By Lachlan Mitchell
The A-League Men’s Championship was the ultimate prize on offer when Melbourne City took on Western United on Saturday night in an all-Melbourne grand final.
Western United was heading into the clash as the underdogs featuring in its first grand final since the club’s inception in 2018.
United – coached by former Australian hero John Aloisi – is known for its counteractive approach, swiftly turning defence into attack.
The scene at AAMI Park was set for history to be made for both sides of the equation.
City was chasing its first ever back-to-back championship in the A-League, while Western United was looking to etch its name into the competitions history forever.
Patrick Kisnorbo’s team looked fresh on paper, with Frenchman Florin Berenguer to start and young-star Marco Tilio compelled to the bench at the opening whistle.
City’s night didn’t start according to plan, conceding the quickest goal in A-League grand final history through Serbian Aleksandar Prijovic, who latched onto a well-directed corner into the box.
Prijovic’s header made contact with City defender Nuno Reis to glide past City keeper Thomas Glover for United’s first.
When Prijovic’s header reached the back of the net, alarm bells run for the City faithful, as United has had a stellar record when scoring first this season – recording 14 wins, five draws and just one loss.
City then struggled to set-up well on attack and lacked poise and control in linking up with their strikers.
Andrew Nabbout tried setting up Jamie Maclaren in the 20th minute, but struggled to nail the pass, putting the ball well ahead of the striker into no man’s land.
City dominated possession after the opening goal to no avail, and continued to struggle to land a shot on goal in the first 30 minutes of the match from open play.
Western United struck again through Prijovic, who found himself on the end of a ball that ricochet around and fell to his feet, slamming the ball past City keeper Thomas Glover.
As Prijovic ball crossed the goal-line it was an immediate flag up from the linesman to signal off-side.
Good luck and better fortune appeared to be on United’s side, with the ball copping a deflection off Connor Metcalfe to play the striker on-side.
Despite only being the 30th-minute mark, the two goal deficit seemed to be an impossible mountain to climb for the south-east based side.
City had to wait for the 39th minute to have their first realistic shot on goal through Rostyn Griffiths, who had a Hail Mary poke towards goal.
The shot was easily swatted away from the netting by United keeper Jamie Young.
The second half didn’t fare better for City, with a raft of chances narrowly missing or rattling the woodwork.
Curtis Good rattled the crossbar in the 48th minute, while Connor Metcalfe couldn’t get his header on target, firing over the crossbar in the 54th, and Mathew Leckie was denied by some frantic defence in the 64th minute.
As the final whistle was blown, it was euphoria for Western United and agony for Melbourne City, as the men in green and black held the championship aloft.
Aleksandar Prijovic was awarded the Joe Marston Medal, adjudged best on field for his goals to cement United to the top of the dais for season 2021/22.
