line and blood sweat and tears.
What us Australians love is a finals series, everyone vying for the right to play at the big show. And what a finals series it has been, everything from spectacular goals to incredible comebacks.
The big blue was one for the ages, so much history and rivalry it was always going go be a cracker. With Sydney being so dominant throughout the season, to fall one game short would have hurt the players and especially exiting coach Graham Arnold in a big way.
With the game seemingly over and ten seconds remaining, Terry Antonis heartbreak- ingly turned the ball into his own net, giving Sydney the momentum and chance of extra time.
You can only imagine how he felt, but in one of the most amazing redemption moments I’ve seen, Antonis picked the ball up on halfway and skipped past three defenders to blast the ball home and win the game.
■ With my former club the Jets pulling off such a brilliant campaign after finishing dead last the season before, it has been an amazing turnaround led by Ernie Merrick.
The game against City was pulsating and had what many pundits are claiming to be the best goal in the history of the A-League with Riley McGree scoring an outrageous scorpion kick.
Whether or not he meant it, the youngster with bucketloads of talent will definitely be on highlight reels for many years to come.
With 30,000-plus expected to pack McDonald Jones Stadium, this is a game you won’t want to miss.
C’mon the mighty Jets.