Sydney crowned Champions after penalties in tense and hotly contested A-League Grand Final.

It was 0-0 after 120 minutes failed to separate these two teams, who were head and shoulders above all others for the whole campaign.

Sydney have won their 4^th Championship while Glory have to be content with the Premier’s Plate for their endeavours this season.

The West Australian football community turned out in style with an attendance of 56,371, the best ever for Glory in all competitions, eclipsing last year’s friendly against Chelsea (23/07/18, 55,522) and a record for a Grand Final, shading 55,436 for Melbourne Victory v. Adelaide in 2007.

They came in purple suits and business suits; latest Glory tops and retro tops from the NSL era; elegant elderly Italian gents and face-painted youngsters; all mingled with a host of the curious Perth populace, where smart but casual was de rigeur.

But they all came looking for the result that never came.

Glory have been the most consistent A-League team this year, losing only to Sydney and Melbourne Victory. The Perth hopefuls thronged Optus Stadium hoping they would deliver the ultimate prize but it was not to be on this occasion.

The game started with Glory trying to impose their usual possession play, building from defence.

However, the home defence had a nervy start, constantly harried by the Sydney front line of former Reading and Bolton Wanderers stalwart, Adam Le Fondre (ALF), veteran club captain Alex Brosque and Serbian playmaker Milos Ninkovic.

Glory’s midfield anchors Juande and Neil Kilkenny provided sterling support to their defensive teammates throughout the match, but the defensive jitters continued to plague the home side.

At the other end Glory were causing problems down the left through winger Chris Ikonomidis and left wing back Jason Davidson.

There was no quarter asked or given in the ongoing duel between the mulleted Sydney right wing back, Rhyan Grant, and his peroxide blonde opposite number Davidson.

This prominent sub-plot ran like a soap opera the whole night and looked like it could have a decisive effect on the result. Their eye-catching contrasting hairstyles provided added drama to the tussle, the robust challenges of the Sydney man on the Perth favourite characterising him as the pantomime villain, earning boos with every touch once the crowd had learned their lines.

After a tense and hotly contested opening quarter the game controversially sparked to life in the 28^th minute. Ninkovic received the ball on the left, whipped a backward pass to ALF who buried it to Reddy’s left. The flag went up but the goal looked good. VAR confirmed the offside decision so the match remained goalless.

For the rest of the half, Ikonomidis and Ninkovic looked the most dangerous players for each team but neither Liam Reddy nor Andrew Redmayne had their goal troubled.

Rocket and Redders continued to have a relatively quiet shift for the ensuing 75 minutes as extra time was occasioned by the inability of either side to find the decisive breakthrough.

The 2^nd half saw a tame Castro header, ALF nutmegging Djulbic in the box, crisp midfield passing movements and numerous peroxide/mullet flashpoints. But no goals.

As the game descended into a dour arm wrestle the inevitable Mexican waves circulated round the restless home support. Enthusiasm or boredom? I’m never sure.

Despite the huge home support, the match occupied a rather distant position as a rectangle surrounded by a larger oval, much like a reverse Venn diagram, in this stadium designed for cricket and Australian football. Great for Football Federation of Australia coffers, but negating the advantage of a home Grand Final for Glory, with the large crowd too distant from the action to make a decisive difference, despite the best efforts of the active supports at both ends.

As seemed inevitable with the ongoing underemployment of goalkeepers, the final whistle blew with no blood shed at 0-0.

The biggest cheer of the night so far was for Grant’s yellow for a foul on Davidson.

Extra time was also a dour affair. Compared to Glory’s semi-final against Adelaide where a 2-2 draw after 90 minutes, became 3-3 during the extra period, there was a certain plodding inevitability to the penalty shoot-out denouement in this match up.

At the end of 120 minutes the visitors looked happier with 0-0.

Sydney seemed to take strength and confidence in containing the Perth attacking threat. Diego Castro in particular, was successfully subdued by the vigilant Sydney midfield.

This was perhaps reflected in the respective coaching pep talks preceding the shoot-out.

While Perth’s Tony Popovic felt the need to be more interventionist, addressing the players, Sydney’s Steve Corica adopted a more collegiate approach, huddling with the players.

For Sydney, ALF, Brandon O’Neill, Grant and Iranian substitute Reza Ghoochannejhad all fired their penalty kicks home.

For Perth, the dependable Juande netted the first one, but Keogh and Santalab disappointed with weak efforts leaving the task beyond the remaining penalty takers.

Sydney won the penalty shoot out 4-1, due in the main to Redmayne’s Bruce Grobbelaar-like capers, and are 2018-19 A-League Champions.

Retiring captain and club legend Alex Brosque showed his class in his magnanimous praise of the home team when accepting the trophy: “Perth Glory have been the best team all season and we thank the City of Perth and the crowd tonight for making it a great atmosphere.”

Sydney coach Steve Corica continued in similar vein in the post-match press conference: “Full credit to Perth, they were excellent all season. But when it comes to a GF it’s a different story. We wanted to win for Alex Brosque. He is Sydney FC.”

Gloryous coach Tony Popovic was fulsome in praise of Sydney FC and philosophical in defeat, characteristically supporting his players in uncompromising fashion: “We’ve had an amazing year. I’m proud of everyone at the club. In this country you’re deemed the Champions if you win the final, but there is a roomful of Champions in there.”

Perth Glory owner Tony Sage was obviously disappointed but feels the sleeping giant of Perth football has been aroused from its decade and a half slumber. He appealed for supporters tonight to become members next season.

With meticulous Popa plotting squad improvement in the pre-season, and an Asian Champions League campaign to look forward to, the future of football in the West looks as bright as the perpetual blue skies above this sun-drenched city.

But the celebrations tonight deservedly belong to the Sky Blues of Sydney.